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Senior Dangerous Waste Rule Writer



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.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

Do you want to influence how we regulate dangerous waste in Washington state to help protect residents and the environment?

Are you detail oriented and comfortable working with complex documents? Do you enjoy distilling technical and regulatory information into interpretations and responses that are correct and easily understood?
 
Consider our Senior Dangerous Waste Rule Writer (Regulatory Analyst 3) position in the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program.
 
The HWTR Program strives to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, regulating the generation and management of dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination.

This position is part of a diverse and innovative team that has a collaborative approach to our work. We strive to create rules, policies, statutory interpretations, and regulatory implementation, which are equivalent and consistent with regulation, enforceable, and implementable. The unit in which this position is located has a vision and mission of:
 
  • Providing excellent service to support the HWTR's waste reduction vision.
  • Maintaining and supporting the consistent development and application of the dangerous waste regulations across Washington State.
  • Providing consistent internal and external technical assistance to help ensure dangerous waste is managed properly.

This position directly influences the state’s Dangerous Waste Regulations. You would review new EPA hazardous waste regulations, state-legislated changes, and Ecology-proposed changes for adoption into Chapter 173-303 WAC. You would primarily be responsible for:
  • Chapter 173-303 WAC rule development and rulemaking.
  • Regulatory analysis and policy development.
  • Maintaining the EPA Authorization of the State Dangerous Waste Program, which includes the HWTR program, Nuclear Waste Program, and elements of the Solid Waste Management Program.

Changes to regulations must be equivalent, consistent, enforceable, and implementable. Rulemaking involves:
 
  • Regulatory document analysis.
  • Policy analysis.
  • Complex document writing.
  • Working with various subject matter experts, industry, Tribal Governments, and interested members of the public.

This position will also be involved with interpreting the State Dangerous Waste Regulations, providing technical assistance, and developing statewide guidance and possible training.
This position is open for recruitment statewide. Your duty station may be located in one of the following:
 

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

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

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 an initial screening date of August 15, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 14, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.


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.

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. 
  • 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.

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
This position offers the opportunity to affect statewide dangerous waste regulations and policy; You will have a number of priorities and duties, which generally include:
 
  • Lead the chapter 173-303 WAC State Dangerous Waste Regulations rulemaking team to develop updates to these regulations based on EPA regulatory changes, state legislative mandates, and Ecology-suggested updates. Support coordination among the HWTR program rule writers.
  • Lead the State Dangerous Waste Program EPA Authorization team to prepare the EPA Authorization application after each chapter 173-303 WAC rulemaking.
  • Attend EPA, ASTWMMO, and professional conferences representing HWTR.
  • Conduct highly specialized and in-depth analysis of technical issues related to the development, interpretation, technical assistance, and implementation of State Dangerous Waste Regulations.
  • Recommend decisions to HWTR management regarding complex and politically sensitive policy issues that may have significant impact on the regulated community. There may also be significant public interest in our regulatory actions and rulemaking that affect communities, including overburdened communities, where Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities or dangerous waste generators are located.
  • Respond to technical assistance requests from Ecology staff (e.g. permit writers, inspectors), businesses, the public, and other regulated entities seeking regulatory interpretation of the dangerous waste regulations, policies or guidance. 
  • Incorporate environmental justice, into rule development projects in compliance with Ecology policy and state law. 
  • Conduct analysis in coordination with other subject matter experts to determine the best regulatory approach for emerging wastes under State Dangerous Waste Regulations. 
  • Provide expertise on State Dangerous Waste Regulations and federal RCRA regulations to other Ecology programs, such as working with the Solid Waste Management Programs on moderate risk waste management, paint recycling product stewardship program, emerging waste recycling programs (e.g., EV batteries, PV panels), and participate in the Product Stewardship and JAG teams.
  • Participate in State Dangerous Waste Program coordination networks such as RulesNet (HWTR’s Rulemaking Network), Agency Rule Leads group, CompNet (Compliance Network), Corrective Action Network (CAN), and Permit Issues Team (PIT).


Qualifications

The goal class for this position is Regulatory Analyst 3 (RA3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Regulatory Analyst 2 and 3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the RA2 level then they will be placed into a training program to become an RA3 within a specified period of time  

Required 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.

RA2 In-Training Level (Salary range 60: $5,268-$6,908 Monthly)

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in:
  • Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, environmental science, environmental management, or natural science, law or related field.
AND
  • Three years of  professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or three years doing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent. 

Option 2:
A Master’s degree or above involving major study in:
  • Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, environmental science, environmental management, or natural science, law or related field.
AND
  • Two years of  professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or three years doing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent. 

RA3 Level (Goal Class)(Salary range 65: $5,960-$7,820 Monthly)

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s degree involving major study in:
  • Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, environmental science, environmental management, or natural science, law or related field.
AND
  • Four years of  professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or three years doing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent. 
 
Option 2:
A Master’s degree or above involving major study in:
  • Economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, environmental science, environmental management, or natural science, law or related field.
AND
  • Three years of  professional research or analysis experience with an institution engaged primarily in regulatory matters; or three years doing regulatory analysis for Washington state government, one year of which must have been at the second level or equivalent. 

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 
  • Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
  • Be available to represent Ecology at public hearings (both in-person and remote) related to chapter 173-303 WAC rulemaking.

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

  • Demonstrated knowledge of Washington State rulemaking processes.

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.
  • 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 have specific questions about the position, please email Jonathan Jennings at: Jonathan.Jennings@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Jonathan 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:

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.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram 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.