Forestry Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (Environmental)

Full Time

  State of Washington

  Spokane, Washington, United States

Duties

The mission of the Water Quality Program is to protect and restore Washington's waters to sustain healthy watersheds and communities. Our work ensures that state waters support beneficial uses including recreational and business activities, supplies for clean drinking water, and the protection of fish, shellfish, wildlife, and public health.

  • As the senior environmental section specialist responsible for Water Quality's role in forestry activities in Eastern Washington, the Forestry Specialist conducts forestry related activities including:
  • Responding to highly complex inquiries for technical assistance requiring an advanced scientific knowledge of forestry and water quality management practices.
  • Providing scientific and technical consultation to other agency staff, local and federal agencies, and landowners on high-priority environmental impacts of forest practices.
  • Coordinating with Department of Natural Resources, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Ecology staff to plan and conduct scientifically-based compliance monitoring of forest practices activities on state and private forestlands.
  • Independently planning and conducting reviews of high-priority forest practice activities, especially alternate plans, channel migration zone determinations, mass wasting or unstable slope assessments, road maintenance and abandonment plans, emergency timber harvest, long-term plans, habitat conservation plans, and other timber management plans.
  • Participating on inter-disciplinary teams for alternate plans, long term cutting applications, RMAP (road management plan) proposals, harvest adjacent to wetlands and streams, and assorted other issues and respond to high priority and complex threats to the water quality in the Eastern Region.
  • Evaluating forest practice applications and water type modification requests. 
  • Reviewing and commenting on documents such as SEPA and USFS Scoping documents.
  • Providing guidance on Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development and 401 Water Quality Certifications associated with hydro-power projects.
  • Working with the Colville and Umatilla National Forests to implement the Ecology/Forest Service MOA.
  • Working with the Colville National Forest to implement the Colville National Forest (CNF) TMDL for temperature and bacteria.
  • Attending regional forest and fish meetings.
  • Keeping abreast of developments of the Cooperative Monitoring Evaluation and Research (CMER) committees related to eastside Forest and Fish issues, and may assist with selected projects.

This is a project position with an expected end date of June 30, 2019.

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be August 15, 2017. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 14, 2017. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and five years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

A Master's Degree in one of the above fields and three years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

A Ph.D. in one of the above fields and two years of professional-level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one year equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above or two years equal to an Environmental Specialist 2 or above.

OR

Two year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3.

NOTE: Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for education.

Desired Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology, Fisheries, Geology, Hydrology, or other natural resource management area.
  • Experience in hydrogeology, forest science, wetland ecology, or stream typing.
  • Experience with field work focused on forestry and/lor water quality studies.

Special Requirements / Conditions of Employment:

Must be able to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license.

Compensation

$49,020.00 - $64,296.00 Annually