Volunteer Pollution Control Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $150,000.00 - $175,000.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2026-ELUHO-005
Department: Environmental & Land Use Hearing Office
Opening Date: 06/12/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Remote Optional: This position may be full- or part-time remote.
The Pollution Control Hearings Board and Shorelines Hearings Board (Board/Boards) are seeking applications to fill an upcoming Board member vacancy beginning July 1, 2026.
**This position must be filled by an attorney licensed to practice law in Washington state who resides in Washington state and is not a member of the Democratic party. (Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve 6-year terms).
The Pollution Control Hearings Board and Shorelines Hearings Board
The Boards provide administrative review of environmental decisions made by state agencies, local governments, and others. The Boards issue decisions on important environmental matters impacting Washington's natural resources, citizens, communities, and economies.
The Pollution Control Hearings Board was created in 1970 and reviews environmental permitting and enforcement decisions. Respondents to Board cases include the Department of Ecology, local air pollution control authorities, the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and local agencies such as ports and municipalities. There are over 40 separate environmental statutes that are appealable to the Pollution Control Hearings Board. Jurisdictional areas include water and air pollution, water resources, hydraulic project approvals, forest practices, toxic pollution, oil spills and hazardous waste, dairy nutrient management, floodplain management, solid waste, surface mining, greenhouse gas emissions - cap and invest, derelict vessels, and several other areas.
The Pollution Control Hearings Board is governed by and the Administrative Procedure Act, The Board is comprised of three members qualified by experience or training in pertinent matters pertaining to the environment. Board members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Washington State Senate. No more than two members can be of the same political party. Board members serve six-year.The Board operates full-time.
The Shorelines Hearings Board was established in 1971 and reviews permitting and enforcement decisions of local governments and the Department of Ecology under the Shoreline Management Act. The Shorelines Hearings Board is governed by the Shoreline Management Act, Chapter , and the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter . The Board is comprised of the three members of the Pollution Control Hearings Board, the Commissioner of Public Lands or designee, one member appointed by the Association of Washington Cities, and one member appointed by the Washington State Association of Counties. The Chair of the Shorelines Hearings Board is the Chair of the Pollution Control Hearings Board. The Shorelines Hearings Board operates as needed when cases are filed.
The Environmental and Land Use Hearings Office (ELUHO) is the administrative agency that supports the Pollution Control Hearings Board, the Shorelines Hearings Board, and the Growth Management Hearings Board. The Boards are supported by a small legal support team, a law clerk, and a small team of administrative appeals judges. ELUHO's office is located in Olympia.
What you will do as a Board member:
Board members are assigned cases by the Chair, including cases in which they are the presiding officer. Day-to-day work includes legal research, legal analysis, and legal writing, presiding over pre-hearing conferences and hearings, determining evidentiary and procedural matters, and producing complete and legally sound orders with consideration of the facts.
Most cases before the Boards are reviewed de novo with full evidentiary processes and the creation of a case record. The Boards issue decisions setting forth legal analyses of claims, and if a case goes to hearing, the Boards issue findings of fact and conclusions of law that inform all parties of the reasons for the decision. Most Board pre- and post-hearing dispositive decisions must be decided by a quorum of Board members. Final orders have the force of law and parties can appeal Board decisions to the courts.
Board members must display a judicial temperament by remaining impartial, considering competing arguments, and rendering informed and unbiased decisions. They must maintain confidentiality and conduct themselves with a commitment to ethics and integrity.
Board members convene and participate in meetings under the Open Public Meetings Act. Board members also support ELUHO's administration by attending open public Board meetings and informing agency decisions regarding policy, budget, and operations.
Board members often attend meetings, including case deliberation discussions and Board meetings, in-person. Hearings and conferences have been conducted remotely since the onset of the pandemic but are transitioning to allow hybrid and in-person options.
Who we are looking for:
This position must be filled by an attorney with experience or training in environmental matters who is not a Democrat. (no more than two Board members shall be of the same political party). Preference will be given to candidates with administrative, environmental, or land use law experience.
This is a unique opportunity:
This is an opportunity to serve on two of Washington's most distinguished boards. The Pollution Control Hearings Board and Shorelines Hearings Board oversee cases filed and defended by some of the state and nation's most prominent attorneys. The Boards are the first stop for deciding important environmental legal issues of first impression. The caseload is highly diverse and the legal issues are interesting.
Board members and administrative appeals judges comment that working for the Boards has re-energized their love of the law and legal profession. The Boards are impartial and Board members are not advocates for any party. There are no billable hours and ELUHO values work/life balance for all employees. As a presiding officer, Board members have flexibility in setting case schedules. Board members are provided training and growth opportunities as well as opportunities to speak at CLEs and other conferences. The state offers comprehensive compensation packages, including benefits and paid leave. Board members also have opportunities to mentor law student externs, law clerks, and administrative appeals judges.
Contact Information:
You may contact the ELUHO Director, Dominga Soliz, with any questions about the position at or (360) 664-9173.
How to apply:
For consideration, you mustat the Governor's web site.
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 status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.
Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026