Career Center

The Water Resources (WR) program is currently looking to fill a Statewide Project Hydrogeologist (Hydrogeologist 3) (In-Training) position. This position can be located in one of the following offices: Headquarters Office (HQ) in Lacey, WA., Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA., Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA., or our 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 role, you will provide statewide hydrogeology technical support to the Water Resources Program. Projects will include acting as the technical expert for the streamflow restoration grant program, serving as the Water Resources Program’s Statewide Groundwater Monitoring Lead, and supporting program management discussions with technical analyses and expertise on a range of issues. 

We will consider applicants who meet the Hydrogeologist 2 requirements below and are seeking the experience to get their Washington State Hydrogeologist specialty license, and applicants who meet the Hydrogeologist 3 requirements below and are already Licensed Hydrogeologists.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations.  

Program Mission: The mission of the Water Resources (WR) program is to manage water resources to meet the current and future needs of the natural environment and Washington's communities.

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is able to telework up to 90% of the time. The successful applicant can have a duty station at any of the four offices listed above.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on March 30, 2023. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before March 29, 2023. 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.  

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. 

Duties

What makes this role unique and challenging? 

This position is a mix of known duties, like providing technical support for grants, and new projects that will come up over time. The new projects will support statewide discussions on how to manage water resources for people, farms, and fish.

What you will do:  

• Provide technical hydrogeological expertise during the lifecycle of all streamflow restoration competitive grants, from guidance development to pre-application phase to application review. Support grant manager in working with grantees on implementing projects including meeting with grant applicants, agency partners, tribes, communities, and stakeholders such as landowners, business owners, environmental groups and farmers.
• Provide technical hydrogeological expertise and project manager services to coordinating and assisting with groundwater monitoring conducted at the four regional offices; ensuring program data are widely available and providing assistance regarding use of data; and participating in coordination with internal and external partners.
• Provide technical services needed to supplement the work of a region or that do not fall under the responsibilities of a specific region, including analyses of state-wide water supplies, connectivity between surface and groundwater, supporting drafting bill and rule analysis, preparation technical communication documents, and represent the Water Resources Program in coordinating with internal and external parties.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

This is an In-Training position. The goal class for this position is a Hydrogeologist 3 (HG3). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the Hydrogeologist 2 and 3 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the HG2 level, then they will be placed into a training program to become a HG3 within a specified period of time.

At the Hydrogeologist 2 Level – Pay Range – 58 ($5,013- $6,746) Monthly (In-Training)

Option 1: A Bachelor's degree involving a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field AND Two (2) years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist, or closely allied profession. 

Option 2: A Master's degree or higher with a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field.

Option 3: One (1) year as a Hydrogeologist 1, at the Department of Ecology.
 
At the Hydrogeologist 3 Level – Pay Range – 62 ($5,535 - $7,441) Monthly (Goal Class)
 
Please note: At the Hydrogeologist 3 level, you must have a valid Washington State Geologist License and a Washington State Hydrogeologist Specialty License.
 
Option 1: A Bachelor's degree involving a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field AND Three (3) years of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession. 
 
Option 2: A Master's degree with a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field AND One (1) year of professional experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession.
 
Option 3: A Ph.D. if major research was in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology, or closely allied field.
 
Option 4: One year as a Hydrogeologist 2, at the Department of Ecology.
 
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• At the Hydrogeologist 3 level – must possess a valid Washington State Geologist License and a Washington State Hydrogeologist Specialty license under RCW 18.220.

NOTE:  Individuals who are interested in applying to this position, and believe they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington based on reciprocity, are responsible for ensuring they meet licensing requirements for the State of Washington. These requirements can be found at the following website: WA State Licensing (DOL) Official Site: How to get your license: Geologists, engineering geologists, or hydrogeologists by reciprocity.
 

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.
 
At the Hydrogeologist 2 level:

• A valid Washington State Geologist License.
• Communicate scientific and technical principles to a general audience.
• Write effectively.

At the Hydrogeologist 3 level:

• Communicate scientific and technical principles to a general audience.
• Write effectively.

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

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: [email protected] 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 [email protected]. 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 list of three professional references.

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. 

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive 22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact [email protected] with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

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 Dave Christensen at: [email protected]. Please do not contact Dave to inquire about the status of your application.
 
To request the full position description: email [email protected]

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.