Geothermal Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Geothermal Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program. This is a temporary position that will end on June 30, 2027, with potential for extension based on funding availability. The position offers the opportunity to lead Washington’s emerging statewide geothermal energy planning and policy efforts. The role involves guiding multi-agency collaboration, facilitating policy discussions, and delivering legislative and technical reports. The Geothermal Senior Planner will serve as a senior planning consultant to the Clean Energy Coordination Section Manager, shaping policy direction, supporting future statewide planning and rulemaking, and ensuring transparent and legally defensible processes for geothermal development. Additionally, the position supports Ecology’s coordination of the geothermal energy collaborative process established by the Legislature, bringing together various stakeholders to identify risks, opportunities, and regulatory needs. This work includes developing guidance, regulatory gap analyses, outreach materials, environmental review support, and planning documents to advance agency priorities and protect natural resources.

Requirements

Nine years of experience and/or education related to the essential functions and key activities of the position.
Environmental Review: Ability to support complex SEPA environmental review processes, coordinate technical input across programs, interpret impact analyses, and ensure documents meet legal and procedural requirements.
Regulatory Analysis: Ability to analyze and implement federal, state, and local regulations and synthesize technical and regulatory information.
Policy and Planning Analysis: Ability to analyze environmental data, evaluate planning and regulatory implications, and develop recommendations grounded in scientific information and agency policy.
Multi-Agency Coordination: Skill in organizing and facilitating collaboration among state, federal, Tribal, and local government partners to align environmental review timelines, expectations, and shared work products.
Public Process Administration: Experience planning and managing public meetings, hearings, and comment periods, including preparing clear, accessible materials for diverse audiences.
Cross-Program Facilitation: Skilled at navigating complex, sensitive issues involving multiple parties; able to synthesize technical and regulatory information and support resolution of divergent viewpoints.
Technical Communication: Ability to convey complex environmental, regulatory, or policy information clearly and professionally in written and verbal formats for varied audiences.
Education: involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.
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 (Associate’s degree). 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree in above mentioned field. 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree in above mentioned field.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license

Nice To Haves

Experience with advanced, enhanced, or conventional geothermal technologies or geothermal development.
Experience with oil and gas subsurface development, impacts, and mitigation.
Experience with power plant development to support the electrical grid.
Experience developing SEPA or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) EISs for complex or high-profile proposals, including programmatic reviews or multi-disciplinary impact analyses.

Responsibilities

Support Ecology’s statewide geothermal energy collaborative process, managing cross-program and multi-agency teams to develop legislative reports, technical analyses, environmental review support, and statewide guidance documents.
Coordinate with experts across Ecology, other state agencies, federal partners, Tribal governments, local governments, industry, utilities, and community groups to ensure inclusive, informed, and well-aligned planning and environmental review processes.
Research existing regulatory frameworks and conduct regulatory gap analyses to evaluate the need for future statewide planning, policy development, and rulemaking related to geothermal energy.
Provide senior-level planning, policy interpretation, and technical consultation to Ecology leadership, program managers, and staff on geothermal topics, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) processes, regulatory implications, and interagency coordination.
Facilitate resolution of complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues involving diverse perspectives, technical uncertainty, emerging technologies, and major environmental considerations.
Support SEPA planning and project review activities by coordinating technical input, reviewing impact analyses, and ensuring documents are clear, consistent, and meet procedural and legal standards.
Plan, coordinate, and conduct public meetings, hearings, workshops, and comment periods, developing accessible materials and ensuring meaningful engagement of Tribes, community members, and interested parties.
Represent Ecology at multi-agency workgroups, public forums, advisory committees, and policy discussions related to geothermal development, clean energy planning, and statewide environmental review.
Develop and refine tools, guidance, and communication products—working closely with internal and external communications experts—to ensure information is accurate, transparent, and accessible to diverse audiences.
Ensure all deliverables, including legislative reports and technical documents, are efficient, effective, defensible, and aligned with agency policy, scientific information, and interested parties expectations.
Support broader Clean Energy Coordination Section priorities by contributing to statewide planning documents, environmental reviews, interagency coordination efforts, and rulemaking activities related to clean energy development.