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Plastics Specialist (Environmental Planner 4)




Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is looking to fill a Plastics Specialist (Environmental Planner 4) position. This position can be located in any one of the following offices.

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance the salary range will be $5,956 - $8,008 per month.

In this position, you will lead a team of plastics specialists to implement cutting-edge laws such as post-consumer recycled content minimums in plastic containers. You will have professional development opportunities that include attending state and national conferences to represent Ecology on plastics legislation and policy, and to build knowledge and networks.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.

Program Mission: The mission of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is to reduce wastes through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment, and safely manage what remains.

The Solid Waste Management Policy Section is filled with creative, thoughtful people that are focused on solving some of our most challenging materials management issues. You can be part of this program, helping to set the course on how Washington protects people, resources, and the environment.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 90% telework schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and is subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on April 13, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before April 12, 2023. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

About the Department of Ecology
Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan

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

  • A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
  • An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
  • Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
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. 

 
Duties

What makes this role unique?
In this role, you will head the table where plastics policy, law and rule development and implementation are on the menu. As a member of the Solid Waste Management Program’s Policy Section, you will be part of an experienced, energetic team focused on preventing waste, identifying recycling opportunities, reducing impacts, and safely managing what remains. You will work with your peers throughout Ecology, with other state, regional, and national agencies, industry associations, and non-profit groups to help meet our state’s waste reduction goals.

What you will do:

  • Lead implementation of Washington’s new plastics laws.
  • Collaborate with agency partners on problematic plastics management issues, such as PFAS and phthalates in consumer plastics.
  • Provide support to regional Ecology staff and local governments to support adoption of plastics policies, such as the single-use plastic bag ban.
  • Act as the program’s lead on plastic in the marine environment, developing expertise and engaging state and regional work groups.
  • Coordinate with stakeholders on a wide variety of plastic policy issues.
  • Communicate the urgent need to address plastic pollution in the environment and activate solutions.
  • Serve as the agency expert on plastics issues and help the public, local governments, and businesses, including solid waste and recycling companies.
  • Prepare and vet any necessary legislative proposals or budget-related requests, prepare and write legislation as necessary, and respond to legislative inquiries. Support the Solid Waste Management budget manager and legislative coordinator with any related legislative proposals, including preparation of fiscal notes and bill analyses.


Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.
Option 1: A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, environmental science, supply change management, or closely allied field AND five (5) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, environmental regulation, and/or program development.

Option 2: A Master’s degree of higher with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, environmental science, supply change management, or closely allied field AND three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, environmental regulation, and/or program development.

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


Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Obtain and maintain a valid driver's license.

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

  • Accept responsibility for and manage major program activities.
  • Project and contract management.
  • Read and analyze legislation, statutes, and regulations.
  • Interpret and apply agency policy.
  • Work well with stakeholders; identify key partners and maintain effective working relationships.
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?

  • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
  • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
  • If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
  • If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology 
Application Instructions:

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

  • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • A list of three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

  • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
  • Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 
Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  


Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:
 
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.

Application Attestation: 

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. 

Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Chery Sullivan at Chery.Sullivan@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Chery to inquire about the status of your application.
To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

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.

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