Spill Responder (Environmental Specialist 3) (In Training)

State of Washington•Whatcom County – Bellingham, WA

4d•$4,300 - $6,708•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Spill Responder (Environmental Specialist 3) (In Training) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program. This position is located in Bellingham, WA, and requires the incumbent to live within a 60-minute commuting distance of the Bellingham Field Office. The role involves working with a multi-disciplinary team to solve complex environmental challenges, serving as Ecology’s State On-Scene Coordinator for the response and cleanup of complex environmental spills. This position is eligible for a 10% Spill Response Assignment Pay upon meeting training and certification requirements and includes periods of mandatory overtime and after-hour on-call duty rotation. The position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options, with a requirement for field work and emergency response, though most office work can be done remotely with occasional in-person meetings.

Requirements

Five (5) years of combined experience and/or education performing environmental-based work, or work related to Incident Command and Emergency Response Leadership, Advanced Spill Response and Hazardous Materials Operations, Hazard Identification, Sampling, and Field Analysis, Dangerous Waste Management and Regulatory Compliance, Interagency and Law Enforcement Coordination, Emergency Spill Response Operations, Incident Command System Participation, Hazard Identification and Field Safety, Sampling, Monitoring, and Waste Handling, Regulatory Knowledge and Application, Contractor and Responsible Party Management, Technical Communication and Documentation, Equipment Operation and Readiness, or Teamwork, Reliability, and Adaptability.
Demonstrated competence in using critical/analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action.
Demonstrated competence in reviewing/assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommending decisions or actions.
Demonstrated competence in conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data.
Education in environmental science, engineering, chemistry, biology, or a closely related scientific or technical field that provides knowledge of emergency hazardous materials response.
Must have ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 certifications.
Must hold and maintain a valid driver’s license and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle.
Must pass employment medical surveillance physical and demonstrate the ability to wear respiratory protection and chemical protective clothing.
Must successfully pass physical agilities test.
Must be able to pass a detailed background check required to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
Must successfully complete initial SAFETRAC requirements and other required training outlined in Spills Program Policy and Procedures within 6 months of entering the position.
Must be prepared for a minimum 3-day field deployment within 1 hour of notification.
Must hold and maintain eligibility and certification (valid passport or enhanced driver’s license) to permit travel to Canada in the event of a transboundary spill.
Must be able to maintain a personal level of fitness necessary to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam, which may include a stress test.
Must notify supervisor immediately if unable to obtain or maintain required licenses or certifications, or if any are revoked, expired, or suspended.
Must live within a 60-minute commuting distance of Ecology’s Bellingham Field Office in Bellingham, WA.

Nice To Haves

Prior hazardous materials, emergency response, or disaster response experience.
Experienced working in the Incident Command System.
Hazardous Materials Technician Certification and Hazardous Materials Specialist Certification that meet the requirements of WAC 296-824 and 296-843.
Familiarity with the Northwest Area Contingency Plan.

Responsibilities

Conduct responses to spills of oil and hazardous substances, abandoned waste, fish kills and other environmental and human health emergencies.
Serve as initial incident commander and State On-Scene Coordinator for spills of petroleum products and hazardous materials on water and land.
Conduct operations to control, contain and cleanup spills.
Investigate the cause of spills and response actions taken by parties responsible for spills.
Direct environmental response contractors.
Coordinate responses with appropriate private, local, state and federal representatives involved.
Open containers of unknowns, take samples, overpack and transport abandoned chemical wastes for final disposal.
Offer technical assistance and limited regulatory interpretation to parties involved in spill incidents and drug lab cleanups.
Prepare and complete all documentation and reporting associated with such incidents.