Equity Communications Specialist (Communications Consultant 4)

November 3, 2026

<div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii" src="" style="width: 596.0px;height: 121.0px;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src=" 110921.jpg" style="width: 300.0px;display: block;"></div> <div style="text-align: left;"> </div>Per Governor Inslee’s <a href="">Directive 22-13.1</a>, state employees must be fully vaccinated effective November 4, 2022. Providing proof of being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment and your vaccine status will be verified prior to starting work. Being fully vaccinated means two weeks after you have received the second dose in a two-dose series of a COVID-19 vaccine or a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine authorized for emergency use, licensed or otherwise authorized or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or listed for emergency use or otherwise approved by the World Health Organization. If you have questions, please contact <a href="mailto:Careers@ecy.wa.gov">Careers@ecy.wa.gov</a> with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line. <div style="text-align: center;"> Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen</div> <div>The Communication’s Program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill an Equity Communications Specialist (Communications Consultant 4) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in <a href="">Lacey, WA</a>. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. In this exciting new role within the Communication Program, you will shape the future of our workplace culture by championing equity and recognizing that each of us have different needs that must be met in order to thrive. As the Equity Communications Specialist, you will play a key role in our agency's internal communications and have a leadership role in communicating our diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect work. You will oversee one of the agency’s primary employee communication channels, Inside Ecology, as a dedicated editor and writer. The mission of the Department of Ecology is to protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s land, air, and water for current and future generations. Our Communication Program’s mission is to provide clear, accurate and timely communications to explain the work Ecology does, why it matters, and the science behind it. We also play an integral role in internal communications. We are partners in shaping our workplace culture and are champions of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect. Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 90% tele-work schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and is subject to change. Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of December 28, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before December 27, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.</div> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable" height="315" src="" style="width: 560.0px;height: 315.0px;" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe> About the Department of Ecology<div>Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our <a href="">Strategic Plan</a>. </div> <div style="text-align: left;">Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:</div> <ul style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-bottom: 0.0in;" type="disc"><li style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-right: 0.0in;margin-left: 0.0in;">A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.<li style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-right: 0.0in;margin-left: 0.0in;">An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.<li style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-right: 0.0in;margin-left: 0.0in;">Continuous growth and development opportunities. <li style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-right: 0.0in;margin-left: 0.0in;">A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.<li style="margin-top: 0.0in;margin-right: 0.0in;margin-left: 0.0in;">Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.</ul> 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. <div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;">Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.</div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;"> </div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;">Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.</div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;"> </div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;">Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work.</div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;"> </div><div style="color: rgb(0,0,0);font-style: normal;text-indent: 0.0px;margin-left: 20.0px;">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.</div> 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. <img class="fr-fic fr-dib" src="" style="width: 531.0px;display: block;">What makes this role unique? This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the future of our workforce communications. You will lead diversity, equity, inclusion and respect (DEIR) communication programs, plans, and strategies primarily for internal communications and some external communications. You will also be a part of a team where your creativity and energy will be channeled to develop engaging town halls, executive communications, and to lead our intranet communications. What you will do: <ul type="disc"><li>Coordinate and collaborate with staff and programs to guide and review DEIR communication strategies for internal and external communications. This includes town halls and internal event planning, developing talking points, news releases, social media, web content and other products.<li>Plan, organize and develop learning opportunities, events and messaging that is inclusive and respectful of cultural and ethnic diversity. Engage staff and programs in developing content and setting strategic direction for this work.<li>Actively participate in and provide communications support to the agency’s internal DEIR development teams and workgroups. Provide expertise and lead the communications subgroup in these efforts.<li>Represent the agency on DEIR communications committees across state government.<li>Participate in agency-wide work groups for accessibility and language access.<li>Develop social media, blogs, and external webpage content.<li>Manage the agency’s primary source of internal news – Inside Ecology. Write, develop, and maintain content.<li>Produce video content for internal and external communications.</ul> Required Qualifications: Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.A total of Seven (7) years of experience and/or education as described below: Experience: developing internal and external communications, including demonstrated experience with diversity, equity, and racial justice communications; creating written and visual content for publications, marketing products, websites, blogs, social media, or other outreach materials; managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment. Education involving a major study in: journalism, communications, public relations, news media, digital/social media, English, marketing, humanities, or closely allied field. See chart below for a list of ways to qualify for this position: <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td valign="top">Possible Combinations</td><td valign="top">College credit hours or degree – as listed above.