Toxics Cleanup Unit Supervisor​/Senior Hydrogeologist; Hydrogeologist

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Toxics Cleanup Unit Supervisor / Senior Hydrogeologist (Hydrogeologist
4)within the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP).

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

Assignment Pay: The salary listed includes 7.5% assignment pay due to the required Hydrogeologist specialty licensure.

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of three days per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

• Apply by November 24, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Are you an experienced hydrogeologist and collaborative leader who is passionate about protecting Washington’s environment? The Washington State Department of Ecology is seeking a Unit Supervisor / Senior Hydrogeologist to provide leadership, technical expertise, and strategic direction within the Toxics Cleanup Program's Southwest Region Office. This unique role combines people leadership with advanced hydrogeologic practice, offering the opportunity to supervise a multidisciplinary team, support voluntary and formal cleanup efforts, and serve as a regional expert on contaminant fate and transport, site characterization, and remediation.

If you thrive in a collaborative environment and are motivated by meaningful public service, this position offers an opportunity to make a lasting impact on environmental protection across Southwest Washington.

• Lead and supervise a multidisciplinary team of environmental specialists, hydro-geologists, and natural resource scientists, by setting expectations, assigning work, supporting professional development, and evaluating performance.
• Provide strategic leadership and implement program priorities, ensuring effective delivery of cleanup, compliance, and Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) activities within the Southwest Region.
• Serve as a senior hydrogeology expert, providing technical guidance on contaminated site investigations, groundwater characterization, contaminant fate and transport, conceptual site models, and cleanup alternatives.
• Review and evaluate complex hydrogeologic investigations, reports, plans, and cleanup proposals to ensure technical quality and compliance with the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA), State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), and other applicable regulations.
• Provide technical consultation, mentoring, and training to staff and interested parties on hydrogeologic issues, cleanup technologies, remediation strategies, and environmental data interpretation.
• Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and retain staff, fostering a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing work environment that supports employee growth and success.
• Coordinate with internal and external partners, including local governments, consultants, regulated entities, and other agency programs to resolve complex environmental cleanup issues and support successful project outcomes.
• Oversee and support contaminated site cleanup efforts, including reviewing monitoring data, quality assurance plans, permitting documents, and environmental reports to protect human health and the environment.

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

Possession of a Washington State Geologist license and a Washington State Hydrogeologist specialty license AND

Nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience
  as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist…