West Coast Ocean Alliance Annual Summit: The West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA or Alliance) is requesting proposals to support meeting design, logistics, and facilitation for its in-person Annual Summit, a 2-2.5 day meeting scheduled for January 15-17, 2025 at Quinault Beach Resort in Ocean Shores, WA. The full RFP is linked here. Proposals are due by midnight (Pacific) Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

West Coast Ocean Alliance Tribal Caucus Summit: The West Coast Ocean Alliance (WCOA or Alliance) is requesting proposals to support meeting design, logistics, and facilitation for its in-person Tribal Caucus Summit, a 1.5-2 day meeting scheduled for January 13-15, 2025 at Quinault Beach Resort in Ocean Shores, WA. The full RFP is linked here. Proposals are due by midnight (Pacific) Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

Washington County is now seeking our next Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. This unique position comes with the full support of the Board of County Commissioners and will lead a team committed to advancing equity and inclusion (E&I) for our employees and community. To apply, please email Elle Krueger at Elle_Krueger@washingtoncountyor.gov  with your resume and a cover letter describing your relevant experience and your 'why' for this opportunity. Applications will be accepted through August 18, 2024.
 
About Us 
At Washington County, we deliver results for our community through innovative, human-centered, and equitable practices. Our vision of One Washington County embodies our goal to unify our team, collaborating in new ways to build a leading-edge organization to support the future of Washington County. Along with our investments in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) through human resources, this vision is igniting our growth and impact for the diverse and inspiring communities we serve. We are at an inflection point in our organization's history where unique opportunities exist to lead transformational change and build a legacy of service and impact for our dedicated employees. We are the second largest county, and among the fastest growing and most diverse, in the beautiful state of Oregon. Located on the western side of the Portland metropolitan area, we are supported by a budget of $1.7 billion and over 2000 employees.
 
About the Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer Opportunity Since 2018, Washington County has made a significant commitment to, and investment in, EDI through the creation of this executive level role and the Office of Equity, Inclusion and Community Engagement (OEICE) in 2020. The foundational work accomplished during that time has enabled tremendous progress in identifying priorities and needs, and it continues to leverage county-wide support for E&I initiatives, learning, and growth.
 
This is an unparalleled opportunity for an inspiring team and bridge-builder to partner across the broad range of Washington County teams and services. Your strategic vision, data-informed program leadership, change management skills, collaborative problem-solving and coaching, and deep E&I expertise and guidance will enable the next level of achievement through E&I initiatives and programs across a breadth of county teams that serve the community.
 
 Top Priorities

·        Strategic and Executive Leadership: setting a clear E&I mission, vision, and services for the County. Guiding organization-wide decisions and initiatives through partnership across the executive team and community stakeholders.

·        Inspiring Operational and Team Leadership: building upon a strong foundation to plan and implement measurable equity & inclusion initiatives and services in a consultative and collaborative way with a wide variety of stakeholders.

·        Expert Relationship Building and Transformational Change Management: create a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and partnership for equity & inclusion work, leveraging visible and transparent leadership with superlative communications and change management that considers all audiences.

Key Relationships

·        Reports to the County Administrator, as part of the Executive Leadership Team. An Assistant County Administrator (ACA) will serve as a liaison providing day-to-day support.

·        Serves as part of the County Leadership Team as a key partner to other county leaders, departments, and offices.

·        Leads and supports a dedicated OEICE team.

Required Capabilities & Characteristics for Success

·        4+ years of executive-level leadership experience across similarly complex, cross-functional organizations

·        6+ years of results-oriented E&I program management across breadth of organizational EDI, employee engagement, learning and development, incident resolution, public policy, civil rights, compliance, contracts, community engagement

·        6+ years of inspiring team leadership that is data-informed and human-centered with an affinity for systems thinking and accountability.

·        Broad stakeholder engagement with deep collaboration and partnership

·        Expert communications and change management skills

·        Authentic listening, humility, curiosity, empathy, and self-awareness

·        An agile, flexible, resourceful, and innovative mindset

·        Transparent, approachable leadership and mentorship

·        Public sector experience, including experience with unions, elected officials, public safety, community engagement (a mix of public and private sector experience is preferred)

·        Professional and lived experience with underserved communities and socio-economic diversity; bi-lingual/ bi-cultural preferred.

