Published date: November 19, 2025
Job Title: Public Participation Grant Manager (Environmental Specialist 4)
Organization: WA State Department of Ecology
Address: 300 Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, WA
Job Website Link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/ecology/jobs/5145189/public-participation-grant-manager-environmental-specialist-4
Salary and Benefits Information: $67,992.00 – $91,464.00 Annually
Full Description:
Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Public Participation Grant Manager (Environmental Specialist 4) within the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program.
Location:
Headquarters Office in Lacey, 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.
Once your initial onboarding period is complete, you may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
Apply by November 25, 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 the date above may not be considered.
Duties
In this role, you’ll support the Public Participation Grant (PPG) program by supporting community partners and nonprofits in impactful solid and hazardous waste management projects that promote environmental protection and public involvement. You’ll manage the full grant process (from reviewing applications and tracking budgets to monitoring progress and conducting site visits) while also providing training and guidance to help applicants and grantees succeed.
You’ll collaborate with staff across the agency, help improve policies and processes, and develop clear materials to support grant recipients. The work balances grant administration with meaningful community engagement, offering the opportunity to build strong relationships and observe firsthand the impact of funded projects.
You will gain valuable experience in program coordination, regulatory compliance, and partnership-building, preparing you for future roles in program management, grants administration, or nonprofit and environmental leadership. This dynamic role is ideal for someone who enjoys managing multiple projects, solving problems, and supporting community-driven efforts.
What you will do:
Manage the full grant process, from application to final reporting, ensuring compliance with program rules and requirements.
Review payment requests and progress reports to confirm eligibility and proper documentation.
Train and support grant recipients on program rules, financial procedures, and the Ecology’s Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system.
Answer questions and provide training and guidance to help applicants and recipients navigate policies and processes.
Create clear, accessible materials and presentations for different audiences, and conduct site visits to support projects.
Build strong partnerships with community organizations and work to improve grant processes and equity in support of the HEAL Act.
What you will do:
Qualifications
For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.
Required Qualifications:
Nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below:
Experience: performing environmental-based work, OR work related to the position, that includes one or more of the following:
Experience in project management, environmental analysis or environmental planning.
Demonstrated experience in managing grants or contracts, including ensuring compliance with statutes, policies, and audit standards.
Familiarity in public sector budgeting and financial management.
Knowledge of environmental programs, community-based project funding, or public benefit grant programs.
Experience must include demonstrated competence in the following skill sets:
Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly and concisely, including to communities for whom English is not the primary language.
Analytical Skills: Ability to track outcomes, analyze metrics, and report on the effectiveness of communications strategies.
Adaptability: Capacity to anticipate bottlenecks, develop solutions to keep projects moving forward, and adapt to changing priorities.
Technical Proficiency: Proficient in using Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint), Zoom.
Education: in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, public administration, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position qualifies as four years of the required experience.
Examples of how to qualify:
9 years of experience.
8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.
2 years of experience as an Environmental Specialist 3, at the Department of Ecology.
Desired Qualifications:
Experience with grants or contracts administration at a federal, state, or local government.
Experience administering environmental or public health program grants.
Experience with the Ecology Administration of Grants and Loans (EAGL) system or similar online grants management system.
Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities with demanding deadlines.
Experience using Microsoft Office Software – including Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
Experience working with non-profit organizations and/or working in the field of Environmental Justice.
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.
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:
Cover letter, describing your interest in and qualifications for this position
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:
Please contact us at 360-407-6186 or careers@ecy.wa.gov
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?
For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Jill Krumlauf at jill.krumlauf@ecy.wa.gov
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 careers@ecy.wa.gov
About the Solid Waste Management Program (SWM)
The Solid Waste Management Program’s mission is to reduce waste through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment; and safely manage what remains. The Solid Waste Management program’s vision is to transition to a society where waste is viewed as inefficient, and where most wastes and toxic substances have been eliminated, contributing to economic, social, and environmental vitality.
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.