Climate Change: Climate Commitment Act Communications Consultant

About Covid:

• Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by October 18th, 2021.
•  As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 Vaccination as part of the hiring process.
• Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 Vaccination” in the subject line.    

Our culture and DEIR

At Ecology, we are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embrace the value of people. Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering: 

• A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions. 
• An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns. 
• Continuous growth and development opportunities.  
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings. 
• Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work. 

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.
• During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding building occupancy, mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing. 

Duties

As the Climate Change: Climate Commitment Act Communications Consultant, you will:

• Create and manage web content. 
• Write, edit, and produce news content, including news releases, blogs, and social media. 
• Prepare testimony, focus sheets, presentations and other materials. 
• Interface with the news media and serve as their point of contact to answer questions and provide information and materials. 
• Setup and run public meetings, outreach meetings, and other meetings with individuals and groups of stakeholders, interested parties, and governmental entities.  
• Serve as a spokesperson and public liaison for the Climate Commitment Act, which may include making public presentations and conducting interviews. 
• Research, write, edit, and update written materials such as focus sheets, prevention bulletins, program brochures, conference displays, posters, and other publications for public distribution. 

Qualifications

Required:

• Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational, and volunteer experience.
• See below for how you may qualify.
• Seven (7) years of experience and/ or education: 

Professional Level Experience: May include writing, editing, translating experience or a combination of the following:

• Writing and editing.   
• Developing web content strategy, writing/editing and managing web content. 
• Working with the media.
• Strategic communications.
• Using project management tools to prioritize work and meet deadlines. 
• Working effectively both as part of a team and independently.
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and Adobe products, such as Photoshop, Acrobat Pro and InDesign.

Education: 

• Involving major study that demonstrates relative experience.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment: 

• Ability to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license. 

Desired Qualifications: 

• We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below:
  • Experience with a content management system. Experience with InDesign or similar graphic production software.
  • Experience with video recording and editing.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

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 candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.  

Application Instructions:

• On the bottom of this form, click "Apply on Company Website."
• It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.
  • A cover letter that explains how you meet the required qualifications for this position.
  • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
  • A professional writing sample that reflects your work as a communications professional, such as a press release, public statement, blog story, web content, or social media post. Please also briefly explain why you selected the writing sample. 
  • Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

Application Timeline: 

• This position will remain open until filled, the next screening date will be October 19, 2021. In order to be considered for the next screening, please submit an application on or before October 18, 2021.
• The agency reserves the right to make an appointment at any time after the initial screening date and we encourage applicants to submit their applications as soon as they can.  

For Your Privacy:

When attaching documents to your application (Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

• Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. 
• Do not attach documents that are password protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. 

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: 

• Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service.
• Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3.
• If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation: 

• The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful.
• The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. 

Other Information:

• If you have specific questions about the position, please email Luke Martland at: luke.martland@ecy.wa.gov.
• Please do not contact Luke to inquire about the status of your application.
• To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov

Why work for Ecology?

As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service 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.

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 (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth 

Student debt - how working for Ecology can help:

• The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
• See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

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. 

Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

• Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist.
• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
• If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
• If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.

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. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.