Environmental Scientist III

Summary King County Metro Transit Facilities Division has an exciting opportunity for an Environmental Scientist III to provide environmental compliance oversight for King County Metro Transit Operations. The person selected for this position will join a small work team consisting of Environmental Scientists and Equipment Operators.

In this role, you will:

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations such as stormwater and industrial wastewater discharges, spill response, underground storage tanks, hazardous waste, and air quality.
• Coordinate and implement projects that mitigate the environmental impacts of bus activities.
• Establish and manage a comprehensive recycling/waste minimization program.
• Educate fellow employees on these efforts.

The Environmental Scientist III will also be required to perform both office and field duties throughout King County, share in 24/7 on-call duties, spill response, conduct training, and otherwise work closely with Metro Transit, Sound Transit, and regulatory personnel. Some of this work will be hands-on as the Environmental Scientist III will be expected to actively take part in addressing environmental concerns. Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the ability to apply the following key traits:

• Motivated self-starter, with a can-do attitude in settings of ambiguity.
• Build relationships through shared goals and influence.
• Lifelong learner with a curiosity mindset.
• Effective open-minded communicator, organized.
• Adaptable to change, remaining positive and solutions oriented.
• Resilient, open to feedback, and not afraid to fail.

About Metro’s Transit Facilities Division:

King County Metro Transit’s Facilities Division maintains all Metro Transit properties, such as bus bases, park & rides, bus shelters, and offices and maintenance shops. Services include bus shelter repairs and replacements, bus shelter cleaning, trolley wire repairs, radio maintenance for buses, environmental spill clean-up, bus sign replacement, graffiti removal, and other facilities maintenance duties. Internally, team provides division-wide support functions for finance, budget, environmental compliance, safety, training, administrative services and new employee orientation. Planning, inventory/materials management, work center, workforce management, functional asset management, general/maintenance agreements, systems support, capital infrastructure, sustainable resources/energy.

Recruitment Information:

This recruitment will immediately fill one (1) Career Service position and may also be used to create an eligibility pool for future Career Service, as well as any fully benefitted Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) and/or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies valid up to twelve (12) months or until exhausted and at the discretion of the hiring authority.

Who May Apply:

This position is open to King County employees and the public. Questions? If you have any questions regarding this position or recruitment, please contact Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at darussell@kingcounty.gov. Job Duties Applying our ACTIVATE values: being Accountable, Collaborative, Timely, and Impactful; how we Value Employees; staying Accessible; building what’s Trusted; and acting Equitably, is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees. As the Environmental Scientist III, you will also:

• Manage Transit's solid, universal, biomedical, and dangerous waste programs, including waste minimization and recycling. This may include rail, bus, and marine operations for Transit.
• Ensure compliance with spill prevention, control, and countermeasure regulations.
• Ensure compliance with stormwater and industrial wastewater discharge regulations. Support field crew stormwater inspection requirements.
• Ensure compliance with air quality regulations.
• Ensure compliance with Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know requirements.
• Provide technical training, leadership, and day-to-day direction to unit staff.
• Review proposed regulations and evaluate their impacts on Transit operations. Identify budget and operational impacts and submit this information to Transit management.
• Review Safety Data Sheets for environmental concerns including disposal of the product.
• Provide input on and oversee environmental-related contracts such as those pertaining to spill response, waste oil, underground storage tank work, and dangerous waste disposal.
• Assist in processing invoices for environmental services.
• Conduct field inspections and sampling at Transit worksites to ensure compliance with applicable environmental regulations. Work with site management to resolve any issues.
• Act as the department's liaison with regulatory agencies. Participate in inspections and resolve any compliance issues generated during the inspections.
• Act as the department's environmental compliance liaison with support agencies. Respond to and resolve any compliance issues raised by these agencies.
• Coordinate the work of two Equipment Operators assigned to the Environmental workgroup.
• Foster an equitable, diverse, and inclusive work environment.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills To be considered eligible for this role, applicants must possess these MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Increasingly responsible professional experience working in the environmental compliance field in either private or public sectors in an environmental-related position for at least 3 years.
• Bachelor's degree in a scientific discipline, environmental field, or closely related field or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• Ability and willingness to attend work on altered schedules including swing and graveyard shifts as needed when providing environmental training to staff.
• Ability and willingness to periodically be on-call 24/7 Monday through Friday for responding to environmental emergencies including spills.
• Ability to travel across King County to perform fieldwork.
• Demonstrated experience interpreting analytical data and writing technical reports.
• Demonstrated experience managing an environmental compliance program.
• Demonstrated knowledge of small-project management techniques and organizational skills.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including experience presenting to groups.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, proofread, edit, compile, and finalize official and technical documents.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Demonstrated ability to document, prepare and communicate information to staff.
• Skill in interpreting plans, specifications, drawings, and technical maps and documents.
• Skill in researching, analyzing, and interpreting technical data.
• Skill in applying principles of customer service and continuous quality improvement.
• Skill in promoting mutual respect and acceptance and maintaining effective working relationships with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Skill in group problem-solving and decision-making.
• Effective communication and interpersonal abilities, including working collaboratively, listening, managing conflicts or crises, and dealing with difficult situations.
• Customer service orientation and skill in building partnerships with other agencies, organizations, and employers.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with a diverse group of individuals from a variety of different positions and backgrounds.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to stand and walk, often under adverse field conditions.
• Willingness to wear protective clothing and PPE (must be worn when working in areas where exposure to hazardous materials and/or pollutants might occur).

