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Manchester Environmental Laboratory Director (WMS Band 2)

Employer
Washington State, Department of Ecology
Location
Port Orchard, Washington State
Salary
$94,631.00 - $118,116.00 Annually
Closing date
Apr 16, 2023

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Job Details

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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

 

The Environmental Assessment Program (EAP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill the Manchester Environmental Laboratory Director (WMS Band 2) position. This position is located in our Manchester Environmental Laboratory (MEL) in Port Orchard, WA.

As Laboratory Director, you will oversee a laboratory that is at the fore front of emerging chemicals of interest such as Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and 6PDD Quinone. You will oversee analyses of complex matrices such as consumer products, fish tissue, biosolids as well as solids and liquids to help Ecology make environmental decisions. You will also oversee a laboratory that has state of the art instrumentation and reputation for producing quality data that is legally defensible.


In this position, you will have a wide sphere of influence ensuring that high quality analytical lab service is provided to each client while maintaining appropriate capacity to match client needs. You will be assigned within the Environmental Assessment Program (EAP), but you will serve the analytical needs of the entire agency, including limited support for other governmental agencies (local, state, federal, and tribal). You will be responsible for maintaining relationships with multiple internal programs and their managers as well as with the co-located United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) lab in both a peer and tenant capacity.

Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s land, air and water for current and future generations.

Program Mission: The Environmental Assessment Program provides a range of scientific, monitoring, laboratory, and quality assurance services. Its mission is to measure, assess, and communicate environmental conditions in Washington State for the purpose of providing credible science to guide environmental decisions.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 20% 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 is subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on March 30, 2023In 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 ForgivenessTuition Waiver,  Long Term Disability & Life InsuranceDeferred Compensation ProgramsDependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP),  Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)Employee Assistance ProgramCommute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader)Combined Fund DriveSmartHealth *Click here for more information 

 

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. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan

 

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. 
  • 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

     

     

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    What makes this role unique?

    Manchester Laboratory is not only a production laboratory, but also performs method development due to emerging chemicals of interest that methods have not been developed for.

    In this role, you will supervise a section of about 25 Ecology staff in a highly technical, culturally and scientifically diverse work environment. You will plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the environmental analytical laboratory as well as ensure appropriate and optimal use of laboratory resources and enhance the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities. You will also support effective communications throughout the agency and among staff, maintaining the highest standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct for self and staff, and support the state's goals for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Respect (DEIR).

    Some of the key work activities and responsibilities:
     
  • Manage Ecology’s business at the Manchester Environmental Laboratory (MEL), overseeing laboratory production ensuring timely and accurate analytical data, maintaining appropriate laboratory certifications and accreditations as well as the laboratory budget and expenditures.
  • Lead Ecology staff, maintaining a positive, professional work culture, providing frequent feedback, evaluating staffing needs, and planning staff workloads.
  • Communicate effectively with internal and external partners, ensuring coordinated effort for maintaining laboratory equipment, laboratory safety and health practices, and waste disposal. 
  • Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with professional and managerial staff of internal and external partners and stakeholder groups.
  • Serve on the EAP management teams, attending regularly scheduled meetings, providing feedback and contributing to team decisions

 

Qualifications

 

Required Qualifications:
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

Option 1: 
A Bachelor’s degree with a major study in Chemistry, or in Microbiology, or Biology with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in Chemistry 

AND 

Five years of professional level experience in environmental laboratory management or oversight, either in the public (non-academic) or private sector, which includes knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment. Experience must include organic, metals, and general chemistry as well as experience with environmental laboratory quality assurance systems to include familiarity with environmental monitoring and assessment methods.

Option 2: 
A Master’s degree with a major study in Chemistry, or in Microbiology, or Biology with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in Chemistry 

AND 

Four years of professional level experience in environmental laboratory management or oversight, either in the public (non-academic) or private sector, which includes knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment. Experience must include organic, metals, and general chemistry as well as experience with environmental laboratory quality assurance systems to include familiarity with environmental monitoring and assessment methods.

Option 3: 
A Ph.D. with a major study in Chemistry, or in Microbiology, or Biology with at least 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in Chemistry 

AND 

Three years of professional level experience in environmental laboratory management or oversight, either in the public (non-academic) or private sector, which includes knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment. Experience must include organic, metals, and general chemistry as well as experience with environmental laboratory quality assurance systems to include familiarity with environmental monitoring and assessment methods.

For all of the above options, required knowledge, skills, and abilities include:
 

  • Experience in personnel management, including recruitment, hiring, training, professional development, performance evaluation, corrective action, diversity goals, and corrective or disciplinary actions.
  • Experience in budget management, including budget planning and tracking, time accounting and employee leave, purchasing and procurement procedures.
  • Knowledge or experience in negotiating and administering contracts and inter-agency agreements.
  • Strategic management skills applied to laboratory services and relations; personnel administration; negotiation and /or mediation skills; tactical planning and operations management; team-building
  • Current knowledge of advanced chemical analytical techniques. (Examples: spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometry.)
  • Current knowledge of State and Federal laws and regulations as they pertain to analytical methodology, laboratory health and safety, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs, and site assessment and clean-up standards.
  • Knowledge of computer software and hardware, hardware maintenance and diagnostic troubleshooting, supervision and coordination of software development and data automation projects, and strategic planning for computer and data management acquisitions.
  • Advanced management and personnel skills to promote effective and diverse staff recruitment, hiring, mentoring, training and performance.
  • Knowledge of statistical techniques to facilitate the evaluation of laboratory quality assurance activities.
  • Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing. The position requires effective communication with laboratory staff, Ecology programs and the ability to coordinate the diverse activities and viewpoints of the various programs to enable timely and accurate lab data production in a manner which also meets client needs. Special consideration is given to coordination of facility management and financial agreements for facility-sharing with USEPA.
  • Position requires continuous focus on financial performance of the laboratory due to fee-for-service nature of the lab funding mechanism. 
  • Strategic planning with regard to equipment budget development and purchases. 
  • Understanding of how major environmental studies and monitoring strategies use on lab capacity.
  • Ability to communicate, coordinate, and negotiate with employees, managers, clients, governmental agencies, tribes, stakeholders, and the public. 


Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

This position is located within a federal facility and requires the passing of a Federal Government background check.

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

  • Experience operating environmental laboratory testing equipment which can include Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), Liquid Chromatograph Triple Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (LCMSMS), Gas Chromatography (GC), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICPMS) or other complex analytical instrumentation. 
  • Experience with EPA National Functional Guidelines in data review and data validation and the State Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) account. 
  • Experience in conducting analyses and /or research on multiple sample matrices including, water, sediment, tissue and/or consumer products along with knowledge of, or experience with, microbiological methods.
  • Experience and/or knowledge of using Laboratory Information Management Systems.

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: 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.
  • 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 Careers@ecy.wa.gov 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 Annette Hoffmann at: Annette.Hoffmann@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Annette 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 LinkedInTwitterFacebookInstagram or our blog.

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. 

 

Company

Ecology is Washington’s environmental protection agency. Our mission is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s land, air, and water for current and future generations. Our innovative partnerships support environmental work throughout the state.

We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability. Maybe you've seen some of our recent stories on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

To learn more about our agency, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
3604076186
Location
300 Desmond Dr SE
Lacey
Washington
98503
US

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