Stormwater Compliance Unit Supervisor (WMS1)

State of Washington; Shoreline (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Flexible schedule

In-office 1 day/week

Job summary

Washington State Department of Ecology seeks a Stormwater Compliance Unit Supervisor to lead a team of eleven inspectors and oversee compliance assurance for multiple NPDES general permits across Washington.

You will allocate limited resources, set inspection priorities, and coach staff while ensuring accurate reporting and timely enforcement. This role requires strong leadership and regulatory expertise in stormwater management.

Qualifications

• Regulatory and Compliance Oversight – apply laws, permits, and policies to ensure compliant decisions.
• Work Planning and Resource Management – organize work, set priorities, allocate staff and budget.
• Employee Leadership and Development – coach, evaluate, and support staff performance.
• Documentation and Quality Assurance – review reports and enforcement documents for accuracy.
• Collaboration and Communication – work with staff, managers, partners, and the public.
• Policy Interpretation and Implementation – translate policies into practical actions.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support the Stormwater Compliance Unit; provide training and develop staff; travel to facilities.
• Plan and manage workload, set priorities, and track progress across programs.
• Develop procedures for field safety, data practices, and use of agency systems.
• Recruitment for vacant positions; act as hiring manager per policy.
• Serve as section contact for policy and program development on permits and no-discharge zones.
• Oversee enforcement actions; provide technical support to AG's Office; represent in hearings.

Skills

Regulatory oversight

Work planning

Employee leadership

Documentation

Collaboration

Policy interpretation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Stormwater Compliance Unit Supervisor (WMS1) within the Water Quality Program's Northwest Region section.

Location:

• Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
• The salary listed includes 5% premium pay due to the position location in King County.
• 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 20, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As the Stormwater Compliance Unit Supervisor, you will lead a team of eleven inspectors who conduct compliance assurance activities for many of Washington’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permits. These include the Construction Stormwater, Industrial Stormwater, Boatyard, Upland Finfish, Winery, Vessel Deconstruction, and Bridge/Ferry Terminal Maintenance permits. Your team works directly with businesses, contractors, and facility operators to help them understand requirements, improve pollution control practices, and resolve compliance issues. You will oversee unique technical and regulatory work associated with high-profile stormwater management projects, including use of companion orders for construction activities on contaminated sites, Duwamish River source control activities, and transportation-related construction project compliance assurance.

In this role, you decide how to focus limited resources across some of the busiest counties in the state. You set priorities for inspections, complaint response, sector-based initiatives, and follow up actions. You support staff through training, coaching, and daily guidance, and you ensure that inspection reports, external correspondence, and enforcement documents are clear, accurate, and timely. You also make sure our enforcement actions meet legal and procedural standards. This position offers the opportunity to lead and grow a collaborative team and make a direct difference in protecting Washington’s water quality.

What you will do:

• Lead, organize, and support the work of the Stormwater Compliance Unit. Ensure staff have the training, tools, and guidance they need, and provide timely feedback and professional development opportunities. Evaluate performance and take corrective or disciplinary action when needed. This includes frequent travel to permitted facilities across the state to train staff and observe fieldwork, including long distances and remote locations.
• Plan and manage the unit’s workload. Coordinate annual planning, set priorities, assign work, support project teams across programs, and track progress to ensure tasks and commitments are completed on time.
• Develop and maintain procedures that support field staff safety, strong data and records practices, and efficient use of forms, paperwork, and agency data systems.
• Conduct recruitment efforts for vacant positions by preparing position descriptions and essential functions analyses, and serving as the hiring manager in accordance with agency policies and procedures.
• Serve as section contact for policy and program development within assigned areas. This includes work related to general permit implementation, use of the stormwater management manual, and Puget Sound No Discharge Zone implementation.
• Oversee recommendations for formal enforcement actions and guide the unit through any related appeals. Represent the program as the Lead Manager for appeals of Stormwater Compliance Unit enforcement actions. Provide technical support to the Attorney General’s Office as needed. Serve as an expert witness or program representative in proceedings before the Pollution Control Hearings Board or other administrative bodies or courts.

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

Required Qualifications:

Nine (9) yearsof experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which must include the following:

• Regulatory and Compliance Oversight – Ability to apply laws, permits, and policies to ensure consistent, accurate, and defensible compliance and enforcement decisions.
• Work Planning and Resource Management – Ability to organize work, set priorities, and allocate staff and budget to ensure program commitments and performance targets are met.
• Employee Leadership and Development– Ability to coach, evaluate, and support staff performance to build a skilled, confident, and effective team.
• Documentation and Quality Assurance – Ability to review reports, records, and enforcement documents to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to legal and policy requirements.
• Collaboration and Communication– Ability to communicate clearly and work effectively with staff, managers, partners, and the public to ensure shared understanding and coordinated actions.
• Policy Interpretation and Implementation– Ability to understand and translate governmental policies and technical guidance into practical direction for staff and clear program actions.

Educationinvolving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, engineering, public administration, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.

Examples of how to qualify:

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

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.
• Regular travel is required between Ecology headquarters, regional offices, partner agency locations, and permitted sites/facilities that have limited or no public transportation.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience supervising and recruiting employees.
• Technical expertise in stormwater management principles, stormwater treatment, and environmental compliance practices.
• Knowledge of National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting, Clean Water Act regulations, Washington State stormwater requirements and associated technical guidance.
• Proven negotiation and facilitation skills used to resolve complex environmental challenges.

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?

• Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or [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, schedule, or duties, please contact Rachel McCrea 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 Northwest Region's Water Quality Section

Ecology’s NW Region consists of Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island, Snohomish, King and Kitsap counties. All of our work plays a critical role in protecting and restoring Puget Sound. As a section, we are made up of over 60 positions, divided into five (5) units. Our offices are located in Shoreline and Bellingham, and our team and business are integrated across the two offices. Our work portfolio includes financial assistance, water cleanup planning and implementation, point source permitting, nonpoint source management, compliance assurance and enforcement.

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 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.

Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency.

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