</td><td valign="top">Years of professional level experience – as listed above.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 1</td><td valign="top">No college credit hours or degree.</td><td valign="top">7 years of experience.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 2</td><td valign="top">I have 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.</td><td valign="top">6 years of experience.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 3</td><td valign="top">I have 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).</td><td valign="top">5 years of experience.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 4</td><td valign="top">I have 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.</td><td valign="top">4 years of experience.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 5 </td><td valign="top">A Bachelor's Degree.</td><td valign="top">3 year of experience.</td></tr><tr><td valign="top">Combination 6</td><td valign="top">A Master’s Degree or higher.</td><td valign="top">1 year of experience.</td></tr></tbody></table> Desired Qualifications: We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. <ul><li>Experience developing and coordinating communications for diversity, equity, inclusion, respect or racial justice initiatives or systemically disadvantaged communities.<li>Training, education, or lived experience in diversity, equity, inclusion, respect and racial justice concepts to create, maintain, and improve a diverse, equitable, respectful, and inclusive workplace.</ul>Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool. 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 candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format? <ul><li>Please call: (360) 407-6186<a href="#" style="margin: 0.0px;left: 0.0px;top: 0.0px;width: 16.0px;height: 16.0px;right: 0.0px;bottom: 0.0px;overflow: hidden;vertical-align: middle;float: none;display: inline;white-space: nowrap;position: static;" title="Call: (360) 407-6186"></a> or email: <a href="mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov">careers@ecy.wa.gov</a> and we will be happy to assist.<li>If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388<a href="#" style="margin: 0.0px;left: 0.0px;top: 0.0px;width: 16.0px;height: 16.0px;right: 0.0px;bottom: 0.0px;overflow: hidden;vertical-align: middle;float: none;display: inline;white-space: nowrap;position: static;" title="Call: 1-800-833-6388"></a>.<li>If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail <a href="mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov">careers@ecy.wa.gov</a>. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.<li>If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: <a href="" style="color: inherit;text-indent: 0.0px;font-style: normal;text-decoration: underline;"> style="color: rgb(38,122,144);">. </ul>Application Instructions: It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined. <ul><li>A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.<li>A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.<li>Three professional references.<li>A writing sample or communication example. Samples can include news articles, press releases, social media posts, website pages, videos, or other similar work.</ul> Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. For Your Privacy: When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.): <ul type="disc"><li>Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. <li>Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. </ul> Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources. Application Attestation: The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. Other Information:If you have specific questions about the position, please email Camille St. Onge at <a href="mailto:camille.st.onge@ecy.wa.gov">Camille.St.Onge@ecy.wa.gov</a>. Please do not contact Camille to inquire about the status of your application. To request the full position description: email <a href="mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov?subject=mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov">careers@ecy.wa.gov</a><a href="mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov?subject=mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov"></a><a href="mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov?subject=mailto:careers@ecy.wa.gov"></a> Why work for Ecology? As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability. Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service 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. Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority site">Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s)</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Department of Retirement Systems site">Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Office of Financial Management Leave Types ">Vacation, Sick, and other Leave</a>*, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Office of Financial Management Leave Types">11 Paid Holidays per year</a>*, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Student Aid site">Public Service Loan Forgiveness</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Tuition Waiver Washington Administrative Code">Tuition Waiver</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority site">Long Term Disability</a> & <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority site">Life Insurance</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Department of Retirement Systems site">Deferred Compensation Programs</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority site">Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP)</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority Site">Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA)</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Department of Enterprise Services site">Employee Assistance Program</a>, <a href="">Commute Trip Reduction Incentives</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Combinded Fund Drive site">Combined Fund Drive</a>, <a href="" target="_blank" title="Health Care Authority site">SmartHealth</a> *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information Student debt: how working for Ecology can help The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See <a href=""> for more details.To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at <a href=""> and follow, like or visit us on <a href="">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="">Twitter</a>, <a href="">Facebook</a>, <a href="">Instagram</a> or our <a href="">blog</a>. Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative. 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. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186<a href="#" style="margin: 0.0px;left: 0.0px;top: 0.0px;width: 16.0px;height: 16.0px;right: 0.0px;bottom: 0.0px;overflow: hidden;vertical-align: middle;float: none;display: inline;white-space: nowrap;position: static;" title="Call: (360) 407-6186"></a>. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388<a href="#" style="margin: 0.0px;left: 0.0px;top: 0.0px;width: 16.0px;height: 16.0px;right: 0.0px;bottom: 0.0px;overflow: hidden;vertical-align: middle;float: none;display: inline;white-space: nowrap;position: static;" title="Call: 1-800-833-6388"></a>. 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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