The most competitive applicants will possess these DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Professional experience developing and delivering an environmental compliance training program for staff.
• Professional experience in a maintenance organization or other workplaces employing skilled trade workers (e.g. mechanics, electrical workers, machinists, etc.).
• Working knowledge of environmental regulations covering stormwater and industrial wastewater discharge, underground and aboveground storage tanks, dangerous waste generation, and air quality.
• Experience providing technical training, leadership and/or day-to-day direction to employees.
• Five or more years of experience working in the environmental compliance field in either the private or public sector.

Certifications and other Requirements:

The following certifications and training must be obtained or completed within 6 months of the start date:

• 24-hour Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response
• Hazardous Materials Transportation (Federal DOT hazmat training)
• Right of Way Worker Safety
• Confined Space Entrance
• First Aid/CPR

Necessary Special Requirement:A valid Washington State driver's license is required and an acceptable driving record. If you possess an out of state driver's license, you must obtain a WA state license within 30 days of hire. Supplemental Information

To Apply:

If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions, please contact Daniel Russell, Talent Advisor at darussell@kingcounty.gov.

• Submit an online application through our careers site. Update your application with all relevant work history going back at least 10 years (or more if necessary), including detailed job duties, dates of employment, and clear explanations for reasons for leaving.
• Attach a Cover Letter/Letter of Interest.
• Attach a Resume.
• Thoroughly respond to all required Supplemental Questions within the application.

Selection Process:

Applications will be screened to determine whether candidates meet minimum qualifications, and for clarity, completeness, and responsiveness to the application instructions above. Highly competitive applicants may be asked to interview. Formal offers will be finalized after candidates have successfully completed any necessary pre-employment processes, such as reference checks or internal record reviews.

Work Schedule:

This position has a standard 40-hour work week with on-call responsibilities. Alternative work schedules may be considered. This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not eligible for overtime pay.

Work Location:

This position is expected to work on-site and will initially be located at South Facilities, 11911 East Marginal Way South, in Tukwila. However, work may be assigned to work at a location within the King County Metro Transit service area, including Seattle, Renton, Tukwila, Bellevue, and North Seattle.

Work Environment:

Work may be performed indoors or outdoors, sometimes in inclement weather. Specific tasks may require the use of a respirator, and therefore the position is subject to respirator fit testing. Additionally, indoor work may include exposure to exhaust and fumes. When warranted, must be able and willing to wear proper safety equipment and protective clothing as required, including hearing and eye protection.

Physical Requirements:

This position is required to frequently lift and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds and may involve lifting and carrying objects weighing up to 100 pounds with assistance. Frequent walking, reaching, climbing, kneeling, stooping, and safe operation of equipment are also required. Duties may require working at heights with the use of mechanical lift devises, requiring use of fall protection.

SAFTEY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR AN EMPLOYEE

• Responsible for understanding the Metro Transit Safety Policy and their role in safety.
• Report all safety concerns.
• Follow safety practices and procedures as necessary to maintain a safe work environment and in conformance with applicable regulations, policies, and training.
• Report safety and security concerns and ideas to supervisors or anonymously through data collection system.

Union Membership:

This position is represented by PROTEC17

CLASS CODE / PAY GRADE:

7530300 / 64 KING COUNTY'S VISION, MISSION, AND ACTIVATE VALUES UNITE USKing County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

KING COUNTY IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) EMPLOYER

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Benefits

King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:

• Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
• Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
• Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
• Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
• 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
• Generous vacation and paid sick leave
• Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
• Flexible Spending Account
• Wellness programs
• Onsite activity centers
• Employee Giving Program
• Employee assistance programs
• Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
• Training and career development programs

For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.

This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.

NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.

For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.