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HWTR Communication & Outreach Unit Supervisor

Washington State Department of Ecology
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Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hire process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 Vaccination” in the subject line.   


Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen


The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program at the Department of Ecology is looking for a supervisor to lead the Communication and Outreach Unit. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Do you enjoy breaking down complicated information into easy-to-understand verbal, visual, or other types of explanations? Do you often find yourself thinking about different perspectives and values held by various audiences? Are you passionate about helping to make the world a better place for colleagues, customers, and Washington’s environment and communities? If so, this might be the job for you!
 
We’re looking for a strategic leader to lead a team of six specialists who respond to technical information requests and develop communication and outreach materials for a wide range of projects throughout the program. These projects include reports and formal publications, a high production quality newsletter aimed at helping businesses properly manage hazardous waste and reduce their use of toxic substances, strategic communication plans, presentations, videos, and social media and other web content.
 
The mission of the 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.  

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. Our workplace culture is invested in working together and making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embrace the value of people.

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. 
  • A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
  • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Diversity, 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. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 
 
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of December 8, 2021. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 7, 2021. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.
 
 
Duties
  
Why join the team? 
The HWTR Communication and Outreach Unit Supervisor is a mission-critical role for the program. You will be leading the team that translates and disseminates important scientific, technical, and regulatory information to business owners, policymakers, Washington residents, and others. You will have opportunities to continue to deepen your craft and grow your leadership skills. You’ll get to play a critical part in telling the story about how the HWTR program is advancing some of the most innovative approaches in the nation for addressing harmful substances.   

What will you do:
  • Plan, lead, organize, and direct the work of the HWTR Communication and Outreach unit.
  • Model inclusive and respectful behavior by continually learning about the communities the program serves and creating opportunities for staff to do the same.
  • Create opportunities for staff to make recommendations and advocate for changes to unit and section services.
  • Work with the team to develop communication products and strategies, including using methods for encouraging behavior change, such as Community-Based Social Marketing. Our initiatives help:
  • Protect Washington’s environment. 
  • Prevent toxic chemicals from getting into products. 
  • Washington businesses comply with hazardous waste regulations and find safer alternatives to chemicals, which helps prevent contamination and keep workers safe. 
  • Manage a large inventory of publications, web content, and other communication projects.
  • Oversee federally-required reporting under Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act (EPCRA).
  • Advise the program on communication strategies and priorities.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify. 

Option 1:

Eight (8) years of experience and/ or education: 

Education: In environmental sciences, planning, business, communications, or public administration or closely allied field

Experience: In environmental analysis, control, communications, or planning. This experience may include:
  • Communicating technical concepts in plain language. 
  • Planning communication products and approaches that are effectively tailored to the need and the audience. 
  • Coordinating with others to ensure effective approaches, smooth project management, and negotiate timelines and scope. 
  • Observing patterns of work and looking for ways to maximize productivity while maintaining value and team morale. 
  • Effectively leading teams to success. 
 
Option 2:

  • Bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences, planning, business, communications, or public administration or closely allied field.
  • Four (4) years of experience in environmental analysis, control, communications, or planning, which may include the experience listed in Option 1 above.
 
Option 3:

  • Master’s degree or higher in environmental sciences, planning, business, communications, or public administration or closely allied field
  • Two (2) years of experience in environmental analysis, control, communications, or planning, which may include the experience listed in Option 1 above. 

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position: 


Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

  • Must have a valid driver's license

 
Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. 

  • Project management experience and/or training, specifically for communications and outreach projects.
  • Experience coaching and mentoring staff.
  • Experience working and communicating with various business sectors, such as manufacturing industries and any businesses that transfer, store, or dispose of hazardous waste.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool. 

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 1-800-833-6388.
  • 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 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.
  • Three professional references.

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 (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 Eli Levitt at: Eli.Levitt@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Eli 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.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.
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.

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 1-800-833-6388.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.