Senior Stormwater Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Senior Stormwater Project Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Water Quality Program. This role is located at the Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. The position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options, allowing for most work to be done remotely with occasional in-person meetings. The Stormwater Action Team (SWAT) partners with communities statewide to fund and implement stormwater quality, green infrastructure, and low-impact development projects. SWAT manages over 250 active projects, assisting local governments with funding, project design, construction, and long-term performance to achieve water quality outcomes. As a Senior Stormwater Project Specialist, you will foster relationships with local stormwater and capital project managers, aid in developing high-quality proposals, and help avoid project pitfalls. Your responsibilities will include evaluating new project applications, negotiating funding agreements, and providing technical assistance throughout the project lifecycle to ensure compliance with state and federal funding requirements. A key aspect of this role involves protecting cultural resources, where you will represent SWAT on the Ecology Cultural Resources Environmental Workgroup and collaborate with Tribes and the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation on Cultural Resource Reviews to ensure responsible siting and construction of state-funded stormwater projects.

Requirements

Nine (9) years of experience performing environmental-based work or related to the duties of the position.
Financial Management – Ability to manage project funds and financial information to ensure expenditures are accurate, allowable, and compliant with agreements and regulations.
Project Oversight – Ability to monitor and guide projects to ensure they are implemented effectively, meet objectives, and achieve intended outcomes.
Technical Guidance – Ability to provide clear technical and administrative guidance to support project planning, implementation, and program administration.
Communication – Ability to convey program requirements, expectations, and results clearly to partners and the public through meetings, workshops, and trainings.
Policy Support – Ability to apply and provide input on policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure consistent and effective program management.
Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Nice To Haves

Experience with planning, designing, constructing, or maintaining public infrastructure projects.
Interest in partnering with local governments and Tribes to protect important cultural resources.

Responsibilities

Coordinate with local government project managers to monitor project progress on Ecology-funded stormwater quality projects, including review of quarterly reports, payment requests, project deliverables, and performing site visits.
Solicit and coordinate input from internal project management teams to provide oversight for funded projects.
Ensure that funded projects maintain compliance with funding agreement terms, funding program guidelines, agency policy, and state and federal funding program requirements.
Negotiate and write new funding agreements, incorporating input from project evaluators, Ecology engineers, financial management staff, and other Ecology subject matter experts during the agreement negotiation process and throughout the life of the project.
Evaluate new project applications for feasibility and water quality benefit.
Coordinate with representatives of Ecology’s headquarters and regions, tribal and local governments, resource and regulatory agency staff, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation staff, clients and partners to ensure that Ecology and funding recipients comply with federal and state statutes, rules, and policies.
Actively participate in and contribute to the internal Stormwater Action Team (SWAT) efforts to improve and streamline program processes, develop program guidance, fill knowledge gaps, and train new staff.