Geothermal Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

WA State Department of Ecology; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 77,000 - 103,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Flexible schedule

On-site 1–2 days/week

Job summary

WA State Department of Ecology is seeking a Geothermal Senior Planner to lead statewide geothermal energy planning and policy efforts within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program. You will guide cross-agency collaboration, facilitate high-visibility reports, and support rulemaking for clean energy transitions.

You will coordinate with state agencies, Tribal governments, local governments, and industry to identify regulatory needs, develop guidance, and ensure environmentally

Qualifications

• Ability to support complex SEPA environmental review processes across programs.
• Regulatory analysis of federal, state, and local regulations.
• Develop recommendations grounded in science and agency policy.

Responsibilities

• Lead statewide geothermal energy planning and policy efforts.
• Coordinate multi-agency collaboration and public engagement.
• Conduct regulatory gap analyses and prepare environmental review support materials.
• Provide senior-level planning and technical consultation to Ecology leadership.
• Plan and facilitate public meetings, hearings, and comment periods.

Skills

Environmental Review

Regulatory Analysis

Policy & Planning Analysis

Multi-Agency Coordination

Public Process Administration

Cross-Program Facilitation

Technical Communication

Education

Major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning

Job description

Geothermal Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

Salary: $76,608.00 - $102,996.00 Annually

Note: This is a temporary position that will end on June 30, 2027. It may be extended based on funding availability.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Geothermal Senior Planner (Environmental Planner 4) within the Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program.

Note: This is a temporary position that will end on June 30, 2027. It may be extended based on funding availability.

Location:

This position can be based at any of the following duty stations:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA .

• Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA .

• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, WA .

• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA .

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

Note: If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary will include an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County. Salary range: $6703- $9012 monthly.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• One to two days per week of on-site attendance is required
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Duties

This Geothermal Senior Planner position provides a unique opportunity to lead Washington’s emerging statewide geothermal energy planning and policy efforts within Ecology’s Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program. In this role, you will guide multi-agency collaboration, facilitate complex policy discussions, and deliver high-visibility legislative and technical reports that inform Washington’s transition to clean energy. You will serve as a senior planning consultant to the Clean Energy Coordination Section Manager, shaping policy direction, supporting future statewide planning and rulemaking, and ensuring consistent, transparent, and legally defensible processes related to geothermal development.

You will also support Ecology’s coordination of the geothermal energy collaborative process established by the Legislature—bringing together state agencies, Tribal governments, local governments, industry, utilities, and community interests to identify risks, opportunities, and regulatory needs associated with geothermal technologies. Through this work, you will develop guidance, regulatory gap analyses, outreach materials, environmental review support, and planning documents that advance agency priorities and contribute to the long-term protection and sustainable use of Washington’s natural resources.

What you will do:

• Support Ecology’s statewide geothermal energy collaborative process, managing cross-program and multi-agency teams to develop legislative reports, technical analyses, environmental review support, and statewide guidance documents.
• Coordinate with experts across Ecology, other state agencies, federal partners, Tribal governments, local governments, industry, utilities, and community groups to ensure inclusive, informed, and well-aligned planning and environmental review processes.
• Research existing regulatory frameworks and conduct regulatory gap analyses to evaluate the need for future statewide planning, policy development, and rulemaking related to geothermal energy.
• Provide senior-level planning, policy interpretation, and technical consultation to Ecology leadership, program managers, and staff on geothermal topics, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) processes, regulatory implications, and interagency coordination.
• Facilitate resolution of complex, sensitive, and high-profile issues involving diverse perspectives, technical uncertainty, emerging technologies, and major environmental considerations.
• Support SEPA planning and project review activities by coordinating technical input, reviewing impact analyses, and ensuring documents are clear, consistent, and meet procedural and legal standards.
• Plan, coordinate, and conduct public meetings, hearings, workshops, and comment periods, developing accessible materials and ensuring meaningful engagement of Tribes, community members, and interested parties.
• Represent Ecology at multi-agency workgroups, public forums, advisory committees, and policy discussions related to geothermal development, clean energy planning, and statewide environmental review.
• Develop and refine tools, guidance, and communication products—working closely with internal and external communications experts to ensure information is accurate, transparent, and accessible to diverse audiences.
• Ensure all deliverables, including legislative reports and technical documents, are efficient, effective, defensible, and aligned with agency policy, scientific information, and interested parties expectations.
• Support broader Clean Energy Coordination Section priorities by contributing to statewide planning documents, environmental reviews, interagency coordination efforts, and rulemaking activities related to clean energy development.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website .

Required Qualifications:

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

• Environmental Review: Ability to support complex SEPA environmental review processes, coordinate technical input across programs, interpret impact analyses, and ensure documents meet legal and procedural requirements.
• Regulatory Analysis: Ability to analyze and implement federal, state, and local regulations and synthesize technical and regulatory information.
• Policy and Planning Analysis: Ability to analyze environmental data, evaluate planning and regulatory implications, and develop recommendations grounded in scientific information and agency policy.
• Multi-Agency Coordination: Skill in organizing and facilitating collaboration among state, federal, Tribal, and local government partners to align environmental review timelines, expectations, and shared work products.
• Public Process Administration: Experience planning and managing public meetings, hearings, and comment periods, including preparing clear, accessible materials for diverse audiences.
• Cross-Program Facilitation: Skilled at navigating complex, sensitive issues involving multiple parties; able to synthesize technical and regulatory information and support resolution of divergent viewpoints.
• Technical Communication: Ability to convey complex environmental, regulatory, or policy information clearly and professionally in written and verbal formats for varied audiences.

Education:

Involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field.