Bilingual Waste Pesticide Disposal Coordinator - Environmental Specialist 5 - Internal

State of Washington; Washington; Presencial; USD 77.000 - 100.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Flexible work schedules

Paid holidays

Excellent benefits package

Training opportunities

Descripción de la vacante

The Washington State Department of Agriculture is seeking an Environmental Specialist 5 in the Agricultural Environmental Services Division to lead the Waste Pesticide Disposal Program, coordinate bilingual training, and advise on environmental protections related to pesticides and waste management.

The role involves budgeting, program coordination, and collaboration with local agencies to protect public health and the environment while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Formación

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field and 6 years of experience in environmental analysis or regulation.
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in WA.
• Fluent in English and Spanish (written and spoken).
• Current WSDA Private Applicator's License and 40-hour HAZ MAT certification with annual refresher.

Responsabilidades

• Coordinate and deliver bilingual pesticide safety training programs.
• Provide technical assistance on storage, disposal, and recycling of pesticides and containers.
• Oversee maintenance and operation of TSEP equipment and training facilities.
• Lead workforce safety practices and ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Develop training materials and updates for pesticide safety education in collaboration with EOS staff.

Conocimientos

Bilingual English/Spanish

Valid driver's license

Strong communication skills

Educación

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or related field

Herramientas

Hazardous Materials (HAZ MAT) Certification

WSDA Private Applicator's License

Descripción del empleo

Agriculture - A Cornerstone of Washington's Economy

The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.

The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.

The Agricultural Environmental Services Division within the Department of Agriculture protects the public interest, health, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington by providing cost efficient and effective services for the regulation of pesticides and fertilizers, supporting scientific analysis that addresses concerns to public health and the environment from agricultural activities, and protecting public health through scientific and regulatory support of the cannabis and dairy industries.

Technical Services and Education Program (TSEP)

provides a wide array of pesticide safety training to the agricultural sector throughout Washington State. We work together with partners to deliver these trainings which include Pesticide Handler Training, Private Applicator Pre-license Training, Worker Protection Standard Train the Trainer, Respirator Train the Trainer, Sprayer Application Equipment Best Management Practices, On-farm Sprayer Calibration Technical Assistance as well as speaking on pesticide safety related topics at many recertification events. The TSEP program also collects pesticides that are no longer useful and Industry in maintaining a safe work environment for themselves and the community.

The Opportunity

Bilingual Waste Pesticide Disposal Coordinator serves as a senior environmental section specialist that works independently, requiring in-depth knowledge and provides advanced scientific and technical consultation to agency staff, and local and federal agencies on environmental impacts of various activities including the collection and proper disposal of waste pesticides from private and public entities.

This position builds partnerships with communities, businesses, and interest groups in order to identify and respond to environmental issues affecting the common interest such as the coordination of waste pesticide disposal collection events.

Additionally, this position develops and enhances environmental protection and oversees implementation of changes that are necessary to protect public health from environmental factors.

The position serve as the agencies’ expert on the state hazardous waste contract advisory committee. Review all bids and suggested contract changes and make recommendations to the state’s hazardous waste contract procurement officer.

This position contributes to the program goals by educating agricultural producers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards so their agricultural products can be distributed globally.

WSDA is recruiting for an internal full-time permanent Environmental Specialist 5 position within the Agricultural Environmental Services Division. This position is approved for a home duty station in Grandview, Washington. This position is not represented by union.

The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary for this position is: Range 63, Step A $76,608 - Step L $100,488 annually.

