Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Rulemaking Lead (Environmental Planner 3) within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program.

Location Options:

This position can be based at any of the following duty stations:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.
• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, WA.
• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• Richland Field Office in Richland, WA.
• Vancouver Field Office in Vancouver, WA.

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

Note: If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary will include an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County. Salary range: $5,776 - $7,770 monthly.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for up to 90% telework with the expectation of 8 hours per pay period spent in the office.
• Schedules depend on position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: 

• Apply by April 17, 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Ecology may not consider applications received after the above date.

Duties

Are you interested in helping reduce toxic chemicals and safely manage dangerous waste in Washington state? Do you enjoy managing complex projects, engaging diverse interested parties with conflicting interests, and writing and analyzing laws and rules? As a rulemaking lead, you will learn the rulemaking process, enhance your project management skills, work with interested parties, and join a collaborative and creative team.

In this position, you will:

• Serve as the rulemaking lead for the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting Rule: Chapter 173-337 WAC. You will: 
  • Lead the effort to revise the rule on a five-year cycle. 
  • Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team to research and analyze toxics in consumer products. 
  • Support the Safer Products for Washington team with regulatory interpretations during rule implementation and compliance.
• Serve as a rulemaking lead and guide the development of rules for the Hazardous Waste Toxics Reduction program.
• Effectively plan and manage rulemaking projects from start to finish. This includes tracking timelines and tasks, clarifying priorities, anticipating obstacles, identifying alternatives, and managing change over a long period.
• Apply high emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrate integrity and respectful conduct.
• Apply excellent written and verbal communication skills, including:
  • Communicating complex and controversial issues to a variety of audiences and situations.
  • Communicating effectively and timely with coworkers, interested parties, and the public.
  • Negotiating, using conflict resolution strategies, and facilitating team discussions that result in a decision.
  • Writing rule language, reports, and outreach material (such as notices, webpages, blogs, social media posts, media releases, and articles).
• Establish and maintain cooperative, respectful relationships with a variety of groups and individuals.
• Analyze data and communicate your interpretation effectively to a wide variety of audiences.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in these fields or related fields: project management, program development, or planning related to environmental, land use, urban, regional, natural resource, landscape architecture, geography, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
• Education involving a major study in one of these fields or related fields: humanities, business, health and medicine, interdisciplinary studies, public and social services, science-technology-engineering-math, social sciences, land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience.
• 7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 5 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 1 year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2 at the Department of Ecology.

Desired Qualifications:

Demonstrated experience:

• Implementing the Washington State rulemaking process, including laws, rules, and agency policies related to the rulemaking process.
• Working with environmental regulations at the federal, state, and local level. Experience includes reviewing, analyzing, summarizing, communicating, compliance with, and developing environmental regulations.
• Researching and assessing impacts of dangerous waste and toxic chemicals to environmental health and human health.
• Working with equity, environmental justice, and social and economic-based environmental health disparities.
• Serving as a public hearing officer for events in person and virtually. 
• Communicating clearly and accurately in a non-English language, both verbally and in writing. 
• Effectively engaging with Tribal governments, organizations, and representatives.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.

Supplemental Information

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

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.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach:

• Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Stacey Callaway at cals461@ecy.wa.gov 
• If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov

About the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program

The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction 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.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

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 

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.

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.

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

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.