Environmental Engineer 5 (In Training) DOH7178
Join the Shellfish Growing Area Team within the Office of Environmental Health & Safety. The team is responsible for the classification of over 375,000 acres of commercial and recreational harvesting areas within Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the Pacific Coast, Willapa Bay, and Grays Harbor. We monitor marine water quality and assesses potential pollution sources within the watersheds surrounding the designated shellfish growing areas. Our risk assessments lead to the classification and harvest opportunities for commercial shellfish growers that ship their products throughout the world. Activities and actions completed by our Shellfish Growing Area Team are known and followed nation-wide.
The position is designated by the DOH Assistant Secretary and supports the mission by serving as the lead engineering expert within Environmental Health & Safety in the specialty of Shellfish Sanitation. The position is an integral part of a team with responsibilities to ensure areas where shellfish are grown meet stringent safety standards. The position works closely with other internal team members and develops and maintains partnerships with external local, state, federal, and tribal entities.
Responsibilities include:
- Determine the size and shape of shellfish harvesting closure zones needed around pollution discharges and spills of public health significance.
- Evaluate discharges from wastewater treatment plants, combined sewer overflows, industrial facilities, marinas, and nonpoint pollution sources to determine the dilution and dispersion of the pollutants in the marine water to determine where molluscan shellfish may be safe for consumption.
- This designated expert must also quickly determine necessary closure areas when pollution spills occur.
- Complete technical hydrographic studies using the expertise of federal and local partners to determine the potential impact from point sources.
The work is crucial in determining where shellfish can be harvested for interstate and international sales and by recreational shellfish harvesters. This position consults with local, federal, and tribal governments and agencies in long-term planning and studies to protect and enhance opportunities for shellfish harvesting and for beach swimming.
About the Training Plan
This Environmental Engineer 5 in-training position may be filled at the Environmental Engineer 3 (EE3) or Environmental Engineer 5 (EE5) level. If hired at the EE3 level, you will progress through a two-year training plan, promoting to an EE5 after the training period is done. It is aimed to help you gain the skills and experience necessary to become successful in the Shellfish Growing Area Section.
Starting salary ranges are listed under the required qualifications for each level. The salary range for the Environmental Engineer 5 goal job class is $6,908 - $9,296 monthly.
The duty station for this hybrid position is in Tumwater, WA. Telework (mobile work) is currently expected. The incumbent will work with their supervisor to establish a work schedule to include telework and reporting to the Tumwater duty station for work activities as needed.
Required Qualifications (EE 3 in-training):
$6,260 – 8,421 Monthly
- A Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or PhD with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
- Must be registered as a Professional Engineer in Washington State in a field relevant to this position or registered in another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option (comity) must achieve professional registration as an engineer in the State of Washington within five months of appointment.
- Minimum three years of experience in environmental engineering with at least one year of experience related to design, construction, and operation of sewage systems, including on-site sewage systems, wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection systems, combined sewer outfalls, ground water and surface water protection issues.
(Note: a masters in one of the above engineering fields will substitute for one year of the environmental engineering experience, a PhD will substitute for two)
Required Qualifications (EE5 in-training):
$6,908 – 9,296 Monthly
- A Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree, or PhD with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
- Must be registered as a Professional Engineer in Washington State in a field relevant to this position or registered in another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option (comity) must achieve professional registration as an engineer in the State of Washington within five months of appointment.
- Minimum five years of experience in environmental engineering with at least three years of experience related to design, construction, and operation of sewage systems, including on-site sewage systems, wastewater treatment plants, sewer collection systems, combined sewer outfalls, ground water and surface water protection issues. One year of experience evaluating point sources of water pollution including environmental modeling and tracer studies.