Regional Shoreline Planner (Environmental Planner 3) (In-Training)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The  Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a  Regional Shoreline Planner (Environmental Planner 3) (In-Training) position.  

This position will be located in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Please Note: The salary posted above includes the additional 5% premium pay that this position will receive due to its location in Shoreline, WA in King County.  
 
The Northwest Regional Office (NWRO), Shorelands and Environment Assistance Program is located in Shoreline, Washington and offers flexible work schedules and a dynamic, collaborative group of employees committed to protecting Washington's shorelands, wetlands and floodplains. Located adjacent to the City of Seattle, but also accessible to the Kitsap peninsula, Whidbey Island and the Cascade Mountains, Shoreline offers limitless urban or rural opportunities within close reach. The NWRO is located close to the expansive main campus of the University of Washington, providing both academic and cultural opportunities for you and your family to advance your education, career or feed your natural curiosity.

In this position, you will serve as an associate-level planner, providing planning, technical, and regulatory support to local governments in an assigned geographic area focusing on the development and administration of Shoreline Master Programs under the Shoreline Management Act.  You will also review shoreline development proposals, provide technical assistance on the administration of local Shoreline Master Program, conduct trainings and manage Coastal Zone Management grants.

Northwest SEA section staff embrace a work culture that is collaborative, inclusive, and respectful. Our work is dynamic and can gain widespread attention throughout the region. Staff in our section are passionate about their work and are known for proactively sharing their knowledge and mentoring colleagues new to coastal management work.

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Planner (EP) field and achieve the goal class of an EP3. Candidates will be considered at the EP2 and EP3 levels, depending on qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section. 

 

Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's 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.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on April 1, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before March 31, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.

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 
 

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 Strategic Plan. 
 

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?

In this position, you will have an opportunity to gain specialized skill and experience in Shoreline/Coastal Management.  The northwest region houses half the state’s population, for which regional Ecology staff manage close to 50% of the Agency’s environmental reviews, providing exposure to a significant percentage of the state’s shoreline management activities. The region also contains some intact natural areas, critically dependent on environmental protections developed and implemented by this position.

What you will do?

Shoreline Master Programs: Serve as project manager for Shoreline Master Program activities, including:

• Provide expertise and guidance in the development or amendment of shoreline master programs.
• Manage negotiations with local governments to ensure local master program amendments are consistent with the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) and the Shoreline Master Program guidelines.
• Manage the state review process for Shoreline Master Program amendments, conduct public hearings as necessary and assure compliance with applicable Washington Administrative Codes.
• Conduct research and prepare analyses, including legal implications, on shoreline issues for incorporation into master program amendments.
• Look for opportunities to engage in meaningful Tribal consultation and integrate environmental justice considerations into our SMA work.
• Participate in Program-wide work on SMA policy interpretation and the preparation of SMA guidance for local governments.
• Coordinate with program staff as needed regarding the above.

Permit Review:  File shoreline substantial development permits within assigned jurisdictions. Review and make recommendations for Ecology action on conditional use and variance permits. Assist other regional planners and programs with select complex permit issues. Recommend and assist with compliance actions as necessary.
 
Technical Assistance and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA):  Coordinate with program staff and local government personnel to provide appropriate help in SMA-related policy interpretations or training. Monitor and facilitate effective administration of SMP's in assigned communities.

• Monitor SEPA or permit notices and comments (as time allows) for shoreline related projects in assigned jurisdictions.
• Coordinate with local personnel to arrange trainings or other SMP implementation support.
• Respond to requests for technical assistance from local governments.

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.

 

At the Environmental Planner 2 level: Salary Range 52 ($4,722-$6,348 monthly) In-Training

Option One:

A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
AND
Three years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Options Two:
A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field,
AND
One year of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Option Three:
One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 1, at Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Planner 3 level: Salary Range 59 ($5,608-$7,543 monthly) Goal Class

Option One:

A Bachelor’s degree with a major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
AND
Four years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Options Two:
A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field,
AND
Two years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

Option Three:
One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2, at Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

Must be able to possess and maintain a valid driver's license. 

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

Shoreline Management Experience – professional experience working with the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) in either a planning context (i.e. Shoreline Master Program development or modification) or a permitting context (i.e. review or issuance of shoreline permits).  Knowledge of the relationship between the SMA and the Growth Management Act and Critical Areas Ordinances and their administrative rules.

Government Experience – experience working for a local, state, federal or tribal resource management agency in a planning, program management, policy, or regulatory capacity.

Planning – Able to apply the principles and processes of land use planning.  Knowledge of the authorities governing land use or environmental permitting processes, and the institutions that govern land use.  

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?

 

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.  

Application Instructions:

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

 

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.  
 
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

 

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

 
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.

Application Attestation: 

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. 
 

Other Information:

If you need assistance applying for this job, please call Human Resources at (360) 407-6186 or e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not call this number or send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.

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

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


Why work for Ecology?

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.

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.