Environmental Planner 3 (EP3) DOH8575

The State of Washington Dept. of Health is hiring an Environmental Planner 3 (EP3) for a home/field-based position covering Eastern WA. The role involves supporting water utilities in addressing climate change, infrastructure, and funding challenges, ensuring safe drinking water through community engagement and environmental justice initiatives. This hybrid position allows for remote work alongside field duties and collaboration with local partners.
Description

Environmental Planner 3 (EP3)

This is a home/field based, full-time, permanent position that covers the Eastern WA region.

The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) seeks a dedicated professional to support regional planning efforts and help water utilities address challenges such as climate change, infrastructure needs, and funding. This role plays a vital part in ensuring safe and reliable drinking water for all Washingtonians, with a strong focus on equity, environmental justice, and community engagement.

About the Role

As part of the Division of Environmental Public Health (EPH), you will:
• Support regional operations by assisting with fieldwork, inspections, sanitary surveys, and investigations.
• Provide technical guidance to water utilities, ensuring they can deliver safe and sustainable drinking water.
• Advance environmental justice through the Healthy Environments for All (HEAL) Act, working directly with tribal staff and communities.
• Collaborate with key community partners, including local governments, regional organizations, local health jurisdictions, tribal governments, and state agencies like the Washington State Department of Ecology.
• Participate in emergency response efforts and represent the region on internal and external teams.

Why Join Us?

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on public health, water safety, and environmental sustainability. By working alongside communities and agencies, you’ll help shape policies and strategies that ensure Washington’s drinking water remains safe, reliable, and accessible for generations to come.

Ready to make a difference? Apply today!

Location and Flexibility

Enjoy the flexibility of a hybrid work environment, balancing remote work with in-person collaboration. This role primarily serves the Eastern Washington Region, with fieldwork required across counties including Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima. Your official duty station will be home-based, work can be done at the nearest DOH facility (Spokane) when not traveling for field duties.

Required Qualifications (you must meet ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed as required.):

Experience defined below may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.

Option 1: Six (6) years of experience in urban, regional, or environmental planning; utility operations or management; government regulation of water, wastewater, or environmental health programs; and/or technical assistance providers working directly with utilities.

Option 2: A Bachelor's degree or above with a major emphasis in urban, regional, or environmental planning; environmental studies; land use or environmental law; public administration, geography, physical sciences, or engineering with an environmental emphasis; or closely related field and Two (2) years of experience in urban, regional, or environmental planning; utility operations or management; government regulation of water, wastewater, or environmental health programs; and/or technical assistance providers working directly with utilities.

Option 3: One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience providing training and technical assistance.
• Experience conducting technical reviews.
• Knowledge of public utility operations, management, and financing.
• Experience working with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Experience managing projects and working in a team environment.
• Familiarity with state and federal government funding programs used in Washington State for water utilities.

Benefits and Lifestyle

We prioritize your work-life balance and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages nationwide, tailored to support your lifestyle. Discover more about "Why DOH" by visiting Work@Health.

We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)

At DOH, we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs, and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, as outlined in our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health.

Conditions of Employment:

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

I am prepared, with or without accommodations, to do the following:
• Commit to a full-time 40-hour workweek schedule (flexible work schedule requests must be approved supervisor).
• Communicate through applications such as MS Teams and MS Outlook, and by phone while working remotely.
• Adjust my work schedule occasionally to align with business needs, which may entail working evenings and weekends
• Perform my job duties either remotely from home or in person at the designated DOH site location. That will include routinely conducting fieldwork at drinking water systems and facilities in the assigned counties and occasionally traveling across the state for training and other meetings.
• Fieldwork includes traversing difficult terrain and moving within drinking water facilities, including climbing stairs and ladders. Exposure to hazards may include the approved chemicals added to drinking water supplies.
• Occasional travel may be necessary, sometimes requiring overnight stays or trips out of state. You must be able to legally drive a vehicle or arrange alternative transportation for state business.
• Engage in emergency response exercises and high-priority assignments as assigned during emergency events.

APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:

To apply, click "Apply" and complete the application. Attach your resume, and cover letter.

In your Applicant Profile, include at least three professional references (including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led, if applicable). Please do not include private information such as social security number or year of birth.

Do attach the following:
• Resume
• Cover letter
• DD-214 (if applicable)

Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year

Do not include or attach the following – these documents or details will not be reviewed:
• REMOVE personal photos – do not submit any documents containing personal photos.
• Transcripts (unless specifically requested in the Application Directions)
• Certifications or Diplomas
• Projects or Portfolios
• Letters of Recommendation

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.

DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity.

Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need accommodation in the application or selection process, or need information in an alternative format, contact Andrea Thieme at andrea.thieme@doh.wa.gov. For general DOH recruitment questions, email the Talent Acquisition Team at employment@doh.wa.gov. Deaf or hard of hearing contact Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1; individuals outside of Washington State contact Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6874.

Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues.

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Supplemental Information

This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration.

Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.