Central Region Well Construction Coordinator; Hydrogeologist ; In-Training

Central Region Well Construction Coordinator (Hydrogeologist
3) (In-Training)

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Central Region Well Construction Coordinator (Hydrogeologist
3) (In-Training) within the Water Resources Program.

Location:

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

Assignment Pay:

• The top salary listed above includes 7.5% assignment pay due to the required licensure.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A combination of field work and office work is required for this position. Most office work can be telework, with a minimum of one day per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by June 29, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

In the role of Regional Well Construction Coordinator, you will manage the Program's well construction enforcement and compliance work for all seven counties within the Central region. You will operate independently and as a regional expert, addressing well construction violations through education, technical assistance, and informal or formal enforcement, as appropriate. You will also respond to complaints of well construction violations, illegal drilling, well construction provision violations, and other highly complex well compliance issues with conflicting interests among the parties and broad public impacts.

What you will do:

• Provide technical assistance to well drillers, well owners, government agencies, governments, the general public, and Ecology staff.
• Conduct hydrogeologic and other technical analysis of well construction problems and issues, and education with respect to the correct understanding and application of well construction laws and regulations.
• Administer licensing tests for well contractors as needed and manages the regional maintenance and organization of regional well reports and video scan data.
• Independently conduct well construction violation investigations arising from both external and internal sources and performs any compliance and enforcement action that may be needed to provide remedy.
• Prepare formal enforcement documents to ensure compliance with state statutes.
• Testify as an Expert Witness in Pollution Control Hearings Board or Superior Court hearings on water well construction laws, violations, and enforcement issues.

This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Hydrogeologist 2 or 3 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the HG2 level and are hired, you will progress through an in-training plan to become an HG3 within a specified time period (license required).

Required Qualifications:

At the Hydrogeologist 2 level (In-Training)

Pay Range 58, $5,642 - $7,592 monthly

Note:

the above salary does not include the 7.5% assignment pay due to licensure.

Six (6) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Communication – Ability to explain technical and regulatory information clearly to help others understand requirements, findings, and decisions.
• Problem Solving – Ability to analyze hydrogeologic information and field conditions to identify practical, defensible solutions that support public safety and compliance.
• Regulatory Application – Ability to interpret and apply water laws, well construction rules, and policies to ensure activities meet legal and program requirements.
• Investigation – Ability to gather facts, evaluate evidence, and document findings to determine what occurred and what corrective actions are needed.
• Technical Analysis – Ability to collect, interpret, and report hydrogeologic and field data to support scientific conclusions and agency decisions.
• Collaboration – Ability to work effectively with coworkers, external partners, and the public to support shared goals and consistent…