6PPD/q Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

The Hazardous Waste Toxic Reduction Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a 6PPD-q Planner (Environmental Planner 4) position.

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

This position is located in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.

This position is located in our Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.

This position is located in our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA. 

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

Please Note: The salary posted above does not include the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive if this position's location is in King County.  

Are you interested protecting people and the environment from hazardous chemicals? As our new planner, you will serve as the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program’s expert, responsible for coordinating the Program’s response on 6PPD/q, the chemical responsible for Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome (URMS). 6PPD is a preservative found in vehicle tires that breaks down to 6PPD quinone, which is a chemical that is shown to be toxic to some fish species, especially Coho. During some storm events tire wear particles are transported into streams causing 6PPD/q to enter the streams which can be toxic to fish, especially migrating Coho. Working with our team of toxicologists and chemists, this position will assist in coordinating projects to look for alternatives to 6PPD for use in vehicle tires.

Additionally, you will be responsible for developing an action plan (AP) for 6PPD/q. CAP’s and AP’s identify the potential health and environmental effects of persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic (PBT) chemicals and other chemicals that may not qualify as a PBT’s, and recommend strategies to reduce or eliminate those impacts.

 

This work includes addressing environmental justice by prioritizing communities and vulnerable populations that have the highest risks or impacts from hazardous chemicals. It will also address considerations around vulnerable wildlife populations.

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.  

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 is not currently required to work in the office on a regular basis. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. Looking ahead, Ecology has recently updated the agency policies on telework and flexible and compressed work schedules. Applicants with questions about position location options, telework, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” 

 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with the next screening date of October 6, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before October 5, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

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

Chemicals of emerging concern can be issues for both human health and the environment. In this role you can take an active part in how the state responds to hazardous chemicals. Chemical Action Plans (CAP) and Action Plans (AP) identify the potential health and environmental effects of persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic (PBT’s) chemicals, and recommend strategies to reduce or eliminate those impacts. As the 6PPD Planner you will get to develop an action plan for 6PPD/q which will be used by state agencies, local governments, Tribes, environmental groups and others who will implement the recommendations of the action plan to reduce the impacts of 6PPD/q on fish and the environment. This position will be at the forefront of our response to 6PDD/q and will help to coordinate the efforts of the program in looking for alternative to 6PPD in vehicle tires.

What you will do: 

Qualifications

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1:

A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in environmental, or natural resource planning, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, social science or closely related field.

Five (5) years of experience in environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Experience may include a combination of the following:

Option 2:

A Master’s degree with a major emphasis in environmental, or natural resource planning, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, social science or closely related field.

Three (3) years of experience in environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Experience may include a combination of the following:

 

Option 3:

One (1) year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3 at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

Experience with environmental justice data and methods, and social and economic based environmental health disparities.

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?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 

When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

 

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.

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. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Nathan Lubliner at: Nathan.Lubliner@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Nathan to inquire about the status of your application.

 

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

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 

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.