To review the complete classification for this position, use this link: Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

Compensation and Benefits 
The salary range for the Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer is $176,142.12 to 224,805.48 and will depend on the qualifications of the successful candidates. Benefits offered to all employees include the following:

·        Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance

·        Enrollment in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System

·        Vacation, administrative, holiday and sick leave

·        Washington County Wellness Program

·        Monthly Vehicle Allowance

·        Employee Assistance Program

·        Free annual TriMet light rail/bus pass

Use this link to learn more about our award-winning benefits!

Education and Experience:

·        A Bachelor’s Degree in business or public administration, social science, communications, organizational development, or a related field; AND Seven (7) years of direct work experience providing professional guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion, civil rights laws such as EEO, ADA, and Title VI policies, investigative procedures, implementation and compliance practices, and contract administration. Three (3) of the seven (7) years of experience must include supervision or management of professional staff. OR 

·        An Associate’s Degree in business or public administration, social science, communications, organizational development, or a related field; AND Nine (9) years of direct work experience providing professional guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion, civil rights laws such as EEO, ADA, and Title VI policies, investigative procedures, implementation and compliance practices, and contract administration. Three (3) of the nine (9) years of experience must include supervision and management of professional staff. OR  

·        High school diploma or GED; AND eleven (11) years of experience working within a public, private, or non-profit entity providing professional guidance on diversity, equity and inclusion, civil rights laws such as EEO, ADA, and Title VI policies, investigative procedures, implementation and compliance practices, and contract administration. Three (3) of the eleven (11) years of experience must include supervision and management of professional staff.

Additional Position Specific Requirements:

·        Must have the ability to arrange for timely transportation in order to attend required appointments and meetings at off-site locations.

·        Must have the ability to pass a criminal background investigation

Veterans' Preference: If you are a veteran and would like to request veterans' preference points for this recruitment, please review instructions using this link: Veterans' Preference Points.
 
Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: A reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential assistance, please contact Human Resources at 503-846-8606 or careers@washingtoncountyor.gov at least 48 hours before the step(s) of the selection process for which you feel you need an accommodation.

Questions (?) Regarding This Recruitment
 Elle Krueger, Talent Acquisition Business Partner

Elle_Krueger@washingtoncountyor.gov

The Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Cap-and-Invest Market Monitor (Financial Examiner 4) (In-Training) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

As a Senior Cap-and-Invest Market Monitor, you will play a critical role supporting the successful long-term performance of Washington’s cap-and-invest program by helping ensure that our market stays transparent and free of fraud through monitoring of auctions and trading in allowance and other related markets. With your finance and/or econometric skillset, you’ll assess the market’s health with an eye towards Washington’s statutory commitments to decarbonization, and provide input for policy discussions on an ad-hoc basis. Working with Ecology’s Attorney(s) General, you’ll also investigate potential rule violations and support follow up enforcement actions if needed to maintain the market’s integrity.
 
Through your collaboration with Ecology staff, State agencies, and other cap-and-invest jurisdictions, you’ll cultivate a deep understanding of the nexus between emissions allowance, energy, and financial markets. You’ll become a subject matter expert on cap-and-invest market behavior and serve as a resource to the rest of the Cap-and-Invest Group as we work together to develop, implement, and maintain this powerful emissions-reduction program.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.   

Program Mission: The Climate Pollution Reduction Program’s (CPRP’s) mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Financial Examiner (FE) field and achieve the goal class of an FE4. Candidates will be considered at the FE3 and FE4 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.
Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible to tele-work up to 3 days per week but is required to be in-office on Mondays and Tuesdays. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on July 18, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 17, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $78,468.00 - $116,556.00 Annually

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Senior Cap-and-Invest Market Monitor (Financial Examiner 4) (In-Training)

The Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an IT Application Development - Journey position. This position is located in our Richland Field Office (RFO) in Richland, WA.  Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

In this role, you will be responsible for creating and maintaining applications that will aid in the cleanup of the largest cleanup sites in the world. You will be working with a wide variety of development platforms to produce products that support many business disciplines. They will interface with the Federal government, State government, Ecology staff and the public to produce systems that support Ecology staff in making sound regulatory and environmental cleanup decisions.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.   

Program Mission: The Nuclear Waste Program’s mission is to lead the effective and efficient cleanup of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hanford site and to ensure sound management of mixed hazardous and radioactive wastes to protect the air, water, and land.   
 
