Environmental Justice Senior Policy Advisor

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.  

The Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Environmental Justice Senior Policy Advisor (Environmental Planner 5) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. 

We are looking for someone with a passion for advancing equity and justice in governance, and who shares our commitment to building an anti-racist and equity-focused institution. As the Environmental Justice Senior Policy Advisor, you are an agency expert on matters relating to environmental justice (EJ), equity, and the WA EJ law (Chapter 70A.02 RCW). 

Accomplishing this work involves coordination and collaboration with communities, Tribes, federal government, advocacy organizations, legislative representatives, regulated businesses, and others. You will work with leadership across the agency to develop strategic direction, create metrics, and track progress towards achieving EJ goals. Your lived and professional expertise inform your work and strategy to support Ecology’s mission to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. and is eligible for a telework/in-office hybrid schedule. You will have the opportunity to telework the majority of your work hours, and should live within a commutable distance to our Lacey office for periodic in-person meetings and activities.  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of May 13, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before May 12, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

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

Ecology established the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice (OEEJ) in 2021. Our mission is to eliminate environmental and health disparities for communities most at risk from pollution and other environmental impacts. We achieve this through fair and just practices that support the well-being and resilience of Ecology’s workforce and everyone in Washington. Core to this mission is having an organization culture and practices where the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect are reflected in who we are, where we work, and what we do.  

What makes this role unique? 

This position leads agency efforts to evaluate and address complex and critical EJ issues and activities of statewide significance. This includes assessing and setting agency direction on EJ strategic goals, and finding innovative and effective actions to understand and eliminate environmental and health disparities. You will lead change by building relationships, knowledge, and competency within the agency. While the scope of responsibility is challenging, you will work with and have the support of colleagues within the OEEJ and across the agency who are committed to equity and justice and dedicated to realizing positive change.

What you will do: 

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.

A Bachelor's degree with a major emphasis in environmental justice, environmental or natural resource policy or planning, public health, sociology, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, environmental science, natural resource science, geography or closely related field. 

Seven (7) years of experience working in environmental justice, environmental or natural resource policy and planning or closely related field. 

Two of the years must include working with communities and populations who experience environmental and health disparities, immigrant or linguistically isolated communities, rural or low-income populations, or Tribes and indigenous people. This may include but is not limited to: 

A Master’s degree or above with a major emphasis in environmental justice, environmental or natural resource policy or planning, public health, sociology, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, environmental science, natural resource science, geography or closely related field. 

Five (5) years of experience working in environmental justice, environmental or natural resource policy and planning or closely related field. 

Two of the years must include working with communities and populations who experience environmental and health disparities, immigrant or linguistically isolated communities, rural or low-income populations, or Tribes and indigenous people. This may include but is not limited to: 

 

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

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?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. 

When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

 

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.

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. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Millie Piazza at: Millie.Piazza@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Millie to inquire about the status of your application.

 

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

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 *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

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 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.