Water Quality Permit Administrator; Environmental Specialist

Water Quality Permit Administrator (Environmental Specialist
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Join the State of Washington Department of Ecology to manage water quality permits and protect Washington’s waterways.

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA (must live within commutable distance).

• Eligible for telework and flexible schedule; minimum three days per week in the office.

• Apply by January 21, 2026.
• Position remains open until filled.

You will work with the General Permits Unit in the Southwest Region to manage and maintain permit data in the water quality databases while providing technical assistance to our customers. You will engage regularly with team members overseeing stormwater permits for construction, sand‑and‑gravel, industrial, boatyards, upland hatcheries, and wineries.

• Administer documents by tracking, entering data, ensuring proper records retention, and organizing files.
• Review and comment on draft documents for consistency with other permit documents.
• Notify and coordinate with permit managers when project tasks are complete to keep projects on schedule.
• Prepare routine correspondence, draft documents, and reports.
• Provide administrative technical assistance to our customers.
• Review compliance and enforcement documentation for completeness and consistency.
• Edit documents for accessibility and work with subject matter experts to analyze and summarize Environmental Justice information.
• Enter information into the permit and enforcement tracking tools, helping to keep them accurate and updated; help improve the tools over time.

• Four (4) years of experience and/or education as described below.
• Experience performing environmental‑based work, or work related to the essential functions and key activities of the position, that includes two or more of the following:
  • Data and System Administration – Manage and maintain program databases, tracking systems, and SharePoint sites to ensure accurate data entry, reliable information access, and smooth daily operations.
  • Document Processing and Quality Assurance – Review, prepare, and process documents, fact sheets, and reports to ensure they are complete, accurate, and aligned with regulatory standards.
  • Reporting and Tracking – Compile, review, and produce routine tracking reports to monitor program activities, identify missing or late submissions, and support timely follow‑up.
  • Technical Assistance and Customer Support – Explain procedures, system requirements, and reporting tools clearly and provide assistance to permit tees.
• Demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:
  • Critical/analytical thinking and problem‑solving to make decisions or determine a course of action.
  • Reviewing and assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommend decisions or actions.
  • Conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Education:
  
  major study in environmental, physical, or natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning; or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.

• Effective written and verbal communication.
• Basic computer skills, including database management.
• Experience working with customers, internally and externally.

The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal‑opportunity employer. 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.

Click Apply at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to supplemental questions, and attach a cover letter and resume. All information provided is required; incomplete applications may not be considered.