Senior Regulatory and Policy Analyst (Regulatory Analyst 3)(Internal Only)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Regulatory and Policy Analyst (Regulatory Analyst 3) within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program (HWTR). This position offers a unique opportunity to serve as a statewide expert on the Dangerous Waste Regulations (chapter 173-303 WAC) within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program’s Regulatory & Information Support Section in the Regulatory Assistance Unit (RAU). The RAU provides statewide dangerous waste program development and support functions, working to ensure that program regulatory implementation is equivalent, consistent, enforceable, and implementable across the state. Much of RAU’s work is collaborative in nature, with multiple unit staff working on regulatory analysis, providing support, and reviewing each other’s analysis and conclusions. In this role, you will lead complex regulatory and policy analysis, provide interpretation of chapter 173-303 WAC, and support Ecology’s development and implementation of the EPA-authorized dangerous waste program. You will develop regulatory solutions for the most challenging, high-impact, and politically sensitive problems, ensuring interpretations are consistent, equivalent, enforceable, and protective of human health and the environment. You will also act as the statewide policy and project management lead for the HWTR Sampling Team in coordination with the sampling technical lead, HWTR’s Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator. This team develops internal dangerous waste focused sampling training and resources. As the policy and project management lead, you will guide the statewide, cross-program team based on HWTR management direction in sampling training development, policy development, creating technical guidance documents, and making recommendations for decisions to program management. Being successful in this role includes collaborating closely with internal and external partners—including other Ecology environmental programs, dangerous waste inspectors, technical specialists, local governments, Tribal governments, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA ) , and the regulated community—to advance uniform policy implementation, support rule development, and strengthen dangerous waste management across Washington.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:
Technical Expertise in Dangerous Waste Regulation & Policy: Ability to research, interpret, and apply chapter 173-303 WAC and federal RCRA rules, determine regulatory intent, and provide clear, defensible interpretations.
Policy Analysis & Regulatory Solution Development: Ability to evaluate complex regulatory issues and develop policy recommendations or guidance that ensure statewide consistency and program integrity.
Project Leadership & Cross-Program Coordination: Ability to lead and coordinate multi-disciplinary or cross-program projects, facilitate group processes, and deliver work products aligned with management direction.
Collaborative Partnership Building & Engagement: Ability to build effective working relationships across programs, agencies, and external partners, integrate diverse perspectives, and represent program positions in various forums.
Effective Communication of Complex Regulatory Information: Skilled in explaining complex regulatory or technical topics in plain language, and preparing clear interpretations, guidance, and recommendations.
Strategic Analysis & Problem Solving: Ability to assess emerging regulatory issues, evaluate risks, and develop practical, defensible solutions that support long-term program goals.
Education: Involving a major study in economics, environmental science, natural or physical science, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law, or related field.
Examples of how to qualify:
8 years of experience.
7 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
6 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
5 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
4 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
2 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or above

Nice To Haves

Current HAZWOPER training
Ecology or EPA dangerous/hazardous waste inspector training
Experience with environmental sampling, analysis, and laboratory report interpretation. Preferably sampling and analysis related to dangerous or hazardous waste. For example, sampling methods, quality assurance processes, or selecting appropriate analytical methods.
Experience implementing dangerous waste regulatory processes which are infrequently used, such as petitions, legitimate recycling determinations, certificates of designation, and delisting.

Responsibilities

Serve as a statewide expert on the Dangerous Waste Regulations (chapter 173-303 WAC), providing clear, defensible interpretations and technical assistance for complex, high-impact regulatory questions.
Conduct detailed regulatory and policy analysis, research state and federal rules, respond to questions from Ecology internal and external parties, and develop solutions, guidance, and recommendations that ensure consistent, equivalent, implementable, and enforceable application of the Dangerous Waste Regulations statewide.
Document analysis and conclusions as part of the HWTR Program dangerous waste knowledgebase.
Monitor national regulatory developments, assess impacts to Washington’s dangerous waste program, and advise management on programmatic needs, risks, and recommended actions.
Review daily federal register e-mails for changes to federal rules related to our authorized dangerous waste program.
Develop and track recommendations for revisions to the Dangerous Waste Regulations.
Provide expert testimony and support for litigation, rulemaking, and high-visibility regulatory decisions, ensuring alignment with federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) requirements and the EPA-authorized state dangerous waste program.
Lead statewide policy work on emerging or ambiguous waste issues, collaborating with HWTR staff, other Ecology programs, EPA, local governments, Tribal governments, and the regulated community.
Serve as the statewide lead and project manager for the HWTR Sampling Team in coordination with the sampling technical lead (HWTR’s QA Coordinator), facilitating cross-program coordination, developing sampling training, policies and guidance, and advancing updates to test methods, Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP ) templates, and sampling related quality assurance procedures.
Coordinate with the Statewide Inspector Trainer to develop and deliver advanced training, to support inspectors and program staff, ensuring consistent statewide implementation of regulatory requirements.
Review and ensure the accuracy, clarity, and regulatory consistency of publications, interpretations, policies, and technical documents developed by staff across HWTR.
Represent Ecology and the HWTR Program in statewide, regional, and national workgroups, technical forums, and public meetings communicating regulatory expectations and promoting consistent policy implementation.
Participate in HWTR program statewide dangerous waste coordination networks, routine, and project specific meetings providing dangerous waste program regulatory and policy support through analysis, interpretation, and documentation.
Assist in maintaining and updating the HWTR Program dangerous waste knowledge base resources used to reduce duplicative research efforts and resolve dangerous waste related questions in a consistent manner.