What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Planner (EP5) DOH8625 position at State of Washington?
JOB
Environmental Planner (EP5)This is a remote/home-based, full-time, permanent position.The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is seeking a Planning and Policy Consultant (EP5) to lead statewide emergency preparedness, legislative coordination, and internal policy development that supports access to safe and reliable drinking water across Washington State.This position supports the Department of Health’s mission to protect and improve the health of people in Washington by advancing equity, innovation, and engagement. As part of the Division of Environmental Public Health, ODW works to prevent and reduce exposure to environmental health hazards and support healthy places where people live, work, and play.What you’ll do: Emergency Response PlanningLead development of statewide emergency response plans in collaboration with ODW staff, partner agencies, and stakeholders.Coordinate technical assistance and training on drinking water security and emergency preparedness.Serve as liaison with the DOH Office of Resilience and Health Security (ORHS), Emergency Management Division (EMD), and other partners during exercises and emergency events.Guide ODW’s Emergency Response Preparedness Team and lead collaboration with emergency response organizations statewide.Legislative Liaison WorkAnalyze proposed legislation, assess impacts, and make policy recommendations.Coordinate the legislative review process and develop weekly bill summaries and fiscal notes.Prepare materials and insights for leadership engagement with legislators and staff.Internal Policy & Guidance DevelopmentResearch, draft, and manage policy initiatives, Code Reviser filings, and guidance documents.Lead the development of internal memorandums and program directives.Support implementation of the Healthy Environments for All (HEAL) Act, including Tribal engagement and environmental justice assessments.Join our team and help shape Washington’s approach to public health, climate resilience, and equitable access to clean drinking water.Location and Flexibility We value work-life balance and offer the convenience of remote work with occasional in-person collaboration opportunities. Attending events or working In-office is rarely required and would be scheduled in advance. This is a remote/home-based position available to applicants residing anywhere in Washington State, as well as those living near the Oregon/Washington border and the Idaho/Washington border. Required Qualifications (you must meet ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed.): Experience defined below may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.Option 1: At least 10 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Option 2: At least 3 years of working at the job classification of Public Health Advisor 4 or Environmental Planner 4 with experience in one or more of the following areas: water system policy development and analysis, coordination or oversight of water issues or regulations, environmental quality protection or compliance, or land use planning.Option 3: A Bachelor's degree involving major study in natural, physical or environmental science, environmental health, environmental law, land use planning, or other allied field; AND At least 6 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Option 4: A Master’s degree involving major study in natural, physical or environmental science, environmental health, environmental law, land use planning, or other allied field can substitute for two years of professional experience. AND At least 5 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Preferred Qualifications: Experience working in a drinking water program at the local, state, or federal level is desirable.Thorough knowledge and understanding of Washington’s legislative processes.Team leadership and collaboration skills. Benefits and LifestyleWe prioritize your work-life balance and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages nationwide, tailored to support your lifestyle. Discover more about "Why DOH" by visiting Work@Health.We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)At DOH, we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs, and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, as outlined in our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health.Conditions of Employment: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. I am prepared, with or without accommodations, to do the following: Commit to a full-time 40-hour workweek schedule (flexible work schedule requests must be approved supervisor).Communicate through applications such as MS Teams and MS Outlook, and by phone while working remotely.Adjust my work schedule occasionally to align with business needs, which may entail working evenings and weekends.Perform my job duties either remotely from home or in-person at the designated DOH site location.Occasional travel may be necessary, sometimes requiring overnight stays or trips out of state. You must be able to legally drive a vehicle or arrange alternative transportation for state business.Engage in emergency response exercises and high-priority assignments as assigned during emergency events. APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: To apply, click "Apply" and complete the application. Attach your resume and cover letter. In your Applicant Profile, include at least three professional references (including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led, if applicable). Please do not include private information such as social security number or year of birth.Do attach the following: ResumeCover letterDD-214 (if applicable)Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth yearDo not include or attach the following – these documents or details will not be reviewed: REMOVE personal photos – do not submit any documents containing personal photos. Transcripts (unless specifically requested in the Application Directions)Certifications or DiplomasProjects or PortfoliosLetters of RecommendationEquity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve. DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need accommodation in the application or selection process, or need information in an alternative format, contact Andrea Thieme at (360) 918-6601 orandrea.thieme@doh.wa.gov. For general DOH recruitment questions, email the Talent Acquisition Team at employment@doh.wa.gov. Deaf or hard of hearing contact Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1; individuals outside of Washington State contact Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6874. Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues. SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration. Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.