What to Expect

• Prepare the program’s biennial budget. Plan events and ensure all expenditure is within budget constraints. Routinely provide the program’s financial status to the TSE program manager and the division’s assistant director.
• Drive state assigned motor vehicle to coordinate Waste Pesticide Collection Events: Coordinate collection events with site owners and the hazardous waste contractor. Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites. Determine the locations and times of collection events.
• Oversee, direct, and participate in pesticide collection events.
• Ensure collection events are adequately staffed and trained.
• Ensure that staff employ all required protection measures including hazard awareness and Personal Protective Equipment usage.
• Ensure a trained safety officer is on site at collection events to safe-guard the physical integrity of staff.
• Provide pre-collection event data to the hazardous waste contractor and participate in the on-site safety meeting.
• Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner.
• Ensure that event data is entered into the database and perform data QA/QC to ensure that information sent to other parties is correct.
• Generate an accurate annual report of hazardous waste activities, and submits it to the Dept. of Ecology.
• Coordinate with Database Developers to ensure Waste Pesticide database is operational. Help train other database users.
• Participate in financial planning of collection events and ensure all expenditures are within the TSE program budget.
• Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites.
• Maintain working relationships with waste collection facility sites including County Solid Waste, WSU (up to six properties), as well as other facilities as to allow continued use of their facilities.
• Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Review pesticide disposal inventories and provide follow-up with customers. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Drive state assigned motor vehicle to conduct site visits to sample, identify and pack unwanted pesticide products. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Ensure compliance with all state and federal hazardous waste and employee safety regulations.

Support bilingual (Spanish and English) pesticide safety training programs.

• Coordinate training events and training activities, curriculum updates and delivery for one of the pesticide safety training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Support other TSEP bilingual training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Serve as liaisons with internal and external stakeholders, ensure training materials and props are available, and maintain training records.
• Develop pesticide safety training videos for the web and to use in training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Work with other Education and Outreach Service (EOS) staff to conduct mostly Spanish Language training at all levels of agricultural operations and in cooperation with the agricultural community. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Conduct relevant training events by constantly updating technical knowledge and trainings skills. Support pesticide handler training program but will support other program staff conduct Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Train-the-Trainer courses to farm owners, managers and supervisors. This requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
• Drive state assigned motor vehicle to deliver a variety of training programs including pre-license and recertification training.

Coordinate and provide technical assistance on the proper storage, disposal, and recycling of pesticides and their containers.

• Review and develop technical assistance material in Spanish and English languages.
• Conduct customer-site technical assistance visits and assign technical assistance visits to staff. This task requires operating a motorized state vehicle.

Oversee maintenance or TSEP equipment

• Remind staff to use maintenance equipment checklist including cargo and flatbed trailers, vehicle, sprayers and other training equipment.
• Ensure staff are trained on safety trailer towing.
• Make general recommendation on equipment maintenance and use.

Who should apply?

Professionals with:

• A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and six (6) years of experience handling agricultural pesticides. Professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above OR One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4 Additional qualifying experience will substitute year for year, for education.
• Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in WA State.
• Fluent in English and Spanish languages and possess the ability to read, write, and speak and understand the primary Spanish dialect.
• Current WSDA Private Applicator's License to properly and safely handle pesticides Current 40-hour Hazardous Materials Training (HAZ MAT) certification with annual 8-hour Refresher courses to maintain knowledge on safety precautions. Medical evaluation, training, and fit testing for respirator use.

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications

• Practical experience handling or supervising the handling and/or application of agricultural use pesticides.
• Two (2) years of experience leading or supervising within a natural resource, agricultural, environmental or health regulatory position, in the pest management field, or in the pesticide or fertilizer industry.
• At least two (2) years of experience writing adult training curriculums.
• Professional experience as Spanish/English translator and/or interpreter.

Employee Benefits

• A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
• WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
• 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
• All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.

WSDA uses a I-9 form to determine Employment Eligibility and Verification, once hired. This document is the authorization of an individual’s ability to be hired for employment within the United States. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.

Equity at WSDA

The Department of Agriculture recognizes, appreciates, supports, embraces, and respects all cultural identities and backgrounds while we collaborate in authentic ways. We hire amazing people that share in the commitment to our Pro-Equity Anti-Racist (PEAR) strategic plan, our Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act implementation plan, and our unique needs and desires for belonging, respect, and inclusion. We value the growth and development of our team members by providing equitable access to resources and opportunities for continuous learning, improvement, and advancement.

We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a productive and dedicated workforce that reflects the communities we serve while we are committed to a workplace that celebrates our differences and supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Contact Us

Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact the Human Resource Office at [e-mail].

Prior to a new appointment into the Department of Agriculture, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

The Human Resources Division may use referrals from this recruitment to help fill future similar vacancies for up to six months.

Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free [phone]. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.

For more information about the Washington State Department of Agriculture, visit us at www.agr.wa.gov.