Eastern Washington Response Supervisor (WMS Band 1)

State of Washington; Union Gap (WA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Department of Ecology in Washington is seeking an Eastern Washington Response Supervisor to lead spill response operations, coordinate with federal, state, tribal, local and private partners, and ensure rapid, safe, and effective actions during major incidents.

This leadership role requires extensive experience, regulatory knowledge, and a strong commitment to protecting public health and the environment.

Qualifications

• 9 years of experience or equivalent education in emergency response or environmental protection.
• ICS/NIMS training (100, 200, 700, and 800) required.
• Strong leadership, communication, decision-making, and collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of hazardous materials and pollution response regulations.
• Bachelor's degree in natural, physical science, engineering, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Lead the regional spill response team with training and safety focus.
• Plan and direct spill response ops for oil, hazardous substances 24/7.
• Serve as State On-Scene Coordinator during major spills.
• Coordinate multi-agency response and Unified Command decisions.
• Ensure timely resolution of spill reports and enforcement actions.
• Manage the Response Unit budget and fiscal compliance.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with federal, state, tribal, local and private partners.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Decision Making

Emergency Response

Regulatory Knowledge

Collaboration

Training & Development

Environmental Knowledge

Integrity & Accountability

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Job 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.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by November 15, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

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.

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.