Lead Spill ResponderDangerous Waste Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring aLead Spill Responder/Dangerous Waste Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4)within the Spill Prevention Preparedness and Response program.

Location:

• Eastern Region Office in Spokane WA.
• Upon hire you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• This position involves field work and office work; You may telework most of your office work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by December 18 2025
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

In this role you will respond to spills of oil and hazardous materials and respond to illegal drug manufacturing facilities to remove chemicals dangerous to human health and the environment. You will manage complex human health and environmental emergencies and as a result of our clean-up efforts will experience immediate benefit to Washingtons residents and environment. You will work with a multi-disciplinary team and use science to solve complex environmental and public health challenges. Working with other federal state local and tribal partners you will serve as Ecologys State On-Scene Coordinator leading the response and cleanup of complex environmental spills.

What you will do:

• Emergency Response to Spills & Threats: Respond to high-priority and complex environmental and human health emergencies including oil spills hazardous substances abandoned waste pressurized cylinders fish kills and illegal drug labs.

• Incident Command & Coordination: Serve as Initial Incident Commander / State On-Scene Coordinator directing spill containment cleanup resource deployment and multi-agency coordination.

• Hazardous Materials Operations: Perform hands-on cleanup and field operations: opening containers of unknowns sample collection field testing and hazard categorization overpacking and preparing waste for shipment.

• Dangerous Waste & Drug Lab Leadership: Lead regional coordination with law enforcement for clandestine drug lab responses and oversee dangerous waste management compliance disposal and emergency planning.

• Enforcement & Cost Recovery: Initiate enforcement recommendations issue Short-Form Penalties up to $5000 support cost recovery actions and testify in administrative or legal proceedings as needed.

• Team Leadership Training & Readiness: Provide training mentoring scheduling equipment readiness oversight HAZWOPER compliance tracking and ensure readiness of personnel and response assets.

• Equipment Vehicle & Instrument Management: manage operation calibration maintenance and safe use of response equipment vehicles boats and monitoring instrumentation.

• Documentation Reporting & Data Analysis: Prepare incident reports regulatory records waste tracking documents enforcement documentation and support regional data analysis and report preparation.
  

For detailed information on how we calculate experience please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:

Examples of how to qualify:

• 9 years of experience.
• 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associates degree).
• 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND a Bachelors degree.
• 3 years of experience AND a Masters degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

• Must hold and maintain a valid drivers license and be able to operate a motor vehicle.
• Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate and maintain the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing.
• Must pass a physical agilities test.
• Must be able to pass a detailed background check required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
• Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in Spills Program Policy and Procedures within 6 months of entering the position.
• Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification.
• Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced drivers license) to permit travel to Canada in the event of a transboundary spill.
• This position is required to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam which may include a stress test.
• This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
• This position is required to perform after-hours on-call duty on a rotation.
• Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses or certifications or if any of the above are revoked expired or suspended for any reason.
• Must live within a 60-minute commuting distance of the Eastern Region Office.

Desired Qualifications:

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information please visit.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click Apply at the top of this page. Complete the entire application including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions and attach:

• Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly.A resume will not substitute for the work experience section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as see resume may be considered incomplete.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at or
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-.

Questions

• For specific questions about the position location options schedule or duties please contact Sam Hunn at
• If you need assistance applying for this job are inquiring about the status of your application would like to request the full position description or have any other questions please contact the Recruitment Team at

The Spills Programs missionis to protect preserve and restore Washingtons environment. Our vision is to create a zero spills world.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washingtons environmental protection agency we are deeply committed to protecting preserving and enhancing Washingtons environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land air water and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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 invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership effective resource management teamwork professionalism and accountability.

Diversity Equity Inclusion and Respect (DEIR)are core values central to Ecologys 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.

We believe thatDEIRis 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.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s)Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)Vacation Sick and other Leave11 Paid Holidays per yearPublic Service Loan ForgivenessTuition Waiver Long Term Disability&Life InsuranceDeferred Compensation ProgramsDependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)Employee Assistance ProgramCommute Trip Reduction IncentivesCombined Fund DriveSmartHealth*Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology please visit ourwebsite explore Working at Ecology check out ourStrategic Plan and connect with us onLinkedInFacebookInstagramYouTube or ourblog.

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.

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

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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