Salary : $125,000.00 - $141,837.12 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-ELUHO-006
Department: Environmental & Land Use Hearing Office
Opening Date: 06/15/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Description
Application review will begin June 29, 2026, and continue weekly until filled. The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5p.m, however the schedule can be adjusted with approval.

Location: This position requires some travel for meetings, conferences, and hearings, however we offer flexibility to work remotely.

This is a unique opportunity to be a judge for Washington State's quasi-judicial environmental boards. With your experience you will help the Pollution Control Hearings Board and Shorelines Hearings Board issue decisions on important environmental matters impacting Washington's natural resources, citizens, communities, and economies.
ELUHO Offers:

• A highly diverse case portfolio of environmental legal issues
• Cutting edge cases with legal issues of first impression
• Opportunity to work directly with top environmental lawyers across the state and nation
• Mentorship by experienced environmental attorneys
• Opportunity to gain experience as an impartial mediator and judge
• Camaraderie in a supportive team atmosphere
• Training and development opportunities
• Comprehensive compensation packages, including benefits and paid leave
• The fulfillment of public service
• A healthy work/life balance

What you will do as an Administrative Appeals Judge:
As an Administrative Appeals Judge, you will play a critical role in supporting the PCHB and SHB. You will preside over prehearing conferences and hearings to ensure fairness as well as issue legally sound procedural decisions. As presiding officer, you will be responsible for the overall case management of assigned cases.

Administrative Appeals Judges conduct legal research, provide high quality and timely draft decisions to the boards on all substantive issues, conduct mediations with PCHB and SHB parties to achieve mutual resolution, and provide parties with procedural assistance. You will interact directly with hearing participants and provide due process in an efficient, effective, and ethical manner.

Administrative Appeals Judges work closely with PCHB and SHB members, legal support staff, administrative staff and management to foster an environment that supports the mission, vision, values and goals of ELUHO. You will support ELUHO's administration by assisting with open public meetings, public records requests, case files and organization, employee trainings, and other administrative areas.

Who we are looking for:
You are an attorney with excellent legal analysis and writing skills and demonstrated knowledge of environmental law. You are prepared to independently analyze, connect, and conduct research on a vast array of complex environmental legal issues, and effectively communicate legal theories, recommendations and arguments verbally and in writing. You are able to learn, retain, and apply rules and procedures related to environmental and administrative law. You have the ability to assume a judicial temperament by remaining impartial, considering competing arguments, and rendering informed and unbiased recommendations and decisions. You maintain confidentiality. As a professional, you conduct yourself with a commitment to ethics and integrity and you exercise good judgment in making independent decisions.

You communicate clearly and courteously, earning others' trust and respect, actively listening, responding timely, and building constructive working relationships. You are adaptable to changing priorities, you effectively manage stressful or adverse situations, and you demonstrate tact and diplomacy in your interactions. Your professional competencies include accountability, dependability, attention to detail, office technology skills, workload management, legal research and writing capabilities, proofreading, recognizing and applying legal terminology and citations, knowledge retention, active listening, team building, and demonstrated self-awareness and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
You are an experienced professional who values teamwork and wants to be part of an agency where you are respected and valued. You take pride in your work and you are looking for meaningful employment in a setting that cultivates growth and longevity.
Qualifications
REQUIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND LICENSES:

• Admitted to the practice of law in Washington, and a member in good standing with the Washington State Bar Association;
• Knowledge of environmental law, as demonstrated by legal research, legal writing, coursework, or practice experience; and
• A valid Driver's License, free from serious traffic violations

PREFERRED/DESIRED EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND COMPETENCIES:

• A demonstrated knowledge of administrative law and procedures;
• Experience as an adjudicator, hearings examiner or presiding officer;
• Experience as a mediator, or a willingness to complete a course of training in mediation skills;
• Litigation experience

Supplemental Information
As you can see, this isn't your typical posting where we require you to fill out a long application. We value your time and would love to hear more about why you are interested in this position. Please take a few minutes to answer the supplemental questions attached to this application.

And that's it!

• A letter of interest, describing why you are the best candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position;
• A current resume, detailing experience, and education;
• Two (2) legal writing samples demonstrating legal research and writing capabilities; and
• A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information (attached or available to provide at the time of interview)

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.
Should you have any questions regarding this position or the online application, contact Angie Anderson at [email protected].
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 statu