Cap-and-Invest Offsets & Tribal Grants Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3)

Cap-and-Invest Offsets & Tribal Grants Specialist (Environmental Specialist 3)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Cap-and-Invest Offsets & Tribal Grants Specialist within the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP).

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 one day per week is required in the office. You may telework most of your work time with occasional in-person meetings and activities.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by May 18, 2026.
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after the date above may not be considered.

Duties

As the Cap-and-Invest Offsets & Tribal Grants Specialist, you will serve as a program specialist supporting key elements of Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA). You will support the administration of state-funded Tribal grants that build Tribal capacity and support Tribal environmental work, while also assisting with the management of the Cap-and-Invest offset program. You will contribute to Tribal grant application and award processes, provide ongoing communications and assistance to grantees, and help ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and program documentation. In addition, you will support the review and organization of offset project materials and help maintain the integrity, transparency, and accessibility of the State's offset program. This work plays a vital role in advancing environmental justice, strengthening government-to-government relationships, and supporting the success of Washington's climate policies.

What you will do:

• Support the administration of state-funded Tribal grants by assisting with application review, award processes, and applicant technical assistance.
• Help develop grant guidelines, evaluation criteria, and application processes that align with environmental justice commitments under the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act and Climate Commitment Act (CCA).
• Review, process, and track grant applications, agreements, amendments, payment requests, and progress reports using approved systems and databases.
• Coordinate and participate in grant evaluation panels, ensuring fair and well-documented review and award recommendations.
• Provide ongoing communication, outreach, and support to Tribal grant staff to ensure successful implementation of grant-funded activities.
• Maintain accurate grant program data and contribute to required reporting for budget equity and HEAL Act compliance.
• Assist with reviewing and organizing documents related to offset project listing, data reporting, and requests for offset credit issuance.
• Support evaluation of offset credit issuance and Direct Environmental Benefits (DEBs) designation requests, preparing recommendations for program leadership.
• Maintain records, webpages, and communications related to offset registries, project verifiers, credit issuance, and program updates.
• Serve as a point of contact for inquiries from Tribes, market participants, and the public, providing timely and accurate technical and administrative information.

Qualifications

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

Required Qualifications:

Six years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience performing environmental-based work, OR work related to duties of this position, that includes one or more of the following:
• Grant Administration - Experience in administering grants, contracts, or public funding programs to ensure compliant, accurate, and timely processing of applications, agreements, payments, and performance tracking.
• Regulatory & Program Implementation - Experience in interpreting and applying statutes, rules, and program policies to ensure consistent implementation, defensible funding decisions, and adherence to legal and administrative requirements.
• Data Management & Reporting - Ability to manage and analyze data using database systems to ensure accurate recordkeeping, reliable reporting, informed decision-making, and protection of confidential information.
• Communication with Interested Parties and Technical Assistance - Experience in providing technical assistance and communicating complex requirements to diverse interested parties to ensure transparency, equitable access, and effective program participation.
• Experience working with Tribes and Tribal staff – Experience providing customer service to Tribal staff related to environmental programs, policies, or projects.
• Experience must include demonstrated competence in:
• Program Administration - Detail-oriented administration of programs or processes that involve the creation, review, or management of documents and records.
• Using critical / analytical thinking and problem-solving skills to make decisions or determine a course of action.
• Reviewing / assessing information and data to draw conclusions and recommending decisions or actions.
• Conducting research and performing data analysis on both qualitative and quantitative data.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences; environmental or natural science interdisciplinary studies; environmental planning, or an academic discipline related to the duties of the position.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 6 years of experience.
• 5 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 4 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate's degree).
• 3 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 2 years of experience AND a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree or above.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• A background check will be conducted, which may include criminal record history, fingerprinting, and credit history. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of the following policy areas: environmental grant program development and management, climate, carbon markets, offset project development, and energy.
• Experience engaging in communications with Tribal governments with lands in Washington.
• Experience with environmental justice data, methods, and analyses for environmental or government work
• Experience using GIS, data visualization software (Power BI, Tableau, R, or similar), and grant award tracking databases.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.