Environmental Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen The Office of Columbia River (OCR) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Environmental Engineer (Environmental Engineer 3) (In-Training) position. This position can be located in Spokane, WA or in Union Gap, WA . Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Engineer field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Engineer 3. Candidates will be considered at the Environmental Engineer 2 and the Environmental Engineer 3 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.
The Office of Columbia River (OCR) is a small, innovative and fast-paced water supply development program within the Department of Ecology. You will serve as a registered Professional Engineer within OCR. You will provide professional environmental engineering support for major Columbia River Basin and Yakima Basin Integrated Plan projects, including final review and/or approval of detailed engineering plans and specifications, site plans, engineering reports and/or operation and maintenance of environmental and irrigation systems; and permitting and policy evaluations of projects such as storage reservoirs (surface and aquifer), water conservation projects and pump exchanges. You will serve as an OCR project manager and contribute to a highly skilled, technically focused project team, in addition to administering and overseeing grants, contracts and work orders authorized under RCW 90.90 (Columbia River Basin), RCW 90.38 (Yakima River Basin Integrated Water Resource Management Plan).
Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 40% 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 August 21, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before August 20, 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.
What makes this role unique? As the Office of Columbia River (OCR) professional environmental engineer, you will be responsible for managing grants, contracts, interagency agreements and other various funding agreements authorized within the applicable State Capital Budget appropriations managing large scale water supply projects that have engineering, conservation and/or politically sensitive technical components throughout central and eastern Washington. This includes new project development and engineering project review as part of a variety of Yakima Basin Integrated Plan technical subcommittees and Columbia River Technical Advisory Groups, contract management, site visits, funding proposal reviews, and permit development.
In this role, you will advise OCR management on emerging engineering, technical and policy issues that are barriers to program implementation and propose new technical approaches and strategic policy development or law changes to overcome those problems.
What you will do: Perform independent, professional engineering review of technical reports, feasibility reports, construction plans and specifications for water storage and water conveyance facilities. Provide policy and water code permitting support on major project developments, such as storage projects, water conservation projects and pump exchanges. Provide engineering expertise and assist in the development of policies, procedures, and administrative rules to achieve OCR's mission. Coordinate new project development in OCR, including feasibility, and coordination with other programs regarding state water law and policies, Clean Water Act implementation, 401 certifications and permitting. Manage OCR grant projects that require engineering expertise, including storage, conservation, and pump exchanges, which includes performing site visits. Author sections and review Reports of Examination with a focus on engineering aspects of project development. Review engineering reports, technical reports, and project feasibility reports for OCR grants and make recommendations on project viability. Required Qualifications: The goal class for this position is an Environmental Engineer 3 (EE3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for both the EE3 and the EE2 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements at the EE2 level, then they will be hired as an EE2 and will be placed in a training program to become an EE3 within a specified period of time.
At the Environmental Engineer 2 level: Pay Range 61 ($5,783 - $7,779 – monthly) (In-Training) Option 1: An Engineer-In-Training Certificate or a Bachelor's degree with a major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical or related field AND Two years of experience in environmental engineering. OR A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields, sanitary, water resource, civil, geotechnical, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field. AND One year of experience in environmental engineering. At the Environmental Engineer 3 level: Pay Range 67 ($6,705 - $9,021 monthly) (Goal Class) Option 1: Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, AND Three (3) years of experience in environmental engineering. Option 2: Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, AND A Master's degree with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field, AND Two (2) years of experience in environmental engineering. Option 3: Registration as a Professional Engineer in the state of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington, AND A Ph.D. with major study in one of the following engineering fields: sanitary, civil, geotechnical, water resource, environmental, chemical, mechanical, or related field, AND One (1) year of experience in environmental engineering. Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: At EE3 level: Must also be registered as a Professional Engineer in the State of Washington or another state based on registration requirements equivalent to those in Washington. If registered in another qualifying state, must acquire Washington professional engineering registration within six months of employment. Must possess a valid driver's license. NOTE : Requirements for professional registration as an 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 professional registration as an engineer in the state of Washington within six months of appointment to this class.
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: 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 . 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: . 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 (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 Melissa Downes at: . Please do not contact Melissa to inquire about the status of your application.
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 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.
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