Job Description
Description
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) within the Department of Ecology (Ecology) is looking to fill an Aquatic Toxicologist (Toxicologist 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
As an Aquatic Toxicologist, you will manage and oversee sediment and upland contaminated site cleanup, providing expert-level technical support on benthic and human health protective standards. You’ll evaluate research, peer-reviewed publications, and other technical information related to regulatory toxicology, toxicokinetics, and environmental fate and transport to identify potential adverse health and ecological effects of exposure to environmental chemicals at Puget Sound cleanup sites. In this role, you will ensure the proper implementation of state environmental regulations during remedial investigations, feasibility studies, engineering design, implementation of cleanup, and post-construction monitoring. You’ll also have the opportunity to participate in workgroups regarding the development and implementation of sediment policy related to cleanup in Washington, as well as participate in and lead training to TCP peers on a broad spectrum of sediment cleanup topics.
Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.
Program Mission: The mission of the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) is to protect Washington’s human health and the environment by preventing and cleaning up pollution and supporting sustainable communities and natural resources for the benefit of future and current generations.
Tele-work options for this position:This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule.Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
Apply by December 15, 2024.
This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after December 15 may not be considered.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
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 Incentives(Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
About the Department of Ecology
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.
- Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.
Our commitment to DEIR
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.
Duties
As an Aquatic Toxicologist, you will contribute your sediment expertise to direct and evaluate sediment toxicity assessments and research of critical interest to the state under the Sediment Management Standards (SMS) and Model Toxics Control Act at contaminated cleanup sites. In addition, you’ll provide oversight assistance to site managers focused on environmental toxicology, risk assessment, and environmental fate and transport when determining potential adverse health and/or ecological effects of exposure to environmental chemicals at cleanup sites. You’ll also represent the program as a technical expert in aquatic toxicology as it relates to sediment cleanup at public forums and on interagency panels.
Additional duties will include:
- Apply principles of environmental chemistry, human toxicology, and aquatic toxicology, evaluate remedial actions needed at contaminated sites.
- Review site chemical and biological sampling data to determine if sediment is fully characterized.
- Apply regulatory standards in the investigation and cleanup of contaminated marine and freshwater sediment sites.
- Determine the efficacy of proposed field sampling, testing and data gathering, and evaluate the sampling and analysis plans, remedial investigations, and feasibility studies at contaminated sites.
- Review and provide comments to technical documents including remedial investigations / feasibility studies, sediment sampling and analysis plans, sediment data reports, engineering design reports, construction compliance and as-built surveys, and post construction monitoring programs.
- Provide in-field oversight of active cleanup construction work. Evaluate and document contractor performance related to construction plans and permits.
- Analyze and interpret toxicity tests and related data, and the application of the SMS as it relates to toxicity requirements.
- Actively participate in the development of sediment policy.
- Assist with evaluating and providing statistical analysis on Quality Assurance / Quality Control and sampling plans.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:
- 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
- 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.
A total of nine years of experience and/or education as described below:
-
Toxicological experience. Examples of experience may include :
- Working as a Sediments Specialist implementing the State Sediment Standards.
- Experience conducting risk assessments.
- Experience conducting bioassays.
- Education in: Toxicology or in a health or ecological-related science with a major emphasis in toxicology.
See table below for how you may qualify:
Possible Combinations
College credit hours or degree - as listed above
Years of required experience - as listed above
Combination 1
No college credit hours or degree
9 years of experience
Combination 2
I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.
8 years of experience
Combination 3
I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).
7 years of experience
Combination 4
I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.
6 years of experience
Combination 5
A Bachelor's Degree
5 years of experience
Combination 6
A Master's Degree
3 years of experience
Combination 7
A Ph.D.
1 year of experience
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
- Must possess and maintain 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.
- Expert knowledge of marine and freshwater sediment biology / ecology, upland source control, bioassays, hydrologic processes, and marine chemistry.
- Expert knowledge of the Sediment Management Standards, Chapter 173-204 WAC, and the Model Toxics Control Act, Chapter 173-340 WAC, or similar environmental regulations.
- Expert knowledge of federal environmental regulations and guidance including Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) as well as other state's environmental regulations.
- Experience conducting human health and/or ecological risk assessments.
- Strong verbal and written communication, project management and facilitation skills.
- Strong negotiation and problem solving skills.
Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
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 Accommodationin 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 1-800-833-6384.
- 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 on 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.
For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as 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 Kevin Kalefern at: Kevin.Kalefern@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Kevin 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.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.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.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 1-800-833-6384.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
#LI-Hybrid
Visit Original Source:
http://www.indeed.com/viewjob
