Lead Spill Responder/Dangerous Waste Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4)
State of WashingtonAbout the role
Posting number: 2026-SPPR4856-02010
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Spill Prevention, Preparedness and Response
Job classification: ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST 4
Posting type: Open & Promotional
Categories: Environmental Services, Public Health, Public Safety, Risk Management, Safety, Natural Resources, EMS, Emergency Management, Sciences, Green-Collar/Environmental
Summary
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Lead Spill Responder/Dangerous Waste Coordinator (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Spill Prevention, Preparedness, and Response program.
Location:
- Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA.
- The salary listed includes 5% premium pay due to the position location in King County.
- Must live within a 60-minute commuting distance of the Northwest Region Office.
- This position is eligible for a 10% Spill Response Assignment Pay once all training requirements and certifications are met and maintained. This position also has periods of mandatory overtime. Additionally, this position is required to participate in an after-hour on-call duty rotation.
Schedule:
- This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
- This position requires field work and emergency response, while there is some office work and you may telework most of your office work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
- Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
- Apply by March 16, 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.
Examples of duties
In this role, you will respond to and clean up spills of oil and hazardous materials – including removing chemicals and waste from illegal drug manufacturing facilities. You will recognize tangible environmental results and public safety improvements will be made every day. If you enjoy an ever-changing dynamic work environment and seeing immediate environmental benefits as a result of the work you and our team perform, we believe you would enjoy this great opportunity.
Preventing spills is always our first goal, but despite our efforts, spills still happen. The goal of our spill preparedness work is to reduce environmental impacts of spills. We require oil handlers in Washington to be ready for a rapid, aggressive, and well-coordinated response to spills. We also require those responsible for spills to compensate the state for spill damages by restoring natural resources.What you will do:
Emergency Response to Spills & Threats: Respond to high-priority and complex environmental and human health emergencies, including oil spills, hazardous substances, abandoned waste, pressurized cylinders, fish kills, and illegal drug labs.
Incident Command & Coordination: Serve as Initial Incident Commander / State On-Scene Coordinator, directing spill containment, cleanup, resource deployment, and multi-agency coordination.
Hazardous Materials Operations: Perform hands-on cleanup and field operations: opening containers of unknowns, sample collection, field testing and hazard categorization, overpacking, and preparing waste for shipment.
Dangerous Waste & Drug Lab Leadership: Lead regional coordination with law enforcement for clandestine drug lab responses and oversee dangerous waste management compliance, disposal, and emergency planning.
Enforcement & Cost Recovery: Initiate enforcement recommendations, issue Short-Form Penalties up to $5,000, support cost recovery actions, and testify in administrative or legal proceedings as needed.
Team Leadership, Training & Readiness: Provide training, mentoring, scheduling, equipm
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