SEPA and Environmental Regulation Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3)

Washington State Department of Ecology; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Ecology's Nuclear Waste Program is hiring a SEPA and Environmental Regulation Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) to lead technical reviews under SEPA, NEPA, MTCA and other regulations.

You will work with managers, engineers, scientists and legal staff to evaluate complex projects, ensure compliance, and support environmental planning, cleanup activities, and policy development across the program.

Qualifications

• Six years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, including environmental policy experience.
• Ability to apply knowledge of SEPA, NEPA, and other laws to evaluate proposals and guide staff.
• Ability to interpret complex environmental regulations to provide accurate guidance.
• Ability to analyze environmental data and regulatory information for accurate interpretation.
• Ability to reconcile differing technical perspectives to improve regulatory alignment.
• Ability to coordinate environmental review schedules and tasks.
• Proficiency with standard software (MS Office, SharePoint) to produce documentation and run queries.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate SEPA, NEPA, MTCA, and other regulatory notifications to identify environmental issues and ensure compliance.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate SEPA documentation and related materials.
• Manage and file documents in databases and record-keeping systems.
• Provide technical and programmatic support for environmental planning and compliance activities.
• Collaborate with managers, engineers, scientists, legal staff, and agency staff to collect data and clarify regulatory requirements.
• Apply strong communication, organizational, analytical, and project management skills across multiple projects.
• Track project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action items for timely completion.

Skills

Environmental policy

Scientific analysis

Regulatory interpretation

Data analysis

Project coordination

Communication

Software & tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Outlook

SharePoint

Adobe

Environmental tracking systems

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a

Description

The Department of Ecology is hiring a SEPA and Environmental Regulation Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) within the Nuclear Waste Program.

Location:

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

Schedule

• Initially, this position requires working in the office five days a week for onboarding and training. Flexible schedule options are available.
• Upon successful completion of the probationary period, a primarily telework schedule may be established with supervisor approval, based on position needs.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline

• Apply by October 14, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

Join the Nuclear Waste Program’s Compliance and Regulatory Assistance team as a State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and Environmental Regulation Specialist, where your work will help protect human health and Washington’s environmental resources for future generations. In this role, you will be responsible for leading technical reviews and coordination under the SEPA, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), and other environmental regulations. Working closely with managers, engineers, scientists, legal staff, and external partners, you will evaluate diverse and complex environmental projects, identify key issues, and ensure regulatory compliance that supports long‑term protection of the environment.

This position provides meaningful opportunities to expand your technical expertise while contributing to environmental planning, cleanup activities, and policy development across the Nuclear Waste Program.

What You Will Do

• Evaluate SEPA, NEPA, MTCA, and other regulatory notifications to identify environmental issues and ensure compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Prepare, review, and coordinate SEPA documentation, including administrative records, Categorical Exclusions, Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, Supplemental Analyses, and related technical materials.
• Manage, sort, and file all documents in established databases and record keeping systems.
• Provide technical and programmatic support for environmental planning and compliance activities under state and federal regulations, including performing technical analysis and review of impacts on the environment.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, scientists, environmental specialists, legal staff, and agency staff to collect data, clarify regulatory requirements, and facilitate environmental reviews.
• Apply strong communication, organizational, analytical, and project management skills to support multiple projects while ensuring regulatory compliance and schedule adherence.
• Track project schedules, milestones, deliverables, and action items to ensure timely completion and effective coordination.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications

Six (6) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:

• Environmental Policy Experience – Ability to apply knowledge of environmental policy frameworks, including SEPA, NEPA, and other laws and regulations, to evaluate proposals and guide staff and agencies to ensure consistent, accurate, and legally defensible environmental decision‑making.
• Scientific and Technical Analysis – Ability to apply scientific and regulatory analytical methods to evaluate documents to determine environmental impacts and support defensible agency decisions.
• Regulatory Interpretation – Ability to interpret complex environmental regulations to provide accurate guidance to staff and external partners to ensure consistent regulatory compliance.
• Data Analysis – Ability to analyze environmental data, records, and regulatory information to ensure accurate interpretation, support environmental impact assessments, and improve the quality and reliability of environmental decision‑making.
• Conflict Resolution & Integration – Ability to reconcile differing technical perspectives across programs to develop unified, scientifically supported recommendations that improve cross‑program regulatory alignment.
• Project Coordination – Ability to coordinate environmental review schedules and tasks to ensure timely completion of deliverables and compliance with program requirements.
• Software & Tools – Ability to operate standard and specialized software (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, SharePoint, Adobe, environmental tracking systems) to produce accurate documentation, run queries, conduct analysis, and distribute information efficiently.

Education

Major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or closely related field.

Examples Of How To Qualify

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

Desired Qualifications

• Workload Experience: Experience planning work and organizing documents.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ability to interpret state, federal, and local environmental regulations (e.g., SEPA, NEPA, MTCA, CERCLA, RCRA, ESA, CWA, CAA, AEA, NWPA, SDWA, TSCA, EPCRA) to ensure correct application of requirements and support for consistent, lawful environmental decision‑making.
• Environmental and Resource Management: Knowledge of principles, practices, and methods of environmental or resource management and environmental pollution prevention and pollution control; methods and techniques of field sampling, testing, data gathering, basic research, and field investigations; technical report writing methods; and characteristics and health effects of pollutants.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, and 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.

Questions?

• For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Cole Caldwell 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 Nuclear Waste Program

The Nuclear Waste Program enforces regulatory compliance and oversees cleanup at the Hanford Site and other facilities managing nuclear waste statewide. It also promotes public involvement, congressional and federal contact, and interstate activities to enhance nuclear waste management, compliance, and cleanup of the Hanford Site.

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 *

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.