Energy Policy Director (EMS 3)

Full Job Description

Energy Policy Director (EMS 3)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.

This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Energy Division partners with diverse energy stakeholders to create a clean, affordable, and just energy future.

This position provides leadership, long-range strategic perspective and direction that supports a comprehensive, multi-dimensional statewide energy policy office that affects all areas of the state and supports all sectors of Washington’s energy economy. This work is highly visible to the public and supports the state’s administration-wide efforts to develop and implement policies and laws that transform the state’s energy systems to reduce use of fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency and production of renewable energy, increase environmental and economic justice, and support economic development. This leadership requires balancing competing objectives, demands, and priorities such as cost, reliability, resilience, and emissions and diverse perspectives of public and private stakeholders, including the general public, advocates, utilities, private businesses, overburdened, vulnerable and tribal communities, and others. The position supervises multiple energy policy specialists who are each statewide experts and thought leaders on significant aspects of the state’s energy and climate policies, and this position integrates the work of this team to produce effective, cohesive, and strategic plans and policies.

This position's assigned duty station is Olympia.

Requirements

• Lead the Energy Policy Office within the Energy Division in developing, communicating, negotiating