The Nuclear Waste Program (NWP) oversees cleanup at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation (Hanford) near Richland, Washington.  The site produced plutonium for military defense between 1943 and 1989, and later served as a storage facility for other radioactive wastes. Hanford is one of the most complex and toxic cleanup sites in the world.  Our role is to regulate cleanup efforts.  We also regulate several other mixed waste (which includes both dangerous and radioactive waste) sites in Washington and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
 
The Technology and Environmental Data (TED) Unit provides project management, business analysis, environment data systems, systems administration, data management, and IT help desk services; in support of program staff efforts to clean of Hanford in accordance with regulatory requirements, TPA milestones, and schedules.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on July 16, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 15, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $81,672.00 - $109,848.00 Annually

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
IT Application Development - Journey position

The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Clean Energy Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3) position. 

This position can be located in any one of the following offices:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
• Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
• Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.

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

Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA, there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance, the salary range will be $4,977 - $6,703 per month. 

Washington State recently passed legislation expanding Ecology’s role in siting clean energy in our state. This work is required as part of Governor-requested House Bill 1216 which is an integral component of Washington State’s transition to a fully decarbonized energy sector. In this position, you will work with the Clean Energy Coordination Section in support of several activities. These include supporting the new coordinated permit process for clean energy projects and assisting in the development of three programmatic environmental impact statements for solar, onshore wind, and green hydrogen facilities. You will also conduct research on clean energy projects, planning efforts, and emerging technologies and use this to develop technical reports. 

You will independently coordinate outreach and communications to support the Clean Energy Coordination Section work on improving siting and permitting of clean energy projects. You will implement strategies to reach all communities around the state, including overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes. You will lead section efforts in accessibility and environmental justice to ensure equitable communication and access. 

The Washington Legislature has entrusted us to address the challenging and complex environmental issues affecting Washington. As the state's lead agency on climate change, we carry out policies that help slow the causes of climatechange and support communities already impacted by its effects.

Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations.

Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2025. The Funding for this position has a high probability of being renewed for the next bi-annual budget. 
  
Tele-work options for this position: The positions will be eligible for up to a 80% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change. 

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on July 17, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 16, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $56,880.00 - $76,608.00 Annually

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Clean Energy Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3)

The Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) is looking to fill a Climate Change Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist 3) position. This position is located in our Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
 
Are you passionate about our natural environment and ready to contribute your skills and energy to preserving it? 

We are seeking a strategic communicator to join our team! You’ll provide outreach and community environmental education for the Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) program that connects with the diverse people and communities we serve statewide – helping shape some of Washington’s cutting-edge environmental work. You’ll design and develop print and electronic media, coordinate public involvement events across eastern and central Washington regions and strategize environmental justice compliance and program implementation.  

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.   

Program Mission: The CPRP’s mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.

Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until June 30, 2028.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on July 11, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 10, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $51,588.00 - $69,396.00 Annually

The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Climate Change Outreach Specialist (Community Outreach and Environmental Education Specialist 3)

The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program (HWTR) within the Department of Ecology (Ecology) is looking to fill a Rulemaking Lead (Environmental Planner 3) position.

This is a statewide position and can be located in any of our regional offices, depending on the location of the successful candidate. Office locations include Lacey, Shoreline, Union Gap, Spokane, Bellingham, and Richland. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA.
Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA.
Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA.
Richland Field Office (RFO) in Richland, WA. 
Bellingham Field Office (BFO) in Bellingham, WA 

Are you interested in supporting efforts to reduce toxic chemicals and safely manage dangerous waste in Washington state? Do you enjoy managing complex projects, engaging diverse interested parties with conflicting interests, writing and analyzing regulations? We are seeking a candidate who enjoys collaborating, problem solving, building and sharing expertise, and fostering a positive team culture.

Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance the salary range will be $5,776 - $7,770 per month. 

 Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations. 

Program Mission: The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change Telework options: The amount of time needed to be in the office will depend on your in-person meeting schedule. Applicants with questions about schedule flexibility are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Work schedule depends on position and office needs.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on July 11, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 10, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $66,012.00 - $88,800.00 Annually

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Rulemaking Lead (Environmental Planner 3)

Stepherson & Associates Communications is looking for a full-time Senior Engagement Manager to join the team, playing a crucial role in supporting the planning, design, and construction of transportation, water, land use, and energy projects. S&A seeks a Senior Engagement Manager with at least 10 years of demonstrable experience designing and implementing comprehensive public involvement and communications programs for complex infrastructure, planning and policy projects, preferably with local, regional and/or state government agencies. This is a leadership role that thoughtfully and equitably engages communities on projects that shape our communities and helps inform public project outcomes. Candidates should be highly skilled in public involvement, communications, outreach, facilitation strategies, and best practices, with experience advising clients on strategic efforts to achieve successful results.

