Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) ) (Two Positions)

The Washington State Department of Ecology seeks two Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialists (Environmental Specialist 4) for its Eastern Regional Office in Spokane, WA. The roles involve implementing the Shoreline Management Act, negotiating with various entities on shoreline and wetland proposals, and coordinating state-level permitting. While the positions are based in Spokane, they offer up to 90% telework options, emphasizing flexibility and employee wellness.
The (SEA) programwithin the Department of Ecology is looking to fill two Shoreland, Wetland, Aquatic Resource Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) positions. These positions will be locatedin our Eastern Regional Office (ERO) in Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As a Wetlands / Shorelands Permit Specialist, you will serve as a senior section environmental specialist with responsibility for implementation of the Shoreline Management Act (SMA of 1971 (Chapter 90.58 RCW)) and its rules and state adopted Shoreline Master Programs. Your responsibilities will include negotiating technical and legal details on major shoreline and wetland proposals with local, state, and federal entities on project actions that may have inter-related environmental impacts. You will also serve as a senior environmental specialist on matters pertaining to wetlands, federal and state wetland guidance, and anti-degradation policies contained within (Chapter RCW 90.48) and coordinate the state level permitting response to federal permits issued under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, issuing permits under Section 401 of the Act.

Agency Mission : The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.

Program Mission : The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Tele-work options for this position : This position will be eligible for up to a 90% 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.Ecology employees may be eligible for the following :

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 . 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 role unique?

You will be joining a team of passionate public servants who work across a broad network of local wetlands and shorelands administrators and grant partners. You will get to work and build relationships with various partners, including tribes, local governments, non-profits, and state and federal agencies. This is a great opportunity to use creative and solution-oriented problem solving skills to protect and restore Washington’s wetlands and shorelands in the Eastern Region.

What you will do :
• Serve as a senior environmental section specialist with responsibility for implementation of the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) of 1971 (Chapter 90.58 RCW)) and its rules and state adopted Shoreline Master Programs.
• Coordinate the state level permitting response to project requests involving impacts to wetlands and other aquatic resources regulated under RCW 90.48 for non-federally regulated waters.
• Investigate and seek resolution of violations of RCW 90.48 involving wetlands and state regulated aquatic resources. Represent the agency as a senior environmental section specialist in enforcement actions, hearings, and legal proceedings.
• Identify, analyze, and make recommendations to local government officials on the identification and delineation of the Ordinary High Water Mark to determine the regulatory boundaries of Chapter 90.58 RCW, Shoreline Management Act.
• Understand and implement standardized protocols in the 1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual and the Regional Supplement to the Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual : Arid West Region, Western Mountains, Valleys, and Coast Region.
• Provide senior level technical review and evaluation of project impacts, shoreline and wetland mitigation plans according to state guidance.
• Serve as a senior environmental section specialist with responsibility for negotiating technical and legal details on major shoreline and wetland proposals with local, state, and federal entities, including briefing upper management on specific shoreline and wetland projects and issues, as needed.
• Draft appropriate scientific and technical permit conditions to ensure consistency with the SMA, Section 401 CWA, and RCW 90.48 WPCA, their rules, policies, regulations, and state-adopted plans.
• Act as reviewer and coordinator for US Army Corps of Engineers' permits issued to private and public entities in the Eastern Region under Section 404 of the Federal Clean Water Act.

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.

A total of nine years of experience and / or education as described below :
• Experience : Involving environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
• Education : Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other closely allied scientific field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position :

Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree - as listed above Years of professional level experience - as listed above Combination 1No college credit hours or degree9 years of experienceCombination 230-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits8 years of experienceCombination 360-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)7 years of experienceCombination 490-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits6 years of experienceCombination 5A Bachelor's Degree 5 years of experienceCombination 6A Master’s Degree3 years of experienceCombination 7A Ph.D.2 years of experience

Two years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment :
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Willingness and ability to occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and travel throughout the Eastern Region and less frequently across the state.

Desired Qualifications :
• Working knowledge, or the ability to read, understand, and interpret the State’s Revised Code of Washington’s (RCWs); 90.48, the Water Pollution Control Act, RCW 90.58, the Shoreline Management Act, and Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
• Working knowledge of wetland and riparian ecology, wetland delineation, and mitigation principles.
• Demonstrated ability to understand environmental legislation and regulations at the federal, state, and local level.

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