Coastal Planner (In Training)

The Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Coastal Planner (Environmental Planner 3) (In-Training) in the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance  (SEA) Program. This position will be located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey and will work with a talented and dedicated team of people working in shoreline, coastal, and floodplain management. 

As home to Washington’s Coastal Zone Management Program, the Department of Ecology plays a key role in protecting and managing our state’s shoreline and coastal areas. In this role you will be involved with a wide range of coastal management issues and will play a key role in the administration of our Coastal Program. A particular focus of this position will be furthering the growth and development of our coastal resilience efforts in addressing the impacts of climate change on communities, economy, and environment. This includes the important work of climate and environmental justice. 

The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program is to support community conservation efforts for our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains. This Coastal Planner position helps us achieve that mission by guiding the development of plans, programs, policies, and regulations that support equitable, integrated coastal management throughout the state.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

 

Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

 

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.

 

Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of August 24, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 23, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

 

Duties

We are looking for a candidate who has a passion for public service and would enjoy the challenge of managing a diverse portfolio of responsibilities ranging from planning and administering our annual federal coastal zone management grant to collaborating on forward thinking coastal planning and policy initiatives at the community, state, and federal levels.

Some of the key work activities at the Environmental Planner 3 level include:

 

Qualifications

 

Option 1: A Master's degree or above with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field AND One (1) year of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

 

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree in a field listed above or in a natural science AND Three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

 

Option 3: One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 1 at the Department of Ecology.

 

Option 1: A Master's degree or above with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field AND Two (2) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

 

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree in a field listed above or in a natural science AND Four (4) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

 

Option 3: One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2 at the Department of Ecology.

 

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. 

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 

When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

 

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Brian Lynn at: Brian.Lynn@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Brian to inquire about the status of your application.

 

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.  

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.