Toxics Reduction Engineer
Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process. Medical and religious accommodations will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 Vaccination” in the subject line.
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
Do you want to use your engineering knowledge to solve complex environmental issues? Are you interested in joining a dynamic team that works directly with businesses to eliminate hazardous chemical use and prevent pollution?
Ecology is looking for an engineer to join and grow our Toxics Reduction Technical Assistance team. In this position, you will learn and apply engineering techniques in the specialty areas of pollution prevention, safer chemical use, green engineering, resource conservation and hazardous waste management. You will work directly with Washington State Businesses to help them limit their waste, conserve resources, and save money.
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Environmental Engineer 2 position. This position is located Northwest Regional Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. If hired as an engineer-in-training, you will be placed into an onboarding program to build experience in the world of pollution prevention and toxics reduction. This is a great opportunity to learn from experienced technical assistance providers in a pollution prevention program that has been successfully providing consulting expertise to Washingtonians for 30 years.
The mission of the HWTR Program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination. The HWTR vision is to be national leaders in minimizing and eliminating the impacts of toxic chemicals and hazardous waste.
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 embrace the value of people.
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.
- A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
- Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.
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. This position may be expected to work in the office up to 1 day a week. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing.
Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to this position's location in King County.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of September 7, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 6, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
Duties
What you'll do:
- Provide engineering consultation to Washington State businesses related to pollution prevention and toxic reduction.
- Conduct technical assistance visits to review a facilities operations, collect baseline information, and identify opportunities for pollution prevention and toxic reduction.
- Work with Washington state businesses to implement toxic reduction projects focused on promoting safer alternatives, eliminating toxic chemical use, reducing hazardous waste generation, and conserving resources.
What makes this role unique?
- You will be joining a dynamic and dedicated team of engineers, scientists, and toxicologists focused on reducing toxic chemical use “upstream”.
- You will learn from seasoned technical assistance experts.
- This in-training plan will allow you to develop a unique consulting skillset that can be applied at a wide range of industrial sectors, such as aerospace, healthcare, surface finishing, and large scale painting operations.
Qualifications
This is an In Training opportunity: The goal class for this position is an Environmental Engineer 2 (EE2). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the College Career Graduate - Engineering Technology, the EE1, and EE2 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the Engineering Technology or EE1 level, they will be hired at that level and will be placed in a training program to become an EE2 within a specified period of time.
Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, volunteer and lived-experience. See below for how you may qualify.
At the College Career Graduate – Engineer Technology level (Salary Range 49: $3,887 - $5,102 monthly)
An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
(NOTE: College or university students, including state employees, who are enrolled and scheduled to complete their degree requirements within 9 months may apply. The degree must be achieved, however, prior to appointment.)
At the Environmental Engineer 1 level (Salary Range 55: $4,509 - $5,913 monthly)
Option 1
- An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
- One year of environmental engineering experience.
Experience may include a combination of the following:
- Provides technical assistance to consultants, industry, local authorities, the public, municipal officials, agency staff and engineers on environmental engineering problems and regulatory compliance
- Makes general investigations and/or surveys of waste generation, water and air pollution, or other environmental engineering problems
- Prepares engineering reports and technical data
- Provides engineering review for projects receiving agency administered grant and loan funds
Option 2
- A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
At the Environmental Engineer 2 level (Salary Range 61: $5,229 - $6,862 monthly)
Option 1
- An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field.
- Two (2) years of environmental engineering experience.
Experience may include a combination of the following:
- Provides technical assistance to consultants, industry, local authorities, the public, municipal officials, agency staff and engineers on environmental engineering problems and regulatory compliance
- Makes general investigations and/or surveys of waste generation, water and air pollution, or other environmental engineering problems
- Prepares engineering reports and technical data
- Provides engineering review for projects receiving agency administered grant and loan funds
Option 2
- A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
- One (1) year of environmental engineering experience, which may include a combination of experience as described above.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must have 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.
- Work experience within the fields of waste reduction, pollution prevention, green chemistry, safer alternative selection, or energy and water conservation is highly preferred.
- Knowledge of industrial processes involving hazardous substances, generation of hazardous or solid wastes, air emissions and wastewater discharges.
- Ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals and exercise the soft skills needed to network within business and academic communities. This includes an ability to:
- Ask questions, listen to, and understand businesses paint points and goals
- Meet your clients where they are at and recommend actions or ideas that are tailored and scoped appropriately
- Lead by example and go the extra mile to offer and follow up on creative service opportunities
- Ability to prepare high quality materials for technical information (written and through presentation) with clarity to a wide audience.
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 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
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 (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.
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 Myles Perkins at: Myles.Perkins@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Myles 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.
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
Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
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.