Sepa Specialist (Environmental Planner 4) / In-Training

Monday

• Friday 8am

• 5pm

In-Office

This posting has been reopened and is open until filled.  The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time.  It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Schedule:  This is a full-time position. Work schedule is normally Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  however, you must be willing to workdays or hours outside of your approved schedule as required to meet business needs and will spend time traveling during and outside normal work hours throughout the state, including overnight stays.

What you will be doing:

You will develop conditions of construction and operation facility and site operations. You will be directly responsible for evaluating applications for or amendments to site certification and oversee compliance with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). You will be responsible for making recommendations to the SEPA Responsible Official on proposals in front of EFSEC.

Who we are looking for:

You're an energetic and ambitious individual who is a quick learner that loves talking to people and finding solutions. You're a creative self-starter, and helping others is a natural impulse. You enjoy working with a fast-paced team with competing priorities. You value our environment and serving our public.

Who we are:

EFSEC was created in 1970 to provide "one stop" siting and permitting for large energy projects. By establishing the Council, the state legislature centralized the evaluation and oversight of large energy facilities within one state agency. The legislature cited the necessity of balancing the need for new energy facilities with the broad interests of the public. As part of the balancing process, the Council must take into account protection of environmental quality, the safety of energy facilities, and concern for energy availability.

The Council's responsibilities are listed in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 80.50. These responsibilities include siting large natural gas and oil pipelines, thermal electric power plants that are 350 megawatts or greater and their dedicated transmission lines, new oil refineries or large expansions of existing facilities, and underground natural gas storage fields. Energy facilities of any size that exclusively use alternative energy resources (wind, solar, geothermal, landfill gas, wave or tidal action, or biomass energy) can opt-in to the EFSEC review and certification process as with certain electrical transmission lines. EFSEC's authority does not extend to hydropower plants or thermal electric plants that are less than 350 megawatts.

For facilities under its jurisdiction, EFSEC has been delegated authority by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Federal Clean Air Act. EFSEC also ensures that effective and coordinated nuclear emergency response plans are in place and satisfactorily tested for the Columbia Generating Station nuclear power plant located on the Hanford Site in central Washington.

Some of the duties include:

• Acquire, understand, and blend multi-disciplinary information from multiple technical and sources.

• Condense complex project information into coherent descriptions of proposed actions as defined in SEPA.

• Prepare SEPA environmental review and determination recommendations to review with the EFSEC Responsible Official.

• Describe (in-writing), potential environmental impacts to both the built environment and the natural environment, and other applicable resources pursuant to SEPA rules and guidance.

• Submit project documents to the Ecology SEPA Register on behalf of EFSEC at the direction of the SEPA Responsible Official.

• Ensure the appropriate SEPA documents are submitted to the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Register in a timely manner and that all agency SEPA documents are complete and entered into the database accurately.

• Provide guidance and interpretation of the SEPA policy and environmental technical assistance to the other EFSEC staff, the EFSEC Council, applicants, certificate holders, and the public.

• Present oral and written reports on SEPA matters to EFSEC Directors and Council members. Make recommendations to EFSEC Directors and Council members on SEPA and issues for consideration and action by the EFSEC Council.

• Provide technical assistance to EFSEC Directors and the EFSEC Council by answering questions and preparing reports on SEPA issues.

• Provide technical guidance and develop tools for SEPA compliance for applicants, certificate holders, and other EFSEC staff for use in the siting review process.

• Assist EFSEC Directors and other staff in the development of interagency and independent consulting services contracts by providing input on scope of work.

• Review invoices and contractor reports for consistency with contract requirements.

• Assist other staff in the development of notification lists and noticing materials based on regulatory requirements for public distribution.

• Other tasks as assigned.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

Conflict of Interest: RCW 42.52 limits EFSEC's ability to employ any person who owns stock in any company the Council regulates or is otherwise financially interested in such company.

REQUIRED:

• Experience may substitute for education

Environmental Planner 3:

Range 59:  $5,341 to $7,184 per month

• A Master's degree 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 allied field

• Alternatively qualifying experience may substitute for education totaling seven years

• 2 years of applied experience in SEPA review, or a closely allied field or one year of experience as an Environmental Planner 2

• Experience coordinating application review and SEPA discussions with stakeholder groups consisting of technical experts, resource agencies, environmental community, tribal governments and local government entities.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills using a variety of methods (for example, writing reports and memo, preparing and delivering presentations, speaking to groups of various sizes and interests).

Environmental Planner 4:

Range 63:  $5,900 to $7,932 per month

• A Master's degree 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 allied field

• Alternatively qualifying experience may substitute for education totaling eight years

• Three years of applied experience in SEPA review, or a closely allied field or one year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3.

• Experience coordinating application review and SEPA discussions with stakeholder groups consisting of technical experts, resource agencies, environmental community, tribal governments and local government entities.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills using a variety of methods (for example, writing reports and memo, preparing and delivering presentations, speaking to groups of various sizes and interests).

Demonstration of Values and Core Competencies (expected of all employees):

• Respect: We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.

• Professionalism: We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.

• Integrity: We do the right things for the right reasons- trusting others to do the same.

• Accountability: With courage, we hold ourselves and each other accountable for exhibiting respect, professionalism, and integrity.

• Customer Focus

• Responsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customer to identify needs; assumes responsibility for own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.

• Results Focus

• Accepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results; prioritizes tasks appropriately, overcomes obstacles, works with others as necessary, and meets deadlines and quality standards.

• Communication Skills

• Demonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension, writing, listening, speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.

• Adaptability/Flexibility

• Open to new ideas. Responds constructively to change and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor, adjusts plans to meet changing needs.

• Self-Development

• Demonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up-to-date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seeks developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities.

• Continuous Process Improvement

• Uses Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates on process improvement projects/teams. Actively engages in section/division huddles and incorporates visual management into daily work.

• Anti-Racism Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, and Anti-Racism

• Possesses a working understanding of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI); engages productively in conversations about race and in organizational efforts to promote antiracism and EDI; undertakes self-examinations and participates in trainings on antiracism and EDI. Possesses ability to and willingness to identify and actively combat racist policies to achieve equitable outcomes.

Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:

• A letter of interest, (no more than 2 pages) explaining how you have prepared yourself for this position.
• A current resume or CV, detailing experience, and education
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

NOTE:  By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.  A resume will not substitute for completing the "duties summary" section of the application.  Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified.

Union Inclusion:

This position is included in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE).

Opportunity for All:

The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council's celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

Contact Information:

For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact Angie Anderson or email jobs@des.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.