Permit Writer; Environmental Specialist

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a
Permit Writer (Environmental Specialist
3) within the Nuclear Waste Program.

• Richland Field Office in Richland, WA.

• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.

• Initially, this position requires working in the office five days a week for onboarding and training. After successful completion, a minimum of one in-office day per week is required.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

• Apply by October 8, 2026

• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As a Permit Writer in the Tank Waste Treatment Section of the Nuclear Waste Program, you’ll help ensure safe and compliant cleanup work at the Hanford Nuclear Facility – one of the most complex environmental cleanup sites in the country. In this role, you’ll review and evaluate permit applications, modification packages, and technical documents that support waste treatment, storage, and disposal operations.

You’ll provide clear feedback to the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors and help shape permit conditions that protect human health and the environment.

The position offers direct experience working with large industrial treatment facilities, dangerous waste regulations, and real-world compliance challenges. Collaborating with engineers, scientists, and federal partners, you’ll participate in field inspections and contribute to decisions that guide cleanup progress. This role provides meaningful opportunities to build strong regulatory and technical skills while supporting high-impact environmental work with room for professional growth.

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

• Review and evaluate permit documents, including Permit Change Notices, modification packages, and applications, and provide clear, timely Notices of Deficiencies or comments.

• Apply state and federal dangerous waste regulations and help interpret permit requirements for the Permittee.

• Work with permit leads, U.S. Department of Energy, and contractors to develop recommendations and negotiate permit conditions.

• Evaluate environmental and permitting problems using logic, reasoning, and technical knowledge to assess alternative solutions and approaches.

• Conduct field inspections and site visits for major treatment facilities to verify compliance with engineering specifications, permit conditions, and regulatory requirements.

• Participate in meetings with federal partners to provide technical explanations and support the negotiation of permit conditions and compliance expectations.

• Research and compile information on environmental laws, regulations, and facility operations to support permitting decisions.

• Regulatory Application –Ability to interpret and apply complex regulations to develop defensible regulatory positions and ensure compliance at technically complex facilities.

• Technical Evaluation–Ability to analyze technical documents to ensure technical accuracy of permitting documents and decisions.

• Permit Development –Ability to develop and clearly communicate technical permit conditions to ensure regulatory accuracy and compliance.

• Research & Data Analysis –Ability to conduct research and perform qualitative and quantitative analysis to inform major permitting decisions and compliance evaluations.

• Information Assessment –Ability to review, synthesize, and evaluate information and data to draw logical, defensible…