Emission Controls and Reductions Unit Manager

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Emission Controls and Reductions Unit Manager (Environmental Engineer 5) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As the Emission Controls and Reductions Unit Manager, you and your team of environmental engineers will focus on analyzing emission controls and implementing the requirements of Section 3 of the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). Section 3 of the CCA addresses air quality criteria pollutants in identified overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution. Your unit will conduct evaluations of air quality sources and conditions to design and implement emissions control strategies or methods to improve air quality for the residents and environment.

The mission of the Air Quality Program is to protect, preserve, and enhance the air quality of Washington to safeguard public health and the environment and support high quality of life for current and future generations.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work 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 are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on August 29, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before August 28, 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. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

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 *Click here for more information 
 

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 job unique?
The Emission Controls and Reduction Unit Manager will lead a team that evaluates and implements emission controls to reduce pollution impacting the residents and environment of the State of Washington. The evaluations are focused on criteria air pollutants, but secondary pollutant reductions and toxic air pollutants are also considered in part of the analysis. Additionally, the evaluations are focused on all emission sources from stationary industrial facilities, portable sources, mobile sources (including transportation hubs), and area sources. The Unit Manager will also supervise other engineers and provide professional engineering advice and leadership to grow the technical competency and knowledge of the unit.
 
What you will do:

• Serve as the technical expert for environmental engineering analysis related to improving air quality in overburdened communities, providing recommendations and direction on regulations, permit compliance and policy development.
• Participate in the development, planning and implementation of air quality targets protective of human health.
• Engage with Tribes, environmental justice and community organizations, environmental organizations, private sector entities, other external stakeholders and external parties in developing related regulatory framework, analyses, and orders.
• Liaise with local air pollution control authorities on environmental justice regulatory activities related to Section 3 activities of the Climate Commitment Act.
• Provide policy and planning support, advice, and technical expertise to support rulemaking related to improving air quality in overburdened communities.
• Identify and analyze regulatory implications of federal and state laws, rules, and policies.
• Interact with the Environmental Justice Council, overburdened communities, Tribes, regulated entities, local clean air agencies, Department of Health, other agencies, stakeholders, and impacted parties.
• Provide advice and support to AQP and Ecology leadership related to improving air quality in overburdened communities.

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

 

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1:

• An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
• Five years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

 
Option 2:

• A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
• Four years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

 
Option 3:

• A Ph.D. with major study in one of the following engineering fields: civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
• Three years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

Additional Requirements:

• Mastery of the principles, theories, and practices of environmental engineering to serve as an authority in extending existing approaches and applying new developments to investigate critical problems in air quality management or in making air emission decisions and recommendations which significantly change, interpret or develop important public programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in order to clearly, tactfully, and effectively communicate conflicting positions and potential solutions, particularly with respect to potentially difficult and sensitive issues with various agencies (federal and State, private companies, and members of the public).
• High degree of independence, initiative, and organization to manage efforts of the team and self and to carry work through to completion with little or no supervisory oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to simultaneously manage and complete multiple complex projects.

Note: Requirements for registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington are eight years of professional experience (which may include up to four years of college-level engineering education) and successful completion of sixteen hours of professional licensing exams. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option must achieve registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment in this class.
 
Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials. These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers: How to get your license: Professional engineer by comity

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Registration as a professional or environmental engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

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

• Knowledge of Washington State air pollution control law and regulations, including RCW 70.94.152, WAC 173-400, WAC 173-401 and WAC 173-460.
• Training or professional experience with environmental justice law and policy, research design and analytical methods, and regulatory analysis.
• Understanding of environmental justice evaluation in regulatory actions, enforcement and compliance, and the State and National Environmental Policy Acts.

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