Consumer Products Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)(Internal Only)

This recruitment is open only to current Department of Ecology employees, including those on temporary or project assignments, and Ecology's Washington Conservation Corps members.

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Consumer Products Compliance Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)(Internal Only) within the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program (HWTR). 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.

• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

This Consumer Products Compliance Specialist position plays a central role in advancing Ecology’s mission by leading implementation and enforcement of Washington’s Children’s Safe Products Act (CSPA), the Children’s Safe Products Reporting Rule, and Safer Products for Washington (SPWA) Restrictions and Reporting. In this role, you will serve as a senior subject matter expert responsible for ensuring that manufacturers, distributors, and importers understand and meet Washington’s chemical restriction and reporting requirements for children’s products and consumer products. You will shape compliance strategies, guide regulated parties through complex environmental regulations, and ensure decisions are consistent, technically sound, and defensible. You will lead high-level compliance assistance and enforcement activities, including evaluating product information, coordinating product testing, developing guidance, preparing enforcement documents, and representing Ecology in formal proceedings. You will also coordinate reporting oversight through the High Priority Chemicals Data System (HPCDS), analyze reported data to identify trends and potential violations, and collaborate with chemists and program leadership to inform regulatory actions. Your work will support statewide implementation of multiple laws regulating toxic chemicals in consumer products, strengthen compliance outcomes, and help reduce harmful exposures for Washington’s residents.

What you will do:

• Lead implementation of compliance assistance and enforcement for CSPA and SPWA product restrictions, ensuring regulated parties understand and meet statutory and rule requirements.
• Serve as a senior compliance expert for consumer product testing initiatives, including scoping testing projects, coordinating with laboratories, and integrating results into enforcement determinations.
• Respond to inquiries and complaints from internal partners, regulated companies, and the public, providing clear, technically accurate guidance on chemical restrictions, reporting obligations, and regulatory expectations.
• Prepare enforcement documents, support penalty issuance, and represent Ecology in hearings or legal proceedings related to violations of CSPA or SPWA.
• Review and process HPCDS submissions, verify completeness and accuracy, identify under-reporting or potential violations, and collaborate with chemists to evaluate reported chemical information.
• Analyze submitted data to identify emerging product trends, recurring compliance gaps, or opportunities for improved regulatory clarity, and communicate findings to program leadership and other product-related teams.
• Develop, maintain, and update guidance materials, outreach tools, and decision-support documents that clarify reporting and restriction requirements for regulated companies and internal staff.
• Participate in rulemaking efforts by reviewing petitions, evaluating compliance implications, and coordinating with the Rules Unit to ensure regulatory updates are clear, implementable, and enforceable.
• Support legislative analysis related to consumer product regulations by evaluating proposed bills and providing concise summaries of regulatory or programmatic impacts.
• Coordinate and complete SPWA Orders under the direction of the Safer Products Compliance Lead, ensuring all actions align with statutory requirements and program priorities.
• Review confidentiality requests, prepare supporting documentation, and recommend appropriate actions to management.
• Participate in the SPWA steering committee and collaborate with teams working on related laws such as the Toxics Free Cosmetics Act and Toxics in Packaging.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with internal teams and partner agencies to improve coordination, information sharing, and alignment across consumer product regulatory efforts.
• Support additional compliance programs as needed, including Better Brakes, Toxics in Packaging, and other toxics-related product laws. For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:Nine (9) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Regulatory Compliance Implementation: Ability to interpret environmental statutes or rules, apply product-related chemical restrictions, conduct compliance evaluations, and perform enforcement actions within established procedures.
• Chemical Data Review: Ability to evaluate chemical information submitted by manufacturers, verify accuracy or completeness, identify potential compliance issues, and support regulatory decision-making through structured chemical data review.
• Data Analysis: Ability to analyze large or complex datasets, identify compliance trends or anomalies, interpret reported information and collaborate with scientific specialists when deeper analysis is required.
• Industry Guidance: Ability to provide clear technical assistance to regulated manufacturers or distributors, respond to inquiries regarding reporting or restrictions, and support regulated entities in meeting compliance expectations.
• Compliance Documentation: Ability to prepare enforcement documents, draft professional correspondence, develop guidance materials that outline regulatory requirements, and document compliance determinations with precision.
• Regulatory Leadership: Ability to facilitate cooperative compliance outcomes by engaging regulated entities constructively, applying persuasive communication and fostering shared understanding of regulatory goals.

Education: Involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field. 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 or above

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with consumer product regulations and compliance.

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 [email protected]
• 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 Kimberly Grieves at [email protected]
• 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 [email protected]

About the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program The mission of the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction program is to protect Washington’s residents and environment by reducing the use of toxic chemicals, safely managing dangerous waste, preventing new contaminated sites, and cleaning up contamination.

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 (Download PDF reader), 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.

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