Preparedness Section Manager (WMS Band 2)

The Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program (SPPR) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Preparedness Section Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position will be located in our Headquarters Office (HQ) in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. 

In this role, you will manage and oversee the operation of the Preparedness Section and multiple functions including development, approval, and implementation of oil spill plans, evaluation of oil spill drills, approval of response contractors, spill management teams, wildlife response service providers, and inspection of response equipment to demonstrate the effectiveness of plans, promote marine safety, prepare for response to oil spills, and protect the marine environment, public health and safety, and supervise staff assigned to these activities

You will ensure that the Department of Ecology has an incident management team that is trained and equipped to respond to major spills and will be responsible to ensure that the Northwest Area Contingency Plan contains policies, procedures, tools, and strategies to respond to spills, including the development of the geographic response plans, which are one of the first lines of defense tactics for oil spill response.

You will gain extremely unique leadership skills from building and nurturing relationships while interacting with tribal partners, stakeholders and political leaders in a varied dynamic environment that will further advance and enhance their careers.

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment, and promote the wise management of our air, land and water. The agency’s goals are to prevent pollution, clean up pollution and support sustainable communities and natural resources.

Program Mission: The Spills program's mission is to protect, preserve, and restore Washington's environment.

 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position may telework 90% of the time. The 10% will be decided upon customer and work requirements and agreed upon with the Program Manager. 

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 

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. 

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

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

We are a First Responder program. The only one at the Department of Ecology. Which means we operate and function a bit differently than the other programs at Ecology. We are on a constant 24/7 response call to assist the greater Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program (SPPR). If a Spill happens and we are needed, we respond to protect and defend Washington's waters and environment. 

 

This role reports directly to the Program Manager and supervises a section of 22 staff with nine direct report staff positions. We are looking for applicants with excellent people skills and the ability to build and nurture high performing teams. Applicants will have good organizational skills, experience managing a group of people from different backgrounds and experiences, a positive attitude and a proven ability to get things done and hold team members accountable.

 

Our ideal candidate possesses the following skill sets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Qualifications

Experience: In marine safety, or marine environmental analysis, control, or planning. Since the Preparedness Section provides maritime expertise to Ecology and other agencies, professional experience in oil spill planning and drill review is also required.

 

The position requires extensive and profound knowledge and experience in disaster planning principles, maritime procedures and practices, international and federal maritime regulations, environmental policies, federal and state environmental regulations, and state government policies and practices. It also requires comprehensive knowledge of federal and state rulemaking procedures, workgroup direction and organization, communication skills, human resource management, and budget development and analysis.

 

Education: Involving major study in an environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, planning, business administration, education, or closely allied field.

 

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?

It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

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 (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

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.

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. 

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Carlos Clements at: Carlos.Clements@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Carlos to inquire about the status of your application.

To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

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.

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.