Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Eastern Washington Response Supervisor (WMS Band 1) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program.

Location: Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the selected duty station.

Schedule: This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. In-office work averages about 2 days per week. This position also requires extended periods of field work and periodic after-hour/weekend emergency response duty shifts. Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Duties

In this role, you will manage high-stakes operational, environmental, and public safety responsibilities that you must navigate under intense pressure and constant scrutiny. You will remain available 24/7 and make rapid decisions in hazardous, uncertain, and sometimes unfamiliar conditions. You balance immediate tactical needs with long-term strategic impacts, often weighing environmental tradeoffs and limited resources while protecting public health, Washington’s economy, and the agency’s credibility. You also ensure responder safety in dangerous environments, coordinate across a complex network of response partners, and apply extensive regulatory requirements—all while issuing consistent and defensible enforcement actions.

In this position, you step into a dynamic, mission-driven leadership role at the intersection of emergency response, environmental protection, and public communication. You serve as the State On-Scene Coordinator for major spills, lead multidisciplinary teams, and collaborate closely with federal, state, tribal, local, and private partners. You influence statewide spill response policies, guide critical decisions in real time, and play a key role in maintaining public trust by communicating openly during high-visibility events. Every day, you engage in strategic problem-solving, technical analysis, and meaningful work that protects Washington’s natural resources and economic vitality.

What you will do:

• Manage and lead the regional spill response team, ensuring responders are trained, equipped, evaluated, and capable of safely operating in hazardous environments.
• Plan, organize, and direct spill response operations for oil, hazardous substances, drug labs, and disaster events, maintaining 24/7 readiness.
• Serve as the State On-Scene Coordinator during major spill incidents, representing Washington’s interests and guiding Unified Command decision-making.
• Ensure resolution of spill reports and effective execution of emergency field responses, including coordinating rapid and aggressive actions to minimize environmental and economic impacts.
• Manage enforcement actions by ensuring staff follow policies, conduct investigations, issue penalties and corrective actions, and maintain defensible documentation.
• Monitor and manage the Response Unit budget, prioritize expenditures, and ensure compliance with fiscal policies while planning for variable and unpredictable response costs.
• Develop working partnerships with federal, state, local, tribal, and private sector response partners to ensure well-coordinated and efficient multi-agency response operations.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

Note: Candidates must have documented ICS/NIMS training (100, 200, 700, and 800).

A strong working knowledge of federal and Washington State hazardous materials and pollution response regulations.

Leadership & People Management - Proven ability to lead, support, and develop staff to ensure a safe, effective, and high performing response team.

Communication - Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with staff, partners, and the public to ensure shared understanding and coordinated action.

Decision Making & Problem Solving - Ability to assess complex and urgent situations and make sound decisions to protect people, the environment, and agency interests.

Emergency Response - Proven ability to direct and coordinate field response activities during hazardous incidents to ensure timely, safe, and effective operations.

Policy & Regulatory Application - Ability to interpret and apply laws, policies, and procedures to guide spill response actions, ensure compliance, and support enforcement.

Collaboration & Relationship Building - Ability to build strong working relationships with internal teams and external partners.

Training & Workforce Development - Ability to evaluate training needs and ensure staff receive appropriate safety and professional development to maintain required competencies.

Technical Environmental Knowledge - Ability to understand hazardous materials behavior, sampling methods, and response technologies to make informed operational decisions.

Professional Integrity & Accountability - Ability to model ethical behavior, uphold agency standards, and ensure actions and decisions maintain public trust and support equitable outcomes.

Education with a major study in a natural, physical science, engineering or related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

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

Must have ICS 100, 200, 700 and 800 certifications. Free on-line ICS training and certification is available at:

• ICS 100: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-100.c
• ICS 200: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-200.c
• ICS 700: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-700.b
• ICS 800: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-800.c

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must comply with internal policies and procedures governing conduct and ethics in the workplace.
• Driver's License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license throughout the duration of employment.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Card.
• Critical Position: This position is identified as an Essential Agency Employee and is expected to work during facility closures and natural disasters.
• Medical Surveillance: This position is required to maintain a personal level of fitness necessary to pass a periodic medical surveillance exam, which may include a stress test.
• Passport: A valid Passport and the ability to travel to Canada is required and must be maintained throughout the duration of employment.
• License and Certificate Maintenance: Must notify supervisor immediately if the employee is unable to obtain any of the above required licenses or certifications, or if any of the above are revoked, expired or suspended for any reason.
• Residence: Must live within a 60-minute commute distance of the Central Region Office.
• Candidates must have the ability to remain on call and reachable by phone/pager 24/7 and be able to travel on short notice.
• Candidates must be prepared to respond for a minimum of three days with 1-hour notice during work hours and 4-hours' notice during evenings and weekends.

Desired Qualifications:

• Unit Operations & Resource Management - Ability to plan, organize, and oversee unit activities, staffing, and budget resources to maintain 24/7 readiness and meet program goals.
• Experience working in Unified Command with federal, local, and tribal response partners in command or general staff positions.
• Experience under large multi-agency responses operating under area or regional contingency plans.
• Previous staff supervisory experience and experience investigation and enforcement action experience.
• Candidates familiar with Washington state spill response policies and regulations.
• A formal college degree in a natural, physical science, or engineering is preferred.
• Working knowledge of Washington state hazardous materials safety regulations.
• Experience with spill investigations and enforcement actions.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

Supplemental Information

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.

Application Process

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 job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply: Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach: Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position Resume Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation:

By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation?

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format: Please contact us at 360-407-6186 and select #2 for Recruitment or email careers@ecy.wa.gov. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact David Byers at David.Byers@ecy.wa.gov. If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at careers@ecy.wa.gov.

About the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response Program

The Spills Program's mission is to protect, preserve, and restore Washington's environment. Our vision is to create a zero spills world. The Spill’s Program’s Response Section responds 24 hours a day to spills oil and hazardous materials that pose an immediate threat to public health and the environment. We also work to restore publicly owned resources injured as a result of spills. By joining the Response Section, you are joining a team of high performing professionals to protect and restore Washington’s human health and environment.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology 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. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability. 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. 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.

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 Incentive
• Combined Fund Drive
• SmartHealth *

Click here for more information.

To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, 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.

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

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