JOB
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Water Rights Customer Service Specialist (Environmental Specialist 2) within the Water Resources Program.
Location:
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Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.
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Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
Schedule: This position is required to work in the office five days per week and is not eligible for telework.
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Upon completion of initial onboarding and training, the ability to telework up to two days per month may be available upon coordination with immediate supervisor.
Application Timeline:
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Apply by June 10, 2026
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Applications submitted after the date above may be reviewed only if additional qualified applicants are needed.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES As the Central Region's Water Resources (WR) Customer Service Specialist, you will serve as the face and voice of the section, contributing meaningfully to needs across the region by addressing complex questions about water supply and use, as well as connecting customers with the appropriate services. You will also take part in a team that issues superseding documents, meeting strategic production targets. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with a wide range of personalities, continuous learning, and a rapid, diverse workload.
What you will do:
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Answer and/or address customer requests as presented via phone call, in-person, and email, regarding water rights at the Central Regional Office.
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Deliver respectful, accurate, and solution-focused customer service to external customers and internal staff by actively listening to and identifying customer needs and using Program expertise to assist customers.
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Advise external customers on agency forms, materials, and processes, ensuring they understand next steps and available resources for effective resolution.
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Inform section leadership of ongoing and emerging customer service concerns.
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Using existing permitting decisions, draft superseding permits and certificates using Program templates, guidance, and best practices to help the section maintain up-to-date water right records.
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Seasonally, compare instream flow requirements with actual stream flows; track the information during the period required and update curtailment and drought hotlines as needed.
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, please 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.
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:
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Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
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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.
For detailed application information, please visit our Recruitment website.
Application Attestation: By submitting an application, you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information, and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.
Need an Accommodation?
If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process, including this job announcement in an alternate format:
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Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or [email protected]
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If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.
Questions?
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For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Jolee Edgar at [email protected]
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If you need assistance applying for this job, are inquiring about the status of your application, would like to request the full position description, or have any other questions, please contact the Recruitment Team at [email protected]
About the Department of Ecology
As the State of Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives, Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information
To learn more about Ecology, please visit our website, explore Working at Ecology, check out our Strategic Plan, and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or our blog.
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. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans, military spouses or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.
Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.
Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled, the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.
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