Climate Pollution Reduction Program Contracts and Grants Specialist (Environmental Specialist 4)
State of Washington
FreshPosted Mar 9
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Posted: March 10, 2026 (3 days ago)
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Climate Operations Lead (TPS 5)
State of Washington
Dept. of Transportation
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$7,254 - $9,760
per month
Type
Part-Time
More Other jobs →Closes
March 11, 2026
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This part-time role involves leading the day-to-day operations of a climate program within Washington's transportation department, focusing on managing budgets, handling legislative requests, and coordinating efforts to make transportation more resilient to climate change.
The ideal candidate is someone with strong experience in budgeting and policy who enjoys working with teams across the agency to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
It's a great fit for a detail-oriented professional passionate about sustainability in public infrastructure.
Key Requirements
- Ability to independently develop, justify, manage, and monitor complex program budgets and fiscal notes
- Experience leading end-to-end procurement processes, including solicitation development, evaluation, negotiation, and contract administration
- Skill in analyzing legislation and policy proposals and translating them into operational and budgetary impacts
- Skill in scoping, planning, coordinating, and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects
- Applied understanding of climate mitigation/adaptation policies, requirements, or strategies relevant to transportation
- Demonstrated ability to build consensus, coordinate across diverse groups, and maintain productive partnerships
- Ability to clearly communicate complex information
Full Job Description
About WSDOT
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is a multimodal organization with a global reputation for excellence!
Our dedicated workforce is responsible to plan, design, build, and operate an integrated transportation system that safely and efficiently moves people and goods throughout the state.
In addition to maintaining over 18,000 lane miles of state highway and 4,100 bridges, WSDOT manages the world's longest floating bridge, executes an award-winning Active Transportation Plan, holds a record for the world's widest tunneling project, and operates the largest ferry system in the nation!
The Opportunity
WSDOT is seeking a motivated and experienced Transportation Planning Specialist 5 to serve as the Climate Operations Lead in Olympia, WA.
In this critical part-time role, the Climate Operations Lead will direct the administrative operations of the agency’s climate program, serving as the expert on budget and legislative matters for the Climate Mitigation and Adaptation Branch.
The incumbent will coordinate statewide climate resiliency planning efforts, provide backup support to the Branch Manager, and lead procurement and contracting activities.
Additionally, this position will independently manage the branch budget, ensuring fiscal accountability and alignment with agency priorities.
What to Expect
Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Climate Operations Lead will:
- Develop budget and legislative requests for climate activities.
- Lead collaboration across divisions to ensure climate related decision packages and budget requests are coordinated.
- Scope programmatic needs and draft budget requests.
- Develop staffing and funding requests to ensure that WSDOT can meet compliance requirements.
- Draft agency request legislation.
- Prepare bill analysis and fiscal notes on proposed legislation.
- Support agency compliance with the Climate Commitment Act, Clean Fuels Standard, alternative fuel programs, HEAL Act, and other requirements.
- Independently coordinate required agency climate resiliency planning efforts.
Qualifications
To be considered for this opportunity, the following are required:
- Budget Development & Fiscal Analysis: Ability to independently develop, justify, manage, and monitor complex program budgets and fiscal notes.
- Contracting & Procurement Management: Experience leading end-to-end procurement processes, including solicitation development, evaluation, negotiation, and contract administration.
- Legislative & Policy Analysis: Skill in analyzing legislation and policy proposals and translating them into operational and budgetary impacts.
- Project & Program Management: Skill in scoping, planning, coordinating, and delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects.
- Climate Resilience & Mitigation Program Knowledge: Applied understanding of climate mitigation/adaptation policies, requirements, or strategies relevant to transportation.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to build consensus, coordinate across diverse groups, and maintain productive partnerships.
- Communication: Ability to clearly communicate complex information in writing, verbally, and in presentations tailored to diverse audiences.
- Analytical & Critical Thinking: Ability to evaluate data, identify patterns, assess program impacts, and provide evidence-based recommendations.
- Strategic Planning & Systems Thinking: Ability to identify operational gaps and propose improvements aligned with agency climate goals.
- Digital & Data Tools Proficiency: Ability to use standard tools (e.g., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Adobe Acrobat) to analyze data, produce documentation, and track budgets/contracts.
- Equity & Inclusive Practices: Ability to apply equity principles (including HEAL Act requirements) to budgeting, procurement, planning, and engagement.
- Independent Decision-Making & Work Management: Ability to manage independent workstreams, prioritize tasks, and make decisions aligned with program requirements.
- Growth Mindset: Actively demonstrates a commitment to learning and growth.
- Service-Oriented: Takes action to meet the needs of others.
It is preferred that qualified candidates also have:
- In-depth Transportation & Climate Policy Expertise: Experience applying federal and state climate policies (CCA, CFS, PROTECT, SEEP, HEAL Act) within a transportation agency context.
- Experience as Lead Staff or Team Coordinator: Experience guiding the work of others, coordinating review teams, or leading collaborative initiatives.
- Advanced Procurement & Contracting Knowledge: Experience specifically with state (WA) and federal procurement laws and consultant contracting.
- Advanced Project Management Training or Certification Examples: Project Management Professional (PMP) Lean training. Other recognized project management methodologies
- Reconciling Complex or Divergent Information: Experience synthesizing technical, budgetary, and policy information into unified recommendations or planning documents.
- Transportation Planning or Climate Resilience Programs: Direct experience working within a DOT or similar transportation/environmental agency.
Important Notes
- This recruitment may also be used to fill additional positions per business needs.
- This position offers flexible/hybrid remote work options.
- This is a part-time position.
- To review the full Position Description, please follow the directions in the “Contact Us” section of this posting.
- WSDOT does not use the E-Verify system, therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
In addition to base salary, employees may be entitled to other forms of compensation depending on the type, duties, or location of the position.
For union-represented positions, more information on other forms of compensation can be found in the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
Information on other compensation types for non-represented positions can be found in Chapter 357-28 of the Washington Administrative Code.
Why WSDOT
- Work-Life Balance – We offer flexible work schedules that allow you time for your life outside of this excellent opportunity.
- Paid Leave – In addition to 12 paid holidays, full-time employees may earn up to 25 paid vacation days per year!
- Tuition Assistance – Permanent employees have several options for assistance with education expenses, including tuition reimbursement programs, government discounts at participating colleges throughout the state, and eligibility for federal student loan forgiveness.
- Plan For Your Future – WSDOT offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a variety of healthcare options. Employees also have a choice of state retirement programs, and much more. Go to State Benefits for more information.
Check out this video to learn more: Why WSDOT?
How to Apply
Applications for this recruitment will be accepted electronically. Your relevant experience may be evaluated to determine salary. Therefore, it is very important that the “Work Experience” portion of the application be completed in as much detail as possible.
In order to be considered for this opportunity, please include the following with your online application:
- An attached Resume outlining (in reverse chronological order) your experience to date.
- An attached Cover Letter that further explains your qualifications and indicates why you believe you are a viable candidate for this role.
- Contact details for a minimum of three (3) individuals who can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job-related competencies. This information can be entered in the “References” section of the online application; does not require an additional attachment.
Please click the "APPLY" button to proceed. Note that you will be prompted to either sign in or create an account. This step is required in order to submit an application to this opportunity.
WSDOT is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency.
Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.
All persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, and/ or gender identity, are encouraged to apply.
Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the recruiter listed.
Contact Us
For inquiries about this posting, you may contact the assigned Recruiter, Amanda Strebeck, at amanda.strebeck@wsdot.wa.gov. Please be sure to reference Climate Operation Lead #05550 in the subject line.
Check your resume before applying to catch common mistakes