Commerce Specialist 4

Full Job Description

Commerce Specialist 4
At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work.

We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes.

We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Local Government Division (LGD) partners with local governments, nonprofits, and others to strengthen the ability of all forms of local government and community-based organizations to fund and develop critical services to their citizens.

The division provides leadership in local government finance and statewide infrastructure initiatives that help create and retain jobs.

We also provide grants, loans, and planning and technical assistance to local governments for community development needs, infrastructure improvements, and economic development opportunities.

Growth Management Services Unit (GMS) provides financial and technical assistance to local governments implementing the Growth Management Act.

The Housing Section of GMS provides operating and capital grants to local governments to address housing.

Programs include transit-oriented development grants, middle housing, and a variety of other housing and planning grants as provided by the legislature including the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) to connect affordable housing to municipal water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

This role serves as the statewide technical specialist to enhance project readiness and application development for the CHIP program by supporting local governments and public utilities to connect capital facility projects with affordable housing projects.

As the leading technical expert, this position will provide critical guidance on optimizing drinking water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements to maximize housing development and increase local government access to CHIP funding.

Requirements

Enhance access to the CHIP program through strategic outreach and the delivery of consultative, expertise- driven technical assistance related to capital facilities.
Tasks include:
• Develop a comprehensive outreach and technical assistance program to help communities understand the CHIP grant program and identify suitable projects for CHIP program applications. Deliver effective presentations and training sessions through various platforms (in-person, conference calls, webinars, video recordings) to disseminate information and engage stakeholders.
• Partners with communities in the preliminary development of CHIP applications and prioritize strategic opportunities that enhance housing development ensuring alignment with funding criteria and community needs in preparation for the CHIP grant application process.
• Using subject matter expertise, provide expert hands-on technical assistance to cities, counties and utilities to unlock housing capacity through strategic capital facility investments and selecting projects for CHIP assistance.
• Aid small and rural communities in identifying eligible projects for the Connecting Housing to Infrastructure through coordination with Housing Trust Fund and other funding technical assistance teams that provide capacity building or pre-application support.
• Develop and distribute document templates and guidance materials for potential applicants and stakeholders enhancing the quality of project submissions for funding consideration.

Support CHIP manager with strategic program evaluation.
Tasks include:
• Lead comprehensive and high-level strategic evaluations of the CHIP program related to supporting affordable housing projects and unlocking housing capacity. Gather, process, and analyze complex data sets from all grant applicants and those that receive funds to assess the use of CHIP funds
• Conduct in-depth analysis of program data and legislative requirements to create detailed reports and articulate success and challenges in meeting housing need with CHIP funding.
• Develop and propose innovative strategies that improve accountability, enhance decision-making processes, optimize resource allocation, and effectively manage associated risks.
• Formulate actionable recommendations that drive impactful policy changes and enhance community housing solutions.
• Develop presentations and written reports that communicate findings to stakeholders ensuring clarity and fostering understanding of program impacts.

Manage complex CHIP contracts.
Tasks include:
• Using subject matter expertise, negotiate complex contracts for CHIP funding, including issues related to project eligibility, securitization, and other grant terms necessary to execute contract.
• Identify, research and resolve contractual issues and elevate when necessary.
• Provides expert guidance to grantees on prevailing wage requirements, funding structures (loans vs. grants), eligible activities and project types; resolves programmatic issues through coordination with partner agencies and policy makers to ensure contract compliance.
• Perform compliance checks, including reviewing monitoring activities from other funding partners to meet long term affordability requirement for CHIP projects.

Support communities in capital facilities fee programs related to CHIP funding.
Tasks include:
• Provide technical assistance on proportional system development charge programs and fee waiver programs, offering examples, reviewing draft ordinances, and suggesting improvements. To ensure infrastructure can be leveraged as an incentive to generate additional affordable housing units, maximize the impact of infrastructure investments and broaden access and eligibility for affordable housing projects.

Other duties as assigned.
Tasks include:
• May represent the CHIP program manager at outreach events, meetings, or opening events.
• May represent the agency at legislative hearings or state and national meetings.
• May provide expert testimony at local government hearings related to CHIP projects.
• Other tasks related to the CHIP program.

Qualifications

Required Position Qualifications:

Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Local government land use

• Infrastructure planning or finance

• Construction Management

• Public works projects

• Affordable housing development

• Environmental law and rules including the Growth Management Act

Education involves urban planning, construction management, environmental sciences, engineering, public administration/policy or related field.

Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 8 years of experience

• 7 years of experience and one year of education

• 6 years of experience and two years of education

• 5 years of experience and three years of education

• 4 years of experience and four years of education

• 3 years of experience and five years of education

• 2 years of experience and six years of education

• 1 year of experience and seven years of education

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Experience with Infrastructure planning, funding or construction, impact fees or system development charges.

• Experience with housing planning and / or affordable housing development.

• Experience with leading a program, including budgeting, supervision, communication skills such as press releases, coordinating with other funding programs.

• Experience with managing contracts in a state process.

Required Position Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving skills.

• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office suite products including Teams, Excel, Word and Outlook.

• Ability to successfully prioritize and manage complex projects in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills including presenting complex information to diverse audiences.

• A strong understanding of program design, management, and implementation.

• Ability to interact with business members and community members from diverse backgrounds

• Understands state and local government decision making structures.

• Ability to perform research as complex programmatic questions arise.

To be considered for this position, the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.

Additional Information

Work from Anywhere in Washington State
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.