Municipal Stormwater Permit Planner (Environmental Planner 3)

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

Benefits offered by this job

Telework options

Flexible schedule

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology seeks a Municipal Stormwater Permit Planner to guide the development and implementation of municipal stormwater programs for cities and counties. You will be assigned to permittees in Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Cowlitz and Clark County, with telework options and essential in-office presence.

The role emphasizes collaboration with local governments to protect water quality and adapt permit requirements to new information and population

Qualifications

• Eight (8) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, including program planning, policy development, technical evaluation, enforcement support, communication, collaboration, and independent judgment.

Responsibilities

• Provide stormwater planning technical assistance to local governments.
• Assist counties and municipalities in developing, planning, and coordinating stormwater programs that benefit water quality.
• Contribute as a member of a statewide team to adapt permit requirements in response to new information and population demands.
• Respond to inquiries, environmental reports, and requests for technical assistance from permittees and the public.
• Review, comment, and approve permit submittals.
• Conduct compliance assurance activities including inspections and audits of permittee programs, and initiate enforcement actions as needed.

Skills

Program Planning

Policy Development

Technical Evaluation

Compliance & Enforcement Support

Communication & Outreach

Collaboration & Relationship Building

Independent Judgment

Education

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

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Municipal Stormwater Permit Planner (Environmental Planner 3) within the Water Quality Program.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by October 26, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As a Municipal Stormwater Permit Planner, you will be responsible for guiding the development and implementation of municipal stormwater programs run by city and county governments and special purpose districts. You will be assigned to permittees in Thurston, Lewis, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Cowlitz and Clark County. If you have experience in urban planning, stormwater program planning or implementation, or working collaboratively with local governments, we’d love to hear from you! Join a dedicated group of people who are committed to protecting Washington’s waters for current and future generations.

What you will do:

• Provide stormwater planning technical assistance to local governments.
• Assist counties and municipalities in developing, planning, and coordinating stormwater programs that benefit water quality.
• Contribute as a member of a statewide team to continually adapt permit requirements in response to new information, population demands, and technological advancements.
• Respond to inquiries, environmental reports, and other requests for technical assistance from permittees, other agencies and programs, and the public.
• Review, comment, and approve permit submittals.
• Conduct compliance assurance activities including inspections and audits of permittee programs, and initiate enforcement actions as needed.

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

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:

• Program Planning – Ability to plan and coordinate projects and initiatives to achieve program goals and improve environmental outcomes.
• Policy Development – Ability to develop clear and practical policies, procedures, and standards to support consistent and effective permit and program implementation.
• Technical Evaluation – Ability to evaluate technical documents, program materials, and local codes to determine whether they meet required standards and support program objectives.
• Compliance & Enforcement Support – Ability to assess compliance through audits, inspections, and document reviews to identify issues and support appropriate corrective or enforcement actions.
• Communication & Outreach – Ability to communicate technical and program information clearly and provide outreach and education to support understanding and engagement among partners and the public.
• Collaboration & Relationship Building – Ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective relationships with agencies, local governments, organizations, and the public to support coordinated and successful program delivery.
• Independent Judgment – Ability to use professional judgment to make sound decisions and manage complex tasks with minimal supervision to ensure effective program outcomes.

Education involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, civil engineering, environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field..

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 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 or above.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license or provide alternate reliable transportation for travel within the state of Washington.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with complex Clean Water Act-related statutes, regulations, and permits.
• Experience applying negotiation and conflict resolution skills.

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.

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.

Our Commitment to DEIR

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.

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.

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 [e-mail]
• 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 Gabe Raso at [e-mail]
• 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 [e-mail]

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.

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.

Collective Bargaining

This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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