Environmental Planner 2

About the Department

**ATTENTION: If you think you do not qualify, please consider again. At PLIA, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be the best candidate for this or other roles. PLIA welcomes diversity!

Schedule and Salary:  The core working hours are from 8:00am-5:00pm.  Hybrid/flexible shifts are available. PLIA may require at least one day per week at the Olympia office. This position may require occasional travel for meetings and training.

The annual salary range of compensation for this position depends upon qualifications. The expected hiring salary may be less than the top of the range to allow for growth and development. 

Who we are:
If you have a passion for public service, providing excellent customer service, and furthering economic development and environmental soundness, then the Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) is the ideal workplace for you. 

PLIA’s mission is to help underground storage tank (UST) owners and operators meet financial responsibility and environmental cleanup requirements for their tanks. To succeed in this mission, our team prioritizes the following items: 

• Open collaboration. 
• Innovative thinking. 
• Delivering high-quality service. 

PLIA offers a flexible, hybrid work environment that fosters teamwork. The agency also values continuous learning and professional growth for our staff. 

About this Opportunity:
The Washington State Pollution Liability Insurance Agency (PLIA) provides an effective and efficient government funding model that helps owners and operators meet financial responsibility and environmental cleanup requirements for underground storage tanks (USTs).

Project Planners work with different agency units and people outside the agency. They play an important role in the agency’s FA Program. The FA Program provides funding to petroleum UST owners and operators in Washington State to clean up accidental leaks from their tanks.

The Environmental Planner 2 position also helps the agency by supporting programs that work with customers. The selected incumbent reviews program applications, environmental checklists, and reports. Project Planners at PLIA make sure that agency programs follow state and federal rules, as well as making sure that program participants follow requirements for maintaining and checking USTs and cleaning up the environment.

This position reports to the Project Planning & Programs Supervisor.

To learn more information about this opportunity, email [email protected] and request the full job description.

Position Duties

Some of what you’ll be doing includes:

• Providing clear financial assurance program information about applications, enrollment, and financial requests processing in the FA Program.
• Checking financial requests from people in the program to see if they are eligible and valid.
• Reviewing facility reports to make sure they follow program rules and regulations.
• Checking payment requests to make sure they are complete and correct.
• Approving financial request payments after confirming they are valid.
• Responding to appeals when PLIA denies someone’s financial request.
• Talking with program participants to find out if they are satisfied with the services they received after PLIA processes their financial requests.
• Responding to technical assistance questions and other tasks related to processing financial requests.
• Helping run the FA Program.
• Reviewing the  FA Program policies and procedures to make the program work better and improve customer service.
• Sharing summaries with your supervisor about ways to improve our program.
• Updating program materials as needed, including cost guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
To meet the requirements of this position, applicants must have seven (7) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. 

**Equivalent combinations of education, professional experience, military service, public service, or other qualifying education may be substituted year for year for experience.

Multiple ways of meeting the requirements:

[OPTION 1]
Seven (7) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field. 

[OPTION 2]
One year of professional experience as an Environmental Planner 1.

[OPTION 3]
Bachelor's degree with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
AND
Three (3) years of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

[OPTION 4]
Master's degree or higher with major emphasis in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, landscape architecture, geography, land use or environmental law, public administration with an environmental emphasis, or closely related field
AND 
One year of professional experience in land use, urban, regional, environmental, or natural resource planning, and/or program development.

In addition to meeting one of the above requirements, applicants must possess the following qualification, competencies, and knowledge.

Qualifications – Position Specific Knowledge and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the following items:
  • Planning principles and techniques.
  • Environmental laws.
  • Policies and programs concerning state resource development.
  • How local and state governments are organized.
  • Environmental, social and other issues that affect the development of local and state resources.
• Ability to:
  • Accept responsibility for major program activities.
  • Create long-term work plans.
  • Review information and make clear decisions that follow state rules.
  • Understand and apply rules, regulations, and policies.

Qualifications – General Competencies Required for All Positions at PLIA:

• Effective Communications:
  • Ability to communicate clearly.
  • Ability to write simple and accurate emails and documents.
• Commitment to Ethical Behavior and Integrity: 
  • Ability to build trust and respect with coworkers and customers by being honest, open, and professional at all times.
  • Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and ethical behavior at all times. 
• Commitment to Equity:
  • Ability to learn about our agency’s diversity, equity and inclusion culture and support those values in your work.
  • Treat everyone as important, and help create a workplace that is fair, inclusive, and respectful for all.
• Commitment to Self-Awareness and the Desire for Personal Growth:
  • Ability to learn new things and grow in a changing workplace.
  • Ability to balance work and personal life to bring out your best.
  • Ability to multi-task and handle stress in a changing workplace.
• Effective Interactions with Others: 
  • Ability to recognize and address the needs of others.
  • Ability to build and improve teamwork with many different coworkers and customers.
  • Ability to remain calm and helpful with difficult customers.

Other Qualifications

Supplemental Information and Conditions of Employment

You must provide all of the following items in order to be considered: 

• A letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting.
• A current resume detailing experience and education.
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information. 

If you fail to provide these items, PLIA may not consider you for the position.

**Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.)

General suggestions for creating a good application packet:

• Read the job posting carefully and find out as much as you can about the position.
• Make sure to follow all application instructions and include all requested documentation.
• Make sure your supplemental question responses address how you meet required and desired qualifications.
• Pay careful attention to each component of the supplemental questions. Provide examples of when and where you achieved the proficiency level required for this role.
• Specifically, include all of your work experiences doing the same or similar work required for this role.

NOTE: By submitting these materials, you are indicating that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed.  A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section of the application.  Please do not refer to resume for detail, or your application may be disqualified. 

Opportunity for All:
Diversity is a core value at PLIA. We are committed to building an inclusive and equitable workforce that celebrates diverse cultures, lived experiences, and perspectives. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.

The culture of respect that we strive for at PLIA promotes a work environment where we can best serve people of all backgrounds across Washington State.
 
If you need accommodation during the screening process or a copy of this announcement in an alternative format, please contact us at 800-822-3905 or by email at [email protected].

We invite you to apply for the position of Environmental Planner 2 at PLIA where you will work with a great team to support our customers across the state.

Contact Information:
 Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
   
For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, email [email protected].

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

EmployerState of WashingtonAddress View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov