Cost Reimbursement Coordinator / Permit Writer (Environmental Specialist 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Water Resources (WR) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Cost Reimbursement Coordinator / Permit Writer (Environmental Specialist 4) position. This position is 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. 

In this position, you will serve as a permit writer and the primary point of contact for cost reimbursement inquires and requests for Water Resources Inventory Area (WRIA) 1. As the WRIA 1 cost reimbursement coordinator, you will ensure projects are carried out in a streamlined manner by developing and managing contracts with water right applicants and consultants, overseeing and tracking contract budgets, and providing support and coordination among external and internal audiences. This includes field work opportunities, and an opportunity to work along-side a fantastic team of Water Resources staff.

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

Program Mission: The mission of the Water Resources (WR) program is to manage water resources to meet the current and future needs of the natural environment and Washington's communities. 

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work schedule upon completion of initial training and onboarding. 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 30, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before April 29, 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.

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.

What makes this role unique?

In this role, you will regularly interact with customers with inquiries, water rights applicants and their consultants, water system representatives, Tribal representatives, and other interested partners. You will collaborate with technical leads, cost reimbursement applicants and cost reimbursement contractors to develop and oversee cost reimbursement water right applications.

What you will do:

• Develop cost reimbursement contracts between Ecology and water right applicants, and work assignments for cost reimbursement contractors.

• Provide assistance and feedback regarding highly complex technical analysis and legal framework to applicants and their consultants.

• Review field and office investigations, legal analyses, Reports of Examination, and other documents submitted by consultants under cost reimbursement for new water rights and water right changes for technical accuracy and consistency with state water code. Ensure consultant-generated water right decision materials meet standards and are legally defensible.

• Supply testimony and represent Ecology in cost reimbursement related legal proceedings.

• Perform field and office investigations of applications for new water rights and changes to existing water rights and prepare Reports of Examination and other decision documents.

• Develop and prepare technical materials, gather legally defensible data, consider stakeholder input to gain consensus when possible, and conduct necessary water rights/water law research in making permit decisions.

• Evaluate mitigation proposals.

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:

• Professional-level experience in: 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 allied field.

See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position:

Possible Combinations.College credit hours or degree - as described above. Years of professional level experience - as described above. Combination 1No college credit hours or degree.9 years of experience.Combination 2I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.8 years of experience.Combination 3I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).7 years of experience.Combination 4I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.6 years of experience.Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree.5 years of experience.Combination 6 A Master's Degree.3 years of experience.Combination 7     A Ph.D. 2 years of experience.

OR

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

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must obtain 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.

• Water law

• Interest in and experience understanding the legal doctrines and policy intricacies of water management in Washington State.

• Contract management

• Experience in contract development and management, including experience negotiating scopes of work and overseeing contract deliverables.

• Geographic Information System

• Proficiency in ArcGIS tools.

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

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.

Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate's formal authorization.

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 have specific questions about the position, please email Kelly Hamilton at Kelly.Hamilton@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Kelly 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.