Salary : $76,608.00 - $102,996.00 Annually
Location : Yakima County - Other, WA
Job Type: Agency Internal - Permanent
Job Number:Department: Dept. of Agriculture
Division: Agricultural Environmental Services - Technical Services and Education
Opening Date: 10/15/2026
Closing Date: 10/29/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionThe OpportunityThe
Bilingual Waste Pesticide Disposal Coordinator serves as a senior environmental section specialist that works independently, requiring in-depth knowledge and provides advanced scientific and technical consultation to agency staff, and local and federal agencies on environmental impacts of various activities including the collection and proper disposal of waste pesticides from private and public entities.
This position builds partnerships with communities, businesses, and interest groups in order to identify and respond to environmental issues affecting the common interest such as the coordination of waste pesticide disposal collection events. Additionally, this position develops and enhances environmental protection and oversees implementation of changes that are necessary to protect public health from environmental factors.
The position serve as the agencies' expert on the state hazardous waste contract advisory committee. Review all bids and suggested contract changes and make recommendations to the state's hazardous waste contract procurement officer.
This position contributes to the program goals by educating agricultural producers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards so their agricultural products can be distributed globally.
Important Notes:WSDA is recruiting for an internal full-time permanent Environmental Specialist 5 position within the Agricultural Environmental Services Division. This position is approved for a home duty station in Grandview, Washington. This position is not represented by union.
The base pay offered will take into account internal equity and may vary depending on the preferred candidate's job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The typical starting salary for this position is:
Range 63, Step A $76,608 - Step L $100,488annually. Duties What to ExpectSome of the various responsibilities within this role:
Plan, coordinate and direct Waste Pesticide Collection Events - Prepare the program's biennial budget. Plan events and ensure all expenditure is within budget constraints. Routinely provide the program's financial status to the TSE program manager and the division's assistant director.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to coordinate Waste Pesticide Collection Events: Coordinate collection events with site owners and the hazardous waste contractor. Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites. Determine the locations and times of collection events.
- Oversee, direct, and participate in pesticide collection events.
- Ensure collection events are adequately staffed and trained.
- Ensure that staff employ all required protection measures including hazard awareness and Personal Protective Equipment usage.
- Ensure a trained safety officer is on site at collection events to safe-guard the physical integrity of staff.
- Provide pre-collection event data to the hazardous waste contractor and participate in the on-site safety meeting.
- Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner.
- Ensure that event data is entered into the database and perform data QA/QC to ensure that information sent to other parties is correct.
- Generate an accurate annual report of hazardous waste activities, and submits it to the Dept. of Ecology.
- Coordinate with Database Developers to ensure Waste Pesticide database is operational. Help train other database users.
- Participate in financial planning of collection events and ensure all expenditures are within the TSE program budget.
- Work with county solid waste managers and others to find and evaluate the suitability of collection sites.
- Maintain working relationships with waste collection facility sites including County Solid Waste, WSU (up to six properties), as well as other facilities as to allow continued use of their facilities.
- Ensure that event notices and follow-up materials are prepared and disseminated in a timely manner. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Review pesticide disposal inventories and provide follow-up with customers. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to conduct site visits to sample, identify and pack unwanted pesticide products. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Ensure compliance with all state and federal hazardous waste and employee safety regulations.
Support bilingual (Spanish and English) pesticide safety training programs.- Coordinate training events and training activities, curriculum updates and delivery for one of the pesticide safety training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Support other TSEP bilingual training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Serve as liaisons with internal and external stakeholders, ensure training materials and props are available, and maintain training records.
- Develop pesticide safety training videos for the web and to use in training programs. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Work with other Education and Outreach Service (EOS) staff to conduct mostly Spanish Language training at all levels of agricultural operations and in cooperation with the agricultural community. This task requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Conduct relevant training events by constantly updating technical knowledge and trainings skills. Support pesticide handler training program but will support other program staff conduct Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Train-the-Trainer courses to farm owners, managers and supervisors. This requires bilingual (English and Spanish) abilities.
- Drive state assigned motor vehicle to deliver a variety of training programs including pre-license and recertification training.
Coordinate and provide technical assistance on the proper storage, disposal, and recycling of pesticides and their containers.- Review and develop technical assistance material in Spanish and English languages.
- Conduct customer-site technical assistance visits and assign technical assistance visits to staff. This task requires operating a motorized state vehicle.
Oversee maintenance or TSEP equipment - Remind staff to use maintenance equipment checklist including cargo and flatbed trailers, vehicle, sprayers and other training equipment.
- Ensure staff are trained on safety trailer towing.
- Make general recommendation on equipment maintenance and use.
Qualifications Who should apply?Professionals with:- A Bachelor's degree involving major study in environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental planning or other allied field and six (6) years of experience handling agricultural pesticides. Professional level experience in environmental analysis or control, or environmental planning which includes one (2) years equal to an Environmental Specialist 3 or above OR One year of experience as an Environmental Specialist 4 Additional qualifying experience will substitute year for year, for education.
- Ability to legally operate a motor vehicle in WA State.
- Fluent in English and Spanish languages and possess the ability to read, write, and speak and understand the primary Spanish dialect.
- Current WSDA Private Applicator's License to properly and safely handle pesticides Current 40-hour Hazardous Materials Training (HAZ MAT) certification with annual 8-hour Refresher courses to maintain knowledge on safety precautions. Medical evaluation, training, and fit testing for respirator use.
Preferred/Desirable Qualifications:- Practical experience handling or supervising the handling and/or application of agricultural use pesticides.
- Two (2) years of experience leading or supervising within a natural resource, agricultural, environmental or health regulatory position, in the pest management field, or in the pesticide or fertilizer industry.
- At least two (2) years of experience writing adult training curriculums.
- Professional experience as Spanish/English translator and/or interpreter.
Supplemental InformationEmployee Benefits- A healthy work/life balance, which may include flexible work schedules, and teleworking.
- WSDA provides an excellent benefits package beyond traditional benefits. State employment offers Dependent Care Assistance, Flexible Spending Accounts, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Deferred Compensation, Employee Recognition Leave; click here for more information.
- 12 paid Holidays & Vacation and Leave Accruals.
- All Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required will be provided by the agency.
How to apply You must complete your careers.wa.gov profile and answer the supplemental questions. In addition to completing the online application, and supplemental questions applicants must attach the following documents to their profile to be considered for this position:
• A resume detailing experience and education• A cover letter describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position• Three (3) professional references.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.
If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email
The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application and the materials submitted. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. Applications received via e-mail will not be accepted in lieu of applying through the state's on-line recruitment system.
WSDA uses a I-9 formto determine Employment Eligibility and Verification, once hired. This document is the authorization of an individual's ability to be hired for employment within the United States. Applicants must be eligible to work in the United States.
