The mission of the Air Quality Program is to protect and improve Washington’s air quality for current and future generations. We’re looking for an experienced, strategic communicator and community engagement specialist to join our team. In this role, you will have key responsibilities related to improving air quality in Washington communities that are historically overburdened with multiple health, social, and environmental inequities and highly impacted by air pollution. You’ll work in a multidisciplinary team to identify and respond to communication and community outreach and engagement opportunities. You will contribute to strategies create products for internal and external publication about statewide air quality, as well as related regulations and grant programs designed to reduce air pollution. Importantly, you will help the Air Quality Program us reach the diversity of people and communities we serve statewide in new, exciting, and effective ways. Audiences include people in communities historically underserved by government services, including communities of color and low-income populations, people with limited English proficiency, Tribal communities, and indigenous populations.
Tele-work options for this position:This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work schedule. Work will involve some travel throughout Washington via air and car travel. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.Please Note: We will review all applications received before the date above. Additional reviews after this date typically only occur if we have a small applicant pool, or if a successful Hire was not made.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 Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information 

About the Department of Ecology

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
• Continuous growth and development opportunities. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

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.

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. 
 What makes this role unique?
As a communications, outreach, and engagement expert, you will contribute your experience working with vulnerable populations to help Air Quality integrate equity and environmental justice compliance obligations and practices into all work and help ensure program practices align with the Air Quality Program and Ecology’s agency-wide Community Engagement Plan and Tribal Consultation Framework. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from and engage with subject matter experts on high-priority products and campaigns, including and especially emerging work for improving air quality in overburdened communities highly impacted by air pollution.
What you will do:

• Under the supervision of the Communications Manager, coordinate with the Air Quality Environmental Justice Planner, Air Quality Program staff, the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice, and other communications and outreach and engagement staff to plan and create approaches, products and campaigns to support ongoing communication and engagement activities with community representatives in 16 areas across Washington that are participating in a state initiative to improve their air quality.
• In collaboration with colleagues in the Air Quality Communications Unit, write, edit, create, and publish communication and outreach and engagement materials, including print collateral, blogs, videos, presentations, web copy, social media, graphics, PSAs, and other products in support of the program and agency’s missions.
• Serve as a program resource on compliance with accessibility and nondiscrimination laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and other nondiscrimination statutes, Washington environmental justice law, Washington community compensation law, and other related state and federal guidance on participation and engagement.
• Track and provide data on engagement activities and compensation to the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice for annual reporting requirements. 
• Coordinate and implement community engagement opportunities via online and in-person meetings.
• Develop, advise on, and implement external strategic communication and outreach plans to support key programs, projects, and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

 
A total of eight years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience: Involving environmental education, community outreach, communications activities. environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning, 
• Education: Involving a major study in education, communications, environmental, physical, or natural science, or related field.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations	College credit hours or degree - as listed above	Years of professional level experience - as listed above
Combination 1	No college credit hours or degree	8 years of experience
Combination 2	30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits	7 years of experience
Combination 3	60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree)	6 years of experience
Combination 4	90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits	5 years of experience
Combination 5	A Bachelor's Degree	4 years of experience
Combination 6	A Master's Degree or higher	2 years of experience

 
Note: examples of experience may include:

• Study and/or direct experience in the field of environmental justice.
• Public outreach campaigns and community research and/or field work especially in communities that are disproportionately impacted by multiple socio-economic realities. 
• Conception, execution, and publication of communication products, including print collateral, surveys, social media, video, and other multimedia that support strategic goals.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• A portfolio of published creative work, including graphic design.
• Experience designing and executing successful public outreach campaigns.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, complex organization and/or in government communications.
• An understanding of environmental justice research, demographic data, and equity focused assessments.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.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 candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
Need an Accommodationin the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.govand we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.  

Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents will be declined.

• A one-page cover letter describing why you are qualified for this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to at least the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A list of three professional references (included in your application).
• 1-3 examples of written work or outreach samples, something that you created.

Please do NOT include your salary history.Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.
Application Attestation: The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 
Other Information:

If you have specific questions about the position, please email Susan Woodward at: Susan.Woodward@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Susan to inquire about the status of your application.
 To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service 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.
To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

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

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. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

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.