WCC Community Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 3) 

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) Community Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach & Environmental Education Specialist 3) position. This position can be located in any of the following locations:

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.
 

Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance the salary range will be $4,514-$6,072 per month.

 

If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to lead outreach and recruitment for a program that provides environmental service opportunities for young adults and military veterans, this position is for you. You will lead our WCC community outreach efforts statewide! Join our program as we work to expand our outreach and engagement efforts so that our members better reflect the communities in which we serve. 

Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.

 
Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until September 30, 2025. The funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to an 80% tele-work schedule. 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.

 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of November 1, 2024. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before October 31, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

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.

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

• 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.
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• 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.

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.

Duties

What makes this role unique?

In this role, you will lead Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) community outreach and engagement efforts. With more than 285 AmeriCorps members statewide, outreach and engagement opportunities abound as we strive to recruit and enroll members that reflect the diversity of the communities in which we serve. You will work with communications staff and field crew supervisors in your role leading recruitment efforts and developing and implementing community outreach plans.  
 
What you will do: 
 

• Develop, coordinate, and implement community outreach strategies to inform the public on WCC service opportunities and program initiatives, including overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes. 
• Design outreach products for print and digital media, video, and audio, and lead educational and outreach material distribution. 
• Lead WCC’s efforts in accessibility and environmental justice to ensure equitable communication and access to WCC services.
• Coordinate with Ecology HR recruitment services to identify recruitment needs and attendance at recruitment events.
• Collaborate with WCC staff on attendance at local outreach and recruitment events statewide.
• Manage the WCC application database and administer WCC electronic mailing lists.
• Represent the WCC internally and externally to inform or educate about WCC service opportunities and program initiatives, this may include virtual or in person presentations.

Qualifications

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. 

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

• Experience: Involving recruitment, community engagement, community outreach, or communications activities; or equivalent education/experience. Experience in national service programs (e.g. AmeriCorps or as a supervisor of AmeriCorps members) is qualifying experience.
• Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, communications or closely 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; 7 years of experience

Combination 2; 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits; 6 years of experience

Combination 3; 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree); 5 years of experience

Combination 4; 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits; 4 years of experience

Combination 5; A Bachelor's Degree; 3 years of experience

   
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

 

• Must possess a valid Driver’s License.
• Must not be registered, or required to register, with the National Sex Offender Public Registry.
• Must successfully pass a criminal history background check.

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

 

• Knowledge of Washington Conservation Corps program and/or procedures.
• Experience in Washington Conservation Corps or other AmeriCorps Programs.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

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.

Supplemental Information

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 Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

 

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and 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 may be declined.

 

• A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
• A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
• A writing sample related to a communications, outreach, community engagement or recruitment project

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 Laura Schlabach at: Laura.Schlabach@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Laura 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.