Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Contracts Specialist (Environmental Specialist 5) 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.
Are you the type of professional that is drawn to the responsibility of negotiating, creating, and tracking contracts between agencies, businesses, and their suppliers or vendors. We are looking for an organized Contract Specialist to join our administrative team. You will be responsible for drafting initial contracts, reviewing client contracts for accuracy when they are returned, obtaining more information or signatures when required, and scanning and uploading contracts into our system. We rely on our Contract Specialist to ensure our contracts are accurate and returned in a timely manner. You must be organized, detail-oriented, and able to work under tight deadlines.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (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.
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 90% 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 November 13, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before November 12, 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.
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 *Click here for more information
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. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan.
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.
- Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.
Our commitment to DEIRDiversity, 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
What makes this role unique?
In this role, you will serve as the program lead for all Pollution Prevention and Regulatory Assistance contract and grant management. You will provide expertise and guidance to develop, negotiate, implement, and monitor terms of agreements for HWTR contracts and grants that support the state’s procurement guidelines, policies, rules, processes. This position requires in-depth knowledge of the program to guide and instruct program’s project managers in the administration of millions of dollars of state, federal, local government, university, and private entity funds that deal with significant public health, environmental protection, economic, and political consequences.
What you will do:
Serve as the senior environmental specialist in all Pollution Prevention and Regulatory Assistance contract and grant management for all (statewide) HWTR’s environmental contracts and agreements.
Develop and implement Pollution Prevention and Regulatory Assistance contractual and grant agreements that responds directly to highly complex and/or politically sensitive inquiries for technical assistance requiring expert scientific knowledge.
Lead and guide the Pollution Prevention and Regulatory Assistance contractual and grant development and implementation process with multiple stakeholders which include program’s project managers, advises program management, and 60% time spent with external stakeholders.
Comply with federal and state rules and regulations pertaining to contract and grant management.
Ensure that clients have a clear understanding of how contract and grant agreements are managed and monitored.
Coordinate with program’s Project Managers, agency Contracts and Grants Unit, agency Fiscal Office, the State Attorney General’s Office, and other agencies and vendors to ensure compliance and fulfillment of agreements timeline and deliverables.
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.
Experience in: Environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning.
Education in: Environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field
Please Note: One year of the required experience must be navigating the development and implementation of grants and contracts that support the state’s procurement guidelines, policies, rules, processes, and best practices required by RCW 39.26.
All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:
Possible Combinations | College credits or degree - as listed above. | Years of required experience - as listed above. |
Combination 1 | No college credits or degree | 10 years of experience |
Combination 2 | 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits. | 9 years of experience |
Combination 3 | 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (AA degree). | 8 years of experience |
Combination 4 | 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. | 7 years of experience |
Combination 5 | A Bachelor's Degree | 6 years of experience |
Combination 6 | A Master's Degree | 4 years of experience |
Combination 7 | A PhD | 3 years of experience |
OR
One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4 or at the Department of Ecology, which must include one year navigating the development and implementation of grants and contracts that support the state’s procurement guidelines, policies, rules, processes, and best practices required by RCW 39.26.
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
- Experience with governmental procurement and purchasing processes.
- Experience developing, implementing, and managing contracts and/or grants.
Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.
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 www.uscis.gov
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 1-800-833-6384.
- 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.
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 Vince Chavez at: Vince.Chavez@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Vince 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.
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 1-800-833-6384.
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.