What are the responsibilities and job description for the Bilingual Waste Pesticide Disposal Coordinator - Environmental Specialist 5 - Internal position at Washington State Health Care Authority?
Description
The Washington State Department of Agriculture has been serving the state for more than 100 years. Through service, regulation, and advocacy, we keep agriculture viable and vital in Washington State, while protecting consumers, public health, and the environment. We work extensively with farmers and ranchers, but our responsibilities – from ensuring food safety to environmental protection – touch the lives of millions of people locally, nationally, and abroad.
The agency includes 780 employees approximately and grows close to 1,000 employees at the peak of seasonal work. To learn more and view additional openings, please visit our Employment Page.
The Agricultural Environmental Services Division within the Department of Agriculture protects the public interest, health, and welfare of the people of the state of Washington by providing cost efficient and effective services for the regulation of pesticides and fertilizers, supporting scientific analysis that addresses concerns to public health and the environment from agricultural activities, and protecting public health through scientific and regulatory support of the cannabis and dairy industries.
The Technical Services and Education Program (TSEP) provides a wide array of pesticide safety training to the agricultural sector throughout Washington State. We work together with partners to deliver these trainings which include Pesticide Handler Training, Private Applicator Pre-license Training, Worker Protection Standard Train the Trainer, Respirator Train the Trainer, Sprayer Application Equipment Best Management Practices, On-farm Sprayer Calibration Technical Assistance as well as speaking on pesticide safety related topics at many recertification events. The TSEP program also collects pesticides that are no longer useful and Industry in maintaining a safe work environment for themselves and the community.The Opportunity
The Bilingual Waste Pesticide Disposal Coordinator serves as a senior environmental section specialist that works independently, requiring in-depth knowledge and provides advanced scientific and technical consultation to agency staff, and local and federal agencies on environmental impacts of various activities including the collection and proper disposal of waste pesticides from private and public entities.
This position builds partnerships with communities, businesses, and interest groups in order to identify and respond to environmental issues affecting the common interest such as the coordination of waste pesticide disposal collection events. Additionally, this position develops and enhances environmental protection and oversees implementation of changes that are necessary to protect public health from environmental factors.
The position serve as the agencies’ expert on the state hazardous waste contract advisory committee. Review all bids and suggested contract changes and make recommendations to the state’s hazardous waste contract procurement officer.
This position contributes to the program goals by educating agricultural producers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards so their agricultural products can be distributed globally.
Important Notes:
WSDA is recruiting for an internal full-time permanent Environmental Specialist 5 position within the Agricultural Environmental Services Division. This position is approved for a home duty station in Grandview, Washington. This position is not represented by union.
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary for this position is: Range 63, Step A $76,608 - Step L $100,488 annually.
Duties
What to Expect
Some of the various responsibilities within this role:
Plan, coordinate and direct Waste Pesticide Collection Events
- Prepare the program’s biennial budget. Plan events and ensure all expenditure is within budget constraints. Routinely provide the program’s financial status to the TSE program manager and the division’s assistant director.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to coordinate Waste Pesticide Collection Events: Coordinate collection events with site owners and the hazardous waste contractor. Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites. Determine the locations and times of collection events.
- Oversee, direct, and participate in pesticide collection events.
- Ensure collection events are adequately staffed and trained.
- Ensure that staff employ all required protection measures including hazard awareness and Personal Protective Equipment usage.
- Ensure a trained safety officer is on site at collection events to safe-guard the physical integrity of staff.
- Provide pre-collection event data to the hazardous waste contractor and participate in the on-site safety meeting.
- Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner.
- Ensure that event data is entered into the database and perform data QA/QC to ensure that information sent to other parties is correct.
- Generate an accurate annual report of hazardous waste activities, and submits it to the Dept. of Ecology.
- Coordinate with Database Developers to ensure Waste Pesticide database is operational. Help train other database users.
- Participate in financial planning of collection events and ensure all expenditures are within the TSE program budget.
- Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites.
- Maintain working relationships with waste collection facility sites including County Solid Waste, WSU (up to six properties), as well as other facilities as to allow continued use of their facilities.
- Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Review pesticide disposal inventories and provide follow-up with customers. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to conduct site visits to sample, identify and pack unwanted pesticide products. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Ensure compliance with all state and federal hazardous waste and employee safety regulations.
- Coordinate training events and training activities, curriculum updates and delivery for one of the pesticide safety training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Support other TSEP bilingual training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Serve as liaisons with internal and external stakeholders, ensure training materials and props are available, and maintain training records.
- Develop pesticide safety training videos for the web and to use in training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Work with other Education and Outreach Service (EOS) staff to conduct mostly Spanish Language training at all levels of agricultural operations and in cooperation with the agricultural community. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Conduct relevant training events by constantly updating technical knowledge and trainings skills. Support pesticide handler training program but will support other program staff conduct Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Train-the-Trainer courses to farm owners, managers and supervisors. This requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to deliver a variety of training programs including pre-license and recertification training.
- Review and develop technical assistance material in Spanish and English languages.
- Conduct customer-site technical assistance visits and assign technical assistance visits to staff. This task requires operating a motorized state vehicle.
- Remind staff to use maintenance equipment checklist including cargo and flatbed trailers, vehicle, sprayers and other training equipment.
- Ensure staff are trained on safety trailer towing.
- Make general recommendation on equipment maintenance and use.
Qualifications
Who should apply?
Professionals with:
- A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and six (6) years of experience handling agricultural pesticides. Professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above OR One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4 Additional qualifying experience will substitute year for year, for education.
- Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in WA State.
- Fluent in English and Spanish languages and possess the ability to read, write, and speak and understand the primary Spanish dialect.
- Current WSDA Private Applicator's License to properly and safely handle pesticides Current 40-hour Hazardous Materials Training (HAZ MAT) certification with annual 8-hour Refresher courses to maintain knowledge on safety precautions. Medical evaluation, training, and fit testing for respirator use.
- Practical experience handling or supervising the handling and/or application of agricultural use pesticides.
- Two (2) years of experience leading or supervising within a natural resource, agricultural, environmental or health regulatory position, in the pest management field, or in the pesticide or fertilizer industry.
- At least two (2) years of experience writing adult training curriculums.
- Professional experience as Spanish/English translator and/or interpreter.
Supplemental Information
Employee Benefits
- A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
- WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
- 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
- All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
- A resume detailing experience and education
- A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position
- Three (3) professional references.
WSDA uses a I-9 form(Download PDF reader) to determine Employment Eligibility and Verification, once hired. This document is the authorization of an individual’s ability to be hired for employment within the United States. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
Veteran's Preference: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.
Persons with a disability, who need assistance with their application or need this announcement in an alternative format, may call 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.
Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.
Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.
Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
Salary : $76,608 - $102,996