[Hiring] Environmental Specialist @State of Washington

Role Description

Join the Nuclear Waste Program’s Compliance and Regulatory Assistance team as a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Environmental Regulation Specialist, where your work will help protect human health and Washington’s environmental resources for future generations. In this role, you will be responsible for leading technical reviews and coordination under the SEPA, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), and other environmental regulations. Working closely with managers, engineers, scientists, legal staff, and external partners, you will evaluate diverse and complex environmental projects, identify key issues, and ensure regulatory compliance that supports long-term protection of the environment.

This position provides meaningful opportunities to expand your technical expertise while contributing to environmental planning, cleanup activities, and policy development across the Nuclear Waste Program.

• Evaluate SEPA, NEPA, MTCA, and other regulatory notifications to identify environmental issues and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate SEPA documentation, including administrative records, Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, Supplemental Analyses, and related technical materials.
• Manage, sort, and file all documents in established databases and record keeping systems.
• Provide technical and programmatic support for environmental planning and compliance activities under state and federal regulations, including performing technical analysis and review of impacts on the environment.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, scientists, environmental specialists, legal staff, and agency staff to collect data, clarify regulatory requirements, and facilitate environmental reviews.
• Apply strong communication, organizational, analytical, and project management skills to support multiple projects while ensuring regulatory compliance and schedule adherence.
• Track project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action items to ensure timely completion and effective coordination.

Qualifications

• Six (6) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:
• Environmental Policy Experience – Ability to apply knowledge of environmental policy frameworks, including SEPA, NEPA, and other laws and regulations, to evaluate proposals and guide staff and agencies to ensure consistent, accurate, and legally defensible environmental decision-making.
• Scientific and Technical Analysis – Ability to apply scientific and regulatory analytical methods to evaluate documents to determine environmental impacts and support defensible agency decisions.
• Regulatory Interpretation – Ability to interpret complex environmental regulations to provide accurate guidance to staff and external partners to ensure consistent regulatory compliance.
• Data Analysis – Ability to analyze environmental data, records, and regulatory information to ensure accurate interpretation, support environmental impact assessments, and improve the quality and reliability of environmental decision-making.
• Conflict Resolution & Integration – Ability to reconcile differing technical perspectives across programs to develop unified, scientifically supported recommendations that improve cross-program regulatory alignment.
• Project Coordination – Ability to coordinate environmental review schedules and tasks to ensure timely completion of deliverables and compliance with program requirements.
• Software & Tools – Ability to operate standard and specialized software (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, SharePoint, Adobe, environmental tracking systems) to produce accurate documentation, run queries, conduct analysis, and distribute information efficiently.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or closely related field.

Requirements

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• Master’s degree or higher.

Benefits

• Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s)
• Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Vacation, Sick, and other Leave
• 11 Paid Holidays per year
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Tuition Waiver
• Long Term Disability & Life Insurance
• Deferred Compensation Programs
• Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)
• Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Commute Trip Reduction Incentive
• Combined Fund Drive
• SmartHealth