Washington State Department of Ecology
Product Stewardship Policy Specialist (Environmental Planner 5)
Washington State Department of Ecology, Lacey, Washington, us, 98509
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a
Product Stewardship Policy Specialist
(Environmental Planner 5) within the
Solid Waste Management (SWM)
program.
Location
Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule
This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
You may telework 90 percent of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline
Apply by January 19, 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 In this role, you will help guide and carry out plans and policies to reduce waste and manage products more responsibly. This includes working on programs that make manufacturers responsible for the waste their products create. You will work with government agencies, elected officials, nonprofits, businesses, and industry groups at the local, state, and national levels. You will also communicate on behalf of Ecology about these programs, sharing information and representing its views at meetings, trainings, and conferences.
What You Will Do
Assist and mentor staff of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Stewardship (PS) unit to oversee development and implementation of current and future EPR and PS programs in Washington State.
Review and report to Ecology leadership on EPR and PS programs functioning in Washington, including progress related to program and state solid waste plan goals.
Coordinate and facilitate EPR and PS law and policy implementation with internal and external interested parties through meetings, work sessions, and briefings (in-person or virtual).
Conduct bill analysis and assist with fiscal note development for new EPR and PS legislation.
Serve as the Program’s primary contact for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council Steering Committee and other related groups.
Qualifications Eleven (11) years of combined experience and/or education. For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, visit our Recruitment website (see below).
Experience
Demonstrated expertise in policy development and legislative analysis, including interpreting statutes, administrative rules, and legislation, and leading or supporting bill development, fiscal notes, and legislative testimony.
Significant professional experience with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Product Stewardship (PS), solid waste management, or related environmental policy programs, including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Strong program and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, develop work plans, track progress and outcomes, manage budgets or resource needs, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Ability to build, maintain, and lead collaborative partnerships with diverse interested parties, including state and local governments, federal agencies, NGOs, industry representatives, product stewardship organizations, and the public.
Experience conducting or overseeing research and data analysis to support policy decisions, continuous improvement, and recommendations for regulatory, legislative, or organizational changes.
Education Major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field.
Examples of How To Qualify
11 years of experience.
10 years of experience AND 30–59 semester or 45–89 quarter college credits.
9 years of experience AND 60–89 semester or 90–134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
8 years of experience AND 90–119 semester or 135–179 quarter college credits.
7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
4 years of experience AND a Ph.D.
Note: Two years of experience as an Environmental Planner 4 at Ecology will qualify.
Desired Qualifications
Experience developing presentations and public speaking.
Skill researching emerging issues and evaluating data.
Experience leading legislative or policy initiatives.
Demonstrated understanding of incorporating equity, environmental justice and inclusive engagement principles into policy or program work.
Experience translating complex technical, legal, and policy information for non-technical audiences.
Ability to facilitate meetings and workgroups, and experience consensus building.
If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification, 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). For more information, visit www.uscis.gov.
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Department of Ecology is hiring a
Product Stewardship Policy Specialist
(Environmental Planner 5) within the
Solid Waste Management (SWM)
program.
Location
Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule
This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
You may telework 90 percent of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline
Apply by January 19, 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 In this role, you will help guide and carry out plans and policies to reduce waste and manage products more responsibly. This includes working on programs that make manufacturers responsible for the waste their products create. You will work with government agencies, elected officials, nonprofits, businesses, and industry groups at the local, state, and national levels. You will also communicate on behalf of Ecology about these programs, sharing information and representing its views at meetings, trainings, and conferences.
What You Will Do
Assist and mentor staff of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Stewardship (PS) unit to oversee development and implementation of current and future EPR and PS programs in Washington State.
Review and report to Ecology leadership on EPR and PS programs functioning in Washington, including progress related to program and state solid waste plan goals.
Coordinate and facilitate EPR and PS law and policy implementation with internal and external interested parties through meetings, work sessions, and briefings (in-person or virtual).
Conduct bill analysis and assist with fiscal note development for new EPR and PS legislation.
Serve as the Program’s primary contact for the Northwest Product Stewardship Council Steering Committee and other related groups.
Qualifications Eleven (11) years of combined experience and/or education. For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, visit our Recruitment website (see below).
Experience
Demonstrated expertise in policy development and legislative analysis, including interpreting statutes, administrative rules, and legislation, and leading or supporting bill development, fiscal notes, and legislative testimony.
Significant professional experience with Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), Product Stewardship (PS), solid waste management, or related environmental policy programs, including program design, implementation, and evaluation.
Strong program and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives simultaneously, develop work plans, track progress and outcomes, manage budgets or resource needs, and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
Ability to build, maintain, and lead collaborative partnerships with diverse interested parties, including state and local governments, federal agencies, NGOs, industry representatives, product stewardship organizations, and the public.
Experience conducting or overseeing research and data analysis to support policy decisions, continuous improvement, and recommendations for regulatory, legislative, or organizational changes.
Education Major study in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or a closely related field.
Examples of How To Qualify
11 years of experience.
10 years of experience AND 30–59 semester or 45–89 quarter college credits.
9 years of experience AND 60–89 semester or 90–134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
8 years of experience AND 90–119 semester or 135–179 quarter college credits.
7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
4 years of experience AND a Ph.D.
Note: Two years of experience as an Environmental Planner 4 at Ecology will qualify.
Desired Qualifications
Experience developing presentations and public speaking.
Skill researching emerging issues and evaluating data.
Experience leading legislative or policy initiatives.
Demonstrated understanding of incorporating equity, environmental justice and inclusive engagement principles into policy or program work.
Experience translating complex technical, legal, and policy information for non-technical audiences.
Ability to facilitate meetings and workgroups, and experience consensus building.
If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification, 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). For more information, visit www.uscis.gov.
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.
Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity.
#J-18808-Ljbffr