Environmental Planner (EP5)This is a remote/home-based, full-time, permanent position.The Office of Drinking Water (ODW) is seeking a Planning and Policy Consultant (EP5) to lead statewide emergency preparedness, legislative coordination, and internal policy development that supports access to safe and reliable drinking water across Washington State.This position supports the Department of Health’s mission to protect and improve the health of people in Washington by advancing equity, innovation, and engagement. As part of the Division of Environmental Public Health, ODW works to prevent and reduce exposure to environmental health hazards and support healthy places where people live, work, and play.What you’ll do: Emergency Response PlanningLead development of statewide emergency response plans in collaboration with ODW staff, partner agencies, and stakeholders.Coordinate technical assistance and training on drinking water security and emergency preparedness.Serve as liaison with the DOH Office of Resilience and Health Security (ORHS), Emergency Management Division (EMD), and other partners during exercises and emergency events.Guide ODW’s Emergency Response Preparedness Team and lead collaboration with emergency response organizations statewide.Legislative Liaison WorkAnalyze proposed legislation, assess impacts, and make policy recommendations.Coordinate the legislative review process and develop weekly bill summaries and fiscal notes.Prepare materials and insights for leadership engagement with legislators and staff.Internal Policy & Guidance DevelopmentResearch, draft, and manage policy initiatives, Code Reviser filings, and guidance documents.Lead the development of internal memorandums and program directives.Support implementation of the Healthy Environments for All (HEAL) Act, including Tribal engagement and environmental justice assessments.Join our team and help shape Washington’s approach to public health, climate resilience, and equitable access to clean drinking water.Location and Flexibility We value work-life balance and offer the convenience of remote work with occasional in-person collaboration opportunities. Attending events or working In-office is rarely required and would be scheduled in advance. This is a remote/home-based position available to applicants residing anywhere in Washington State, as well as those living near the Oregon/Washington border and the Idaho/Washington border. Required Qualifications (you must meet ONE of the options provided and any additional criteria listed.): Experience defined below may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.Option 1: At least 10 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Option 2: At least 3 years of working at the job classification of Public Health Advisor 4 or Environmental Planner 4 with experience in one or more of the following areas: water system policy development and analysis, coordination or oversight of water issues or regulations, environmental quality protection or compliance, or land use planning.Option 3: A Bachelor's degree involving major study in natural, physical or environmental science, environmental health, environmental law, land use planning, or other allied field; AND At least 6 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Option 4: A Master’s degree involving major study in natural, physical or environmental science, environmental health, environmental law, land use planning, or other allied field can substitute for two years of professional experience. AND At least 5 years of experience working in one or more of the following areas: regulations or policies for drinking water or environmental quality protection or compliance, public policy and legislation, or land use or emergency planning.Preferred Qualifications: Experience working in a drinking water program at the local, state, or federal level is desirable.Thorough knowledge and understanding of Washington’s legislative processes.Team leadership and collaboration skills. Benefits and LifestyleWe prioritize your work-life balance and offer one of the most competitive benefits packages nationwide, tailored to support your lifestyle. Discover more about "Why DOH" by visiting Work@Health.We are the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)At DOH, we safeguard public health in an ever-evolving world. Through collaboration with local health jurisdictions and state, federal, and private partners, our programs, and services impact every Washingtonian and visitor daily. We're driven by Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, as outlined in our Transformational Plan for the future of Washington health.Conditions of Employment: This position is covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. I am prepared, with or without accommodations, to do the following: Commit to a full-time 40-hour workweek schedule (flexible work schedule requests must be approved supervisor).Communicate through applications such as MS Teams and MS Outlook, and by phone while working remotely.Adjust my work schedule occasionally to align with business needs, which may entail working evenings and weekends.Perform my job duties either remotely from home or in-person at the designated DOH site location.Occasional travel may be necessary, sometimes requiring overnight stays or trips out of state. You must be able to legally drive a vehicle or arrange alternative transportation for state business.Engage in emergency response exercises and high-priority assignments as assigned during emergency events. APPLICATION DIRECTIONS: To apply, click "Apply" and complete the application. Attach your resume and cover letter. In your Applicant Profile, include at least three professional references (including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led, if applicable). Please do not include private information such as social security number or year of birth.Do attach the following: ResumeCover letterDD-214 (if applicable)Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth yearDo not include or attach the following – these documents or details will not be reviewed: REMOVE personal photos – do not submit any documents containing personal photos. Transcripts (unless specifically requested in the Application Directions)Certifications or DiplomasProjects or PortfoliosLetters of RecommendationEquity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve. DOH is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need accommodation in the application or selection process, or need information in an alternative format, contact Andrea Thieme at (360) 918-6601 orandrea.thieme@doh.wa.gov. For general DOH recruitment questions, email the Talent Acquisition Team at employment@doh.wa.gov. Deaf or hard of hearing contact Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1; individuals outside of Washington State contact Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6874. Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues. SUBSCRIBE to DOH Job Alerts
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration. Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.
