Watershed Management Section Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3)

The salary listed above includes the scheduled 2% general salary increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2026.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Watershed Management Section Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3) within the Water Quality 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.
• 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 June 21, 2026
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Duties

Be a part of protecting Washington’s waters in this exciting administrative position! In this role, you will provide essential support to the Watershed Management Section Manager and a diverse team of unit supervisors, planners, and scientists within. You will assist with formatting and editing key documents such as TMDLs (water cleanup plans), nonpoint reporting documents, planning and guidance documents, rule-making documents and a variety of correspondence. You will help organize and schedule meetings and public hearings relating to new rules, rule changes, and plan and guidance updates.

You will also serve as the section expert in purchasing, timekeeping, and equipment tracking. In collaboration with section leadership, you will organize and facilitate office environment teambuilding activities, shared-space usage, document accessibility, and you will help new employees learn internal administrative procedures and tools.

This is a great opportunity to use and grow your problem-solving, organizational, communication, and teamwork skills while building or advancing a career in environmental protection. You will be joining a supportive team invested in your growth and success. Strong organizational skills, and attention to detail will be crucial as you manage multiple tasks.

What you will do:

• Provide confidential administrative support to the Section Manager and staff.  Maintain confidentiality of information and records with personally identifiable information and/or legal issues.
• Performs complex word processing tasks such as proofreading, formatting and editing letters, memos, technical reports, program publications, position descriptions, evaluations, program policies and procedures. Ensure final letters and memos meet Accessibility minimum standards and comply with ADA requirements as applicable.
• Support the Section Manager with their schedule and electronic calendar. Tracks time-sensitive projects, keeping the section manager informed of significant issues and status of projects.
• Support the section as the subject matter expert on timekeeping and leave in the Agency’s electronic system, including training new employees and troubleshooting challenges, running reports, and sending reminders.
• Coordinates purchases with headquarters purchasing coordinator and manages office space for the section. 
• Assist the section with scheduling and organizing meetings, trainings, and public events. Assist subject matter experts with meeting packets, brochures, and signage, and assists with sign-in/attendee lists.  
• Cultivate excellent professional relationships with program administrative staff and leadership.

Qualifications

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Four (4) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Administrative Coordination – Experience organizing schedules, meetings, and tasks to ensure managers and staff can operate efficiently, meet deadlines, and stay focused on core program work.
• Communication – Experience writing, editing, and reviewing correspondence, documents, and reports following document accessibility and plain language requirements to provide clear, correct communication.
• Records and Information Management – Experience maintaining, organizing, and tracking records and files to meet requirements and support easy access to information.
• Technology Use – Experience using Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and standard office tools to complete daily work accurately and efficiently.
• Prioritization and Independent Judgment – Experience evaluating requests and setting priorities to ensure important work is completed on schedule.

Education: High School diploma or GED or above is required. Credits towards a degree in business administration, public administration, or closely aligned field may substitute year for year for experience.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 4 years of experience.
• 3 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 1 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• No experience AND a Bachelor’s degree or above. 

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 Ben Rau at Ben.Rau@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 Water Quality Program
The mission of the Water Quality Program is to is to ensure that all aquatic life, and communities in the watershed, experience cool, clean water to refresh and sustain us in a changing climate. 

The Watershed Management Section is housed in Ecology’s headquarters office. Our section is composed of three units, including 28 staff that work on protecting water quality in the following areas:

• Surface and groundwater quality standards 
• Statewide water quality assessment & the list of impaired waters 
• Nonpoint pollution: agriculture and forestry 
• Water cleanup plans 
• Hydropower facility compliance with water quality standards 
• Underground injection control program
• Water quality data management

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.

Ecology Job Opportunities | Careers at Ecology