TMDL Project Lead (Environmental Specialist 4)

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

Job summary

Washington State Department of Ecology seeks a TMDL Project Lead (Environmental Specialist 4) to drive water quality improvement in Central Washington, covering the Yakima River watershed. You’ll lead technical studies, coordinate with Tribes and local governments, and guide ARP/STI projects to shorten cleanup timelines.

Role offers telework options after an initial in-office period. Strong collaboration, project management, and environmental science expertise are essential to succeed in this

Qualifications

• Environmental assessment skills to identify pollution sources and support cleanup actions.
• Ability to develop water quality plans and apply regulations to improve water quality.
• Experience organizing complex environmental projects and delivering timely results.
• Clear communication and engagement with partners for shared understanding.
• Analytical judgment to analyze information and support environmental outcomes.
• Ability to work with partners and guide work toward goals without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Learn watershed characteristics and land uses within the communities you serve.
• Engage Tribes, local governments, and groups for studies and TMDLs.
• Coordinate with agencies during development and implementation of TMDL/ARP/STI projects.
• Monitor progress and report on implementation toward water quality standards.
• Represent Ecology at hearings and conferences related to Water Cleanup Plans.
• Support non-point pollution actions and draft regional enforcement documents.

Skills

Environmental Assessment

Water Quality Planning

Project Management

Communication & Engagement

Analytical Judgment

Collaboration & Leadership

Education

Environmental or natural sciences degree

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a TMDL Project Lead (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Water Quality Program.

Location

• Central Region Office in Union Gap, 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.
• Five days per week are required in the office during the first month in the position. Afterwards, you may be eligible to telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline

• Apply by September 27, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Are you interested in working with communities to improve water quality? Do you enjoy building collaborative relationships to address challenging environmental conditions? Washington State is at the forefront of addressing nonpoint sources of water pollution and finding creative ways to clean up watersheds. Ecology’s Water Quality Program has a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) project lead position to fill in Central Washington. In this position, you will work with community members and leaders in developing water cleanup projects to address known water quality challenges. You will find solutions to water quality challenges, connect with the local communities, and discuss the science of water quality along with the influences of land use on water quality. Your responsibilities will also include developing Advance Restoration projects (ARP) and Straight To Implementation (STI) projects to shorten the timelines for water quality improvement. You will primarily cover the Yakima River Watershed, which extends from the snowpacks on the Cascade crest to the dry and near desert conditions of the Columbia River Valley. The variety of environmental conditions of Central Washington provides variety in environmental work and recreational opportunities. The Central Region also tends to be an affordable and uncrowded region of Washington.

What you will do

• Become familiar with and knowledgeable about the watershed that you are working in, including the land uses and characteristics of the communities within the watersheds.
• Involve key interest groups and organizations to effectively conduct technical studies, develop water quality implementation control strategies, and write TMDLs to protect and restore impaired waters.
• Coordinate and communicate with Tribes, local governments and other watershed groups during the development and implementation of TMDL, ARP, or STI projects.
• Monitor and report on progress of implementation measures toward meeting water quality standards as specified in the water cleanup plans.
• Represent Ecology at legal and public hearings and conferences regarding Water Cleanup Plans.
• Conduct or provide support to the CRO Watershed Unit on non-point pollution voluntary corrective actions as well as formal regulatory enforcement efforts for non-point pollution issues. This includes developing regional non-point compliance documents such as Requests for Enforcement (RFE) and Administrative Orders (AO).

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

Required Qualifications

Nine (9) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Environmental Assessment– Ability to assess environmental conditions and data to identify pollution sources and support effective cleanup actions.
• Water Quality Planning and Regulation– Ability to develop water quality plans and apply environmental regulations to guide actions that improve water quality.
• Project Management– Ability to organize and manage complex environmental projects to deliver timely and high-quality results.
• Communication and Engagement– Ability to clearly explain technical information and engage partners to support shared understanding and collaborative solutions.
• Analytical Judgment– Ability to analyze complex information and make sound decisions that support effective environmental outcomes.
• Collaboration and Leadership– Ability to work cooperatively with partners and guide work toward shared goals without formal authority.

Education

Education involving a major study in an environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning; 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.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience leading environmental cleanup projects.
• Technical writing experience.
• Experience facilitating meetings.
• Experience coordinating agencies and working with external interest groups.

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 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 options, schedule, or duties, please contact Mark Peterschmidt 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 Water Quality Program

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington's waters to sustain healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures that state waters support beneficial uses of water, including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, aquatic life, wildlife, and public health.

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.

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.