The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024. Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Solid Waste Management{rel="nofollow"} (SWM) program is looking to fill a Food Center Research Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4) (In Training) *position. This position can be located in any one of the following offices. *Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA{rel="nofollow"}. Northwest Region Office (NWRO) *in Shoreline, WA{rel="nofollow"}. *Central Region Office (CRO) in Union Gap, WA{rel="nofollow"}. Eastern Region Office (ERO) in Spokane, WA{rel="nofollow"}. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. Please Note: If the final location of this position is determined to be in our Northwest Region Office (NWRO) in Shoreline, WA{target="_blank" rel="noopener"}. there will be an additional 5% pay increase due to its location in King County. In this instance the salary range will be $4,977 - $7,770 per month. Please Note: This is a project position that is funded until September 30, 2025. When food is wasted, so are the resources and labor used to grow, harvest, process, transport, and manage the food from farm to table. Food waste is a huge challenge, with significant environmental, social, and economic impacts.   This position is a member of Ecology's Washington Center for Sustainable Food Management (Food Center). The new Food Center leads the effort to implement the action items in the Use Food Well Washington Plan. This position will lead research needed for the workgroup to study food donation by businesses as defined in HB 2301. It puts you at the table bringing together diverse cross-sector parties of interest to research and make recommendations on key actions around organic material management, food waste and wasted food. As part of the Solid Waste Management Program's Policy Section, you will be part of an experienced, energetic team focused on preventing waste, identifying opportunities to reduce impacts, and safely managing what remains.   You will work with your peers throughout Ecology, with other state, regional, and national agencies, industry associations, and non-profit groups to help meet our state's organics and food waste reduction goals. Implementing policies and building support networks across the US is key to creating successful food waste policy in Washington. Agency Mission: *Ecology's mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment and to promote the wise management of our air, land and water for the benefit of current and future generations. *  Program Mission: The mission of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) program is to reduce wastes through prevention and reuse, keep toxics out of the environment, and safely manage what remains. The Solid Waste Management Policy Section is filled with creative, thoughtful people that are focused on solving some of our most challenging materials management issues. You can be part of this program, helping to set the course on how Washington protects people, resources, and the enviro