EAP Eastern Operations Section, Modeling/TMDL/Groundwater Unit Supervisor (WMS Band 1)

Full Job Description

Location Options:

This position can be based at any of the following duty stations:

• Central Region Office in Union Gap, WA.
• Eastern Region Office in Spokane, 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.
• A minimum of three days per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by: December 16, 2025
• 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 December 16th may not be considered.

Requirements

What makes this role unique?

In this role, you will contribute to the agency and program missions by managing and directing the Eastern Operations Modeling/TMDL/Groundwater Unit staff, which conduct Surface water, Groundwater, and Effectiveness Monitoring studies.

You will be responsible for developing and implementing scientifically credible, well-coordinated monitoring programs designed to meet multiple agency objectives involving the management and regulation of Eastern Washington freshwater resources.

You will also manage highly technical staff of research scientists, biologists, and engineers in-charge of independently planning, developing, directing, conducting and/or overseeing hydrologic/hydrogeologic projects for surface water and/or groundwater investigations.

You will make decisions that are guided by familiar and reliable policies, published guidelines and regulations with established limits, and broad departmental policies and actions.

These decisions require judgments that are usually made in known and familiar areas where there are reliable precedents and regulations and the judgment is tactical.

Occasionally you will make decisions that require analysis in unknown or unexplored areas and recommend actions that may impact programs at a strategic level.

What you will do:

• Manage recruiting and hiring of unit staff in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement by and between the State of Washington and Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and with civil service rules.

Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the unit.

Ensure appropriate and optimal use of the unit's resources and enhance the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities.

Support effective communications throughout the agency. Maintain the highest standards of personal/professional and ethical conduct and support the state's goals for a diverse workforce.

• Plan and schedule unit workload, coordinate annual planning, establish priorities, assign tasks, facilitate intra- and inter-program project teams, monitor status of unit tasks and commitments, and ensure timeliness of employee assignments.
• Evaluate unit staffing needs, initiate personnel actions, prepare position descriptions and essential functions analyses, recommend staff hires, arrange training and professional development opportunities, evaluate staff performance, and initiate or recommend corrective actions.
• Manage unit budget and monitor expenditures; approve leave, timesheets, training requests, travel expense vouchers, and purchasing requests.

Assure the timely completion of required or appropriate scientific reports, technical publications, Environmental Indicators, and other required products.

Provide a detailed review of QAPPs, memoranda, and technical reports to ensure the scientific validity of research methods, SOPs, findings, and recommendations.

Ensure that staff findings and recommendations are consistent with state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines.

• Prepare unit goals and objectives; communicate section, program, and agency activities to unit staff; communicate staff recommendations to management; coordinate monitoring activities with other unit supervisors; and prepare the unit's monthly report.
• Serve as lead contact for policy and program development for the MTG Unit and serve as a program liaison on inter-program and inter-agency work groups; and coordinate with relevant governmental, professional, and industry officials.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A total of nine years of experience and/or education, as listed below.

Experience: Professional research or work experience in watershed management, watershed health, water quality monitoring, water quality assessment, groundwater monitoring, or similar environmental work.

Education: With a major study in a natural science field.

For all education levels, knowledge of and demonstrated experience with the following is required:

• Experience with surface water monitoring/gaging and groundwater investigations/monitoring.
• Ability to apply standard methods in determination of the following:
  • Biological assessment, and surface water.
  • Stream flow and ecosystem characteristics.
• This position also requires knowledge of the principles of management as applied in a scientific work environment, including familiarity with environmental monitoring and assessment methods.

All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

Possible Combinations	College credit hours or degree – as listed above.	Years of required experience – as listed above.
Combination 1	No college credit hours or degree.	9 years of experience.
Combination 2	30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.	8 years of experience.
Combination 3	60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).	7 years of experience.
Combination 4	90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.	6 years of experience.
Combination 5	A Bachelor's Degree.	5 years of experience.
Combination 6	A Master's Degree.	3 years of experience.
Combination 7	A Ph.D.	2 years of experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Demonstrated skill in writing clear technical reports.
• Ability to deliver oral presentations on technical subject-matter.
• GIS mapping skills.

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.

Additional Information