Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen The Department of Ecology is hiring a Hydrogeologist / Cleanup Site Manager (Hydrogeologist 3 OR 4) within the Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP). Location Options: This position can be based at any of the following duty stations: Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA. Bellingham Field Office in Bellingham, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the selected duty station. Note: If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary will include an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County. Salary range for Hydrogeologist 3: $6,412 - $8,620 monthly. Salary range for Hydrogeologist 4: $7,071 - $9,518 monthly. Assignment Pay: If the finalist for this position qualifies at the Hydrogeologist 4 level, they will receive additional 7.5% assignment pay due to the required licensure. Schedule: This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. A minimum of three days per week is required in the office, including in-person meetings and activities, to maintain a dedicated assigned workspace. You may telework two days per week where work activities permit. Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change. Application Timeline: Apply by March 9, 2026. This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered. Duties We are seeking a senior-level licensed hydrogeologist to provide technical expertise and project management for complex contaminated site cleanups under the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA). In this role, you will apply advanced geological, hydrogeological, fate and transport, and engineering principles to drive site characterization, remedial investigation, feasibility evaluation, and remediation. You will exercise professional judgment, ensure compliance with regulatory frameworks, and collaborate with Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) management, potentially liable person (PLP) consultants, other agencies, and interested parties to advance and complete cleanup projects. This position offers a dynamic mix of technical review, field oversight, project management, and engagement with interested parties, giving you the opportunity to influence meaningful environmental outcomes across a portfolio of challenging cleanup sites, while working with a team of colleagues and promoting technical excellence. What you will do: Provide technical oversight for assigned Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA)-contaminated sites, ensuring work follows sound geologic, hydrogeologic, fate and transport, and engineering principles. Manage cleanup projects, including schedules, milestones, and coordination with PLP consultants and Ecology external contractors. Review and approve technical documents, such as work plans, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, cleanup action plans and remedial designs, for accuracy, completeness, and regulatory compliance. Conduct field visits to observe site activities and provide guidance on investigation, sampling, and remediation. Work with colleagues to provide technical support, including peer reviews and guidance, to promote and maintain technical excellence and project uniformity. Prepare written communications, including emails, letters, memos, technical reports, and summaries, and represent projects with agencies, interested parties, and the public. Work with TCP management to procure and manage Ecology external contracts for technical support for select projects according to agency policies. Maintain project and site records in agency systems, ensuring accurate data management and supporting reporting and compliance requirements. What you will do: Qualifications This position offers an in-training plan and may be filled at the Hydrogeologist 3 or 4 level, depending on your qualifications. If you qualify at the HG3 level and are hired, you will progress through an in-training plan to become an HG4 within a specified time period. Required Qualifications: At the Hydrogeologist 3 level (In-Training) Pay Range 62, $6,107 - $8,210 monthly Possession of a valid Washington State Geologist license AND Seven years of professional experience and/or education as described below: Experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession. Education involving a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology or closely allied field. The above education and experience may be concurrent with the time it takes to get licensure. Examples of how to qualify: 7 years of experience. 6 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits. 5 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree). 4 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. 3 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree. 2 years of experience AND a Master’s degree. 1 year of experience AND a Ph.D. One year as a Hydrogeologist 2, at the Department of Ecology. At the Hydrogeologist 4 level (Goal Class) Pay Range 66, $6,735 - $9,065 monthly Possession of a valid Washington State Hydrogeologist Specialty license AND Nine years of professional experience and/or education as described below: Experience as a hydrogeologist, hydrologist, geologist or closely allied profession. Education involving a major study in hydrogeology, hydrology, geology or closely allied field. The above education and experience may be concurrent with the time it takes to get licensure. Examples of how to qualify: 9 years of experience. 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits. 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree). 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits. 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree. 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree. 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D. Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license. At the HG3 level: Licensed as a Professional Geologist in the State of Washington within 6 months after hiring. At the HG4 level: Licensed as a Professional Hydrogeologist in the State of Washington within 6 months after hiring. Desired Qualifications: Effective technical writing, verbal communication, project management, and meeting facilitation skills. Experience with mixed media sampling, laboratory analytical methods, and environmental data analysis. Demonstrated critical thinking skills, including the ability to analyze complex technical information, evaluate and identify data gaps, evaluate data quality and project assumptions, apply professional judgment, and develop clear, defensible solutions for complex environmental problems. If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles. Supplemental Information Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). Our Commitment to DEIR Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology's work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. Application Process Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. How to Apply Click “Apply” at the top of this page. Complete the entire application, including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions, and attach: Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position Resume Because we base our selection on the information you provide, it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the “work experience” section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as “see resume” may be considered incomplete.
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