Product Stewardship Policy Specialist; Environmental Planner

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Product Stewardship Policy Specialist (Environmental Planner
5) within the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program.

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• You may telework 90 percent of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

• Apply by January 19, 2026
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

In this role, you will help guide and carry out plans and policies to reduce waste and manage products more responsibly. This includes working on programs that make manufacturers responsible for the waste their products create. You will work with government agencies, elected officials, nonprofits, businesses, and industry groups at the local, state, and national levels. You will also communicate on behalf of Ecology about these programs, sharing information and representing its views at meetings, trainings, and conferences.

• Assist and mentor staff of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Stewardship (PS) unit to oversee development and implementation of current and future EPR and PS programs in Washington State.
• Review and report to Ecology leadership on EPR and PS programs functioning in Washington, including progress related to program and state solid waste plan goals.
• Coordinate and facilitate EPR and PS law and policy implementation with internal and external interested parties through meetings, work sessions, and briefings (in-person or virtual).
• Conduct bill analysis and assist with fiscal note development for new EPR and PS legislation.
• Serve as the Program’s primary contact for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council Steering Committee and other related groups.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our recruitment website.

Land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related experience. Experience must include:

• Demonstrated expertise in policy development and legislative analysis, including interpreting statutes, administrative rules, and legislation, and leading or supporting bill development, fiscal notes, and legislative testimony.
• Significant professional experience with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Product Stewardship (PS), solid waste management, or related environmental policy programs, including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
• Strong program and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, develop work plans, track progress and outcomes, manage budgets or resource needs, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to build, maintain, and lead collaborative partnerships with diverse interested parties, including state and local governments, federal agencies, NGOs, industry representatives, product stewardship organizations, and the public.
• Experience conducting or overseeing research and data analysis to support policy decisions, continuous improvement, and recommendations for regulatory, legislative, or organizational changes.

Major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field.

• 11 years of experience.
• 10 years of experience AND 30–59 semester or 45–89 quarter college credits.
• 9 years of experience AND 60–89 semester or 90–134…