Responsibilities:

• Design, development, and implementation of complex, high-profile public involvement and communications programs for multiple infrastructure projects with minimal oversight – applying environmental justice principles that remove barriers to participation.

• Manage, coach and collaborate with internal teams to delegate and complete work – providing mentorship that further develops the skills of the team.

• Develop and oversee high-quality, client-ready, public-facing materials (i.e., engagement plans, communications plans, website content, fact sheets, email updates, surveys, questionnaires, press releases, social media and a range of other project materials), and other activities as necessary to support thoughtful, equitable and culturally relevant community engagement.

• Plan, organize and facilitate online and in-person engagement activities (i.e., workshops, open houses, in-person and virtual public meetings).

• Develop and manage scope, budget, and contract processes for a portfolio of strategic projects.
• Develop and implement strategic communications with project stakeholders, including elected officials, residents, businesses, as well as environmental justice communities.

• Represent projects, clients, and public agencies as needed to support project communications and relationship building in the community and with other agencies.

• Build and maintain relationships with clients, agencies, and community-based organizations.
• Closely track project activities, work with agency public information officers to ensure alignment of communications across projects and identify opportunities and risks.

• Lead internal engagement with other WMBE (women- and minority-owned business enterprise) consultants on the project team(s) to identify ways to support continued success and meet/exceed project utilization goals.

• Assist with proposals and business development efforts as needed for key pursuits.

Qualifications:

• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience designing and leading comprehensive public involvement and communications programs, creating an environment of trust and confidence.

• A commitment to and demonstrated experience in developing and implementing equitable engagement strategies to reach marginalized communities.

• Demonstrated experience supporting public agencies to plan and implement public involvement in transportation, water, land use, environmental, and/or energy sectors.

• Demonstrated superior communications writing and editing skills with the ability to translate complex technical information into easy-to-understand formats for non-technical audiences.

• Demonstrated experience leading dynamic teams on multiple projects of varying size and complexity, with a positive, respectful, and collaborative approach.

• Experience facilitating in-person and virtual community meetings, workshops, events, focus groups, listening sessions and/or roundtables, etc.

• Ability to work collaboratively, facilitate contentious and/or difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, propose thoughtful and innovative solutions, and gain agreement with a variety of stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing communication and public involvement plans that use engagement tactics such as stakeholder interviews, public meetings, digital communications and website content, and the development of visually compelling collateral.

• Recent experience with social platforms, digital communications, and engagement best practices, as well as experience implementing successful digital engagement campaigns.

• Superior ability to manage defined scopes of work, budgets and timelines, supporting clients to develop and implement public involvement strategies on time and within budget.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple deadlines for multiple projects.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage sensitive or controversial subjects with tact, kindness, and professionalism.

• Ability to self-manage, be accountable for assigned projects, identify necessary actions, and proactively manage internal teams to deliver strong results with limited oversight.

• Strong relationship-building and listening skills.
• Understanding of and commitment to the practice of public participation, and an interest in information-based communications and government projects and decision-making.

• Experience and/or background in a similar public-facing field including communications, journalism, government affairs, public affairs, public relations, public involvement and outreach, planning, public policy, or related field.

Organizational values: At S&A, we are expressly committed to equity and social justice, and as a team are centering equity through our work and our individual actions. We believe in supporting our staff in their personal and professional growth, providing new opportunities, building relationships, giving back, and having fun! To support our staff in their personal and professional growth, all staff attend equity workshops, led by a professional facilitator who supports our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion journey.

Workplace culture: S&A is committed to fostering a thriving and supportive workplace that is a dynamic and productive work culture. While we are a hybrid workplace, as community engagement practitioners, in-person work with communities is core to this work. S&A works with employees to establish an in-office and remote schedule that works best for them, our teams, and our clients. Most staff work remotely a couple of days a week. Staff managers work with employees to help to take full advantage of learning opportunities found through onsite collaboration and connection with colleagues and other project staff.

Salary and benefits: S&A offers a salary commensurate with experience and competitive benefits. The starting salary range for this position is $105k-$125k. Benefits include paid vacation, sick, and volunteer days; paid holidays; bonuses; health coverage (medical, dental, vision); disability; parental leave; 401(k) with company match; transit pass; and free use of on-site fitness center.

EEO: We encourage anyone with a bilingual or multicultural background to apply. S&A is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate against any employee or applicant based on age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any classification protected by federal, state, or local law.

To apply: Send your resume and cover letter to careers@stephersonassociates.com. We welcome work samples that demonstrate your strong project management and communications skills.

