Senior Regulatory and Engineering Specialist (Environmental Engineer 6)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen 

The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Regulatory and Engineering Specialist (Environmental Engineer 6) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

As the Senior Regulatory and Engineering Specialist, you will be the statewide expert in the field of air pollution control policy. In this role, you will provide critical environmental engineering analysis, recommendations on policy development, and program direction related to the regulation and installation of emissions controls on point sources in Washington. You will work directly with local air agencies, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and other state-regulated sources and their consultants. Additionally, you will represent the Air Quality Program and the Agency on regional and national committees developing air quality policy, procedures, and guidance.
  
The mission of the Air Quality Program is to protect and improve air quality in Washington and to protect our State’s environment for current and future generations. In 2021, Washington’s Legislature passed the landmark Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – a sweeping piece of legislation that directs Ecology to develop and implement the state’s first Cap-and-Invest Program to help our state meet its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. 

• 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. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

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

The Senior Regulatory and Engineering Specialist supports the Air Quality Program (AQP)'s mission by developing interpretations and guidance for the implementation of point source air quality regulations. With your engineering acumen and expertise, you will also provide recommendations to AQP management on the need to develop or augment regulations to address specific air quality issues, such as permitting modifications, the scope of requirements, and modifications to state law for improved understanding and implementation.

Other duties will include: 

• Lead and support the development of permitting compliance and enforcement policies. 
• Develop regulatory approaches to require sources to reduce emissions or correct exceedances of emission limitations, standards, or ambient air quality standards.
• Negotiate Consent Orders, Compliance Orders, and compliance agreements of statewide, regional, and national significance.
• Work with other agencies and Ecology programs to coordinate energy and greenhouse gas policies with air quality regulations.
• Work with Ecology Region Offices, local clean air agencies, and the EPA to implement current and changing requirements of state and federal laws, regulations, and policies.
• Present to professional organizations and other groups on air quality issues.
• Represent the AQP in legal proceedings and legislative hearings based on air quality engineering and permitting principles and practices.

Learn more about what it is like to be an Engineer at the Department of Ecology.

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.

Option 1:

• An Engineer-in-Training Certificate or a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following engineering fields:  environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
• Six years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.  

Option 2:

• A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
• Five years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. 

Option 3:

• A Ph.D. with major study in one of the following engineering fields: environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related field.
• Four years of experience in environmental engineering.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington.

Note: Requirements for registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington are eight years of professional experience (which may include up to four years of college-level engineering education) and successful completion of sixteen hours of professional licensing exams. Applicants qualifying through the licensing equivalency option must achieve registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment in this class.
 
Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington prior to submitting their application materials.  These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State: Board of Registration for Professional Engineers: How to get your license: Professional engineer by comity.
 
Other requirements include:

• Demonstration of thorough knowledge of air pollution principles and practices.
• Demonstrated ability to synthesize data and provide regulatory and engineering analyses and recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with diverse groups of people and opinions to achieve desired outcomes.
• Strong writing skills to convey information in writing according to the needs of the audience.
• Strong oral communication and presentation skills to convey information according to the needs of the audience; receive and understand spoken information. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Registration as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington, or another state with registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. 

Desired Qualifications:

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

• A minimum of ten years of experience in air pollution control and permitting, with a minimum of six years after initial registration as a Professional Engineer.

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 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.
• Three professional references.
• A writing sample of yours from a previous outreach project that caters to specific interested stakeholder(s).

Note: 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 (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, email Andrew Hayes at: Andrew.Hayes@ecy.wa.gov.
• Please do not contact Andrew 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.

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 

Student debt - how working for Ecology can help:

• 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.

Collective Bargaining:

• This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. 

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 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.

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.