Rulemaking Lead; Environmental Planner ; Internal

Rule making Lead (Environmental Planner
3) (Internal Only)

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Rule making Lead within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program.

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026. This recruitment is open only to current Department of Ecology employees, including those on temporary or project assignments, and Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps members. Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen.

Location:

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

Schedule:

This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. A minimum of eight hours per pay period is required in the office. Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:
Apply by June 30, 2026. Applications submitted after the date above may be reviewed only if additional qualified applicants are needed.

Are you interested in helping reduce toxic chemicals and safely manage dangerous waste in Washington state? Do you enjoy managing complex projects, engaging diverse interested parties with conflicting interests, and writing and analyzing laws and rules? As a rule making lead, you will learn the rule making process, enhance your project management skills, work with interested parties, and join a collaborative and creative team.

This Rule making Lead position offers a unique opportunity to shape statewide toxics reduction and dangerous waste management regulations within Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program. In this role, you will serve as an independent rule making project manager responsible for developing, revising, and implementing complex environmental rules that protect Washington's residents and environment from toxic chemicals and dangerous waste. You will guide multi-disciplinary teams through the rule making lifecycle, including integrating equity and environmental justice considerations and ensuring compliance with agency policies and federal and state laws and rules.

This includes tracking timelines and tasks, clarifying priorities, anticipating obstacles, identifying alternatives, and managing change over a long period.

You will lead the recurring revision cycle for the Safer Products Restrictions and Reporting rule (Chapter 173-337 WAC), advancing statewide efforts to reduce toxic threats in consumer products. Your work will include assessing scientific and technical information, consulting with internal and external partners, coordinating with the Safer Products for Washington team, and managing extensive public engagement activities. As a member of the Toxics Awareness and Action (TA&A) section, you will contribute to agency-wide policy development, regulatory interpretation, and strategic initiatives that strengthen environmental and public health protections while supporting transparency, accessibility, and equitable outcomes.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

1. Project and Process Management Ability to plan, organize, and manage complex, long-term projects; coordinate contributors; anticipate barriers; and adapt to evolving priorities.

2. Technical and Regulatory Writing Ability to produce clear, accurate, and well-structured written materials that translate technical or policy input into understandable and actionable content.

3. Documentation and Compliance Management Ability to organize information, manage required documentation, track procedural requirements, and ensure accuracy and completeness across complex processes.

4. Outreach, Engagement, and Public Communication Ability to develop communication materials, support public-facing engagement, and clearly present information to diverse audiences in meetings, workshops, and hearings.

5. Research and Analytical Evaluation Ability to conduct research, assess data, interpret complex information, and contribute analytical insights that inform policy or regulatory decisions.

6. Training, Guidance, and Collaborative Work Practices Ability to provide guidance, develop instructional materials, work collaboratively in a team environment, take initiative, and support colleagues in shared goals.

Education:

in one of these fields or related fields: humanities, business, health and medicine, interdisciplinary studies, public and social services, science-technology-engineering-math, social sciences, land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis.

A Bachelor's degree counts as 4 years of experience. A Master's degree counts as 6 years of experience.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience.
• 7 years of…