Do you have a penchant for rolling up your sleeves and digging into construction project communications? At Stepherson & Associates Communications (S&A), we are proud to be a minority-owned communications and public involvement consulting firm. Our dedicated team is passionate about thoughtfully engaging communities on projects in the transportation, land use/planning, water, natural resources, and energy sectors – to help make our communities a better place to live.

We are seeking a Construction Outreach Specialist with at least five years of experience designing and implementing public engagement programs as a consultant or project manager on infrastructure construction projects. Demonstrated experience working with public agencies to plan and implement construction in the transportation, water utility, or similar infrastructure sector is required.

Qualifications:

• At least five years’ demonstrable experience leading teams on multiple infrastructure projects to plan and implement construction outreach programs.

• Experience managing defined scopes of work and working with clients to develop and implement construction outreach programs.

• Ability to help communities prepare for construction impacts through designing and implementing outreach and communications plans; media and social media; property owner, resident, and business outreach; in-person and virtual public meetings; project collateral; digital engagement; project tours, groundbreakings, and other event production; comment tracking and managing 24-hour hotlines.

• A commitment to, and demonstrated experience in, developing and implementing equitable engagement strategies to reach marginalized communities.

• Demonstrated superior communications writing and editing skills with the ability to translate complex technical information into easy-to-understand formats for non-technical audiences. We review construction information to create key messaging and public-friendly graphics, as well as communicate high-impact activities such as access issues, detours and closures.

• Strong relationship-building, listening, and customer service skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment managing multiple projects.
• Experience facilitating in-person and virtual community meetings, workshops, events, focusgroups, listening sessions and/or roundtables, etc.

• Ability to work collaboratively, facilitate contentious and/or difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, propose thoughtful and innovative solutions, and gain agreement with a variety of stakeholders, including clients and members of the public.

• Familiarity with reading and understanding technical materials, including construction contract specifications, design and construction sheets, permitting documents, and property owner agreements.

• Experience or academic coursework in Communications, Public Relations, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Studies, Public Policy, Political Science, Journalism, English, or related fields.

• Understanding of and commitment to the practice of public participation and an interest in information-based communications and government projects and decision-making.

Organizational values: At S&A, we are expressly committed to equity and social justice, and as a team are centering equity through our work and our individual actions. We believe in supporting our staff in their personal and professional growth, providing new opportunities, building relationships, giving back, and having fun! To support our staff in their personal and professional growth, all staff attend equity workshops led by a professional facilitator who supports our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion journey.

Workplace culture: S&A is committed to fostering a thriving and supportive workplace that is a dynamic and productive work culture. While we are a hybrid workplace, as community engagement practitioners, in-person work with communities is core to this work. S&A works with employees to establish an in-office and remote schedule that works best for them, our teams, and our clients. Most staff work remotely a couple of days a week. Staff managers work with employees to help them take full advantage of learning opportunities found through onsite collaboration and connection with colleagues and other project staff.

Salary and benefits: S&A is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. This position’s salary range is $79k-$107k, depending on experience. A range of position categories may be considered for this position based on candidate qualifications. S&A offers competitive benefits, including annual bonuses, health coverage (medical, dental, and vision), disability coverage, transit pass, 401k plan with company match, PTO, sick and holiday pay, and other paid time in support of work/life balance and community involvement.

To apply: Send your resume and cover letter detailing your construction outreach experience to careers@stephersonassociates.com. Work samples are encouraged.

The Hazardous Waste Toxics Reduction program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Communications Consultant for Safer Products for Washington (Communications Consultant 4) position.  

This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

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

In this position, you’ll work with multiple teams of subject matter experts to help them find ways to convey complex, highly technical, and scientific information and data to a diverse array of audiences. Information must be shared with key stakeholders within various industries as well as lawmakers, the media, and the public. Using your highly-developed communications skillset, you will:

• Build partnerships and collaborative relationships by producing communications products such as blog posts, news releases, social media content, focus sheets, infographics, and more that help explain complicated material in simple ways. 
• Collaborate directly with our program's scientists, as well as other communication team members, to produce and organize high quality publications that help the community understand how to manage and reduce their hazardous and dangerous waste. 
• Interact with the media and provide interviews when necessary, as well as support the Communications Manager in their absence.

Agency Mission: Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.   

Program Mission: The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on July 5, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before July 4, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. 

Salary: $61,404.00 - $82,512.00 Annually

The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024.

If you’re interested in applying for this position or reading additional information, please follow this link:
Communications Consultant for Safer Products for Washington (Communications Consultant 4)