Hazardous Waste Compliance Team Lead (Environmental Specialist 5)

About the role

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Hazardous Waste Compliance Team Lead (Environmental Specialist 5) within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program (HWTR). This position leads the Northwest Region’s dangerous waste compliance team, guiding inspectors who implement Washington’s Dangerous Waste Regulations, advancing consistent compliance practices, and addressing emerging regulatory challenges across diverse industrial sectors. The role serves as a senior compliance expert, shaping program direction by informing policy interpretation, supporting complex enforcement cases, and ensuring legally sound and technically accurate compliance decisions. It also leads development of strategies that improve consistency, integrate environmental justice into compliance activities, and address challenging or newly regulated sectors.

This position can be based at either the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, WA or the Bellingham Field Office in Bellingham, WA. If the selected duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline, the salary includes an additional 5% premium pay due to its location in King County.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Northwest Region’s dangerous waste compliance team by assigning inspections, setting inspection goals, monitoring progress, and ensuring high-quality, consistent implementation of dangerous waste regulations.
• Mentor and train compliance inspectors at multiple experience levels, providing technical guidance, coaching, and support on complex regulatory questions, enforcement pathways, and inspection strategy.
• Identify emerging issues, new sectors, or areas of regulatory ambiguity that require additional program attention, collaborating with senior program staff to develop solutions and improve clarity in regulatory interpretation.
• Represent HWTR during high-visibility internal and external discussions on compliance topics, including interpretation of regulations, enforcement approaches, and evolving sector-specific challenges.
• Lead development of internal tools, technical guidance, and training that strengthen consistency in compliance and enforcement activities across regions.
• Coordinate with inspectors, section leadership, and the Attorney General’s Office to develop and review enforcement cases, ensuring they are grounded in evidence, precedent, and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee prioritization of inspections and complaint response using risk-based approaches that incorporate environmental justice considerations and regional objectives.
• Conduct senior-level compliance inspections for high-priority and complex dangerous waste generators, documenting findings and developing recommendations that support consistent enforcement decisions.
• Serve as a central resource for program-wide compliance questions, working with other regional leads and program management to maintain uniform dangerous waste regulatory interpretation.
• Communicate clearly with regulated facilities, internal teams, and partnering agencies to explain compliance expectations, regulatory obligations, corrective actions, and enforcement processes.

Requirements

Ten (10) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, including the following:

• Dangerous Waste Regulatory Application: Experience applying Washington’s Dangerous Waste Regulations (chapter 173-303 WAC), RCWs, and federal hazardous waste requirements to determine compliance obligations.
• Compliance Inspection Execution: Ability to plan and conduct detailed inspections of regulated facilities, assess operational practices, and identify violations based on technical and regulatory criteria.
• Enforcement Documentation Development: Experience preparing inspection reports, violation summaries, and supporting materials for administrative or civil enforcement actions.
• Policy and Guidance Interpretation: Ability to interpret internal policies, enforcement procedures, and regulatory guidance, and use them to support consistent compliance decisions.
• Technical Leadership: Experience providing direction to technical staff, mentoring, reviewing work products, and offering guidance on complex compliance questions.
• Professional Communication: Skill in presenting regulatory and technical information clearly in writing and verbally while maintaining professionalism in challenging or sensitive situations.
• Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 10 years of experience
• 9 years of experience AND 30–59 semester or 45–89 quarter college credits
• 8 years of experience AND 60–89 semester or 90–134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree)
• 7 years of experience AND 90–119 semester or 135–179 quarter college credits
• 6 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree
• 4 years of experience AND a Master’s degree or above

Special requirements

• 40-hour initial Hazwoper must be taken and passed within 6 months of hire date or be current in this Hazwoper training.
• 8-hour refresher Hazwoper must be taken and passed annually.
• Must have, or be able to obtain, and maintain a valid Washington driver’s license to carry out inspection duties.
• Must participate in Ecology’s medical monitoring program for inspectors if the position requires 24 or more field visits per year.

Desired qualifications

• Work experience within the fields of waste reduction or pollution prevention, specifically experience and knowledge of RCRA, chapter 173-303 WAC, and other laws and regulations related to the management of hazardous waste.
• Knowledge of industrial processes involving hazardous substances, generation of hazardous or solid wastes, air emissions and wastewater discharges.
• Ability to interact with a wide variety of individuals and exercise the soft skills needed to network within business and academic communities.
• Ability to prepare high quality materials for technical information (written and through presentation) with clarity to a wide audience.

Pay

Salary range: $6,703 – $9,012 monthly. An additional 5% premium pay applies if the duty station is the Northwest Region Office in Shoreline (King County).

Schedule

This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options. You may telework up to 90% of your time, with 2 days per month in-office at your assigned duty station. Additional time in-office or at off-site locations may be required to attend in-person meetings or other events. Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application timeline

Apply by November 1, 2026. Applications submitted after this date may be reviewed only if additional qualified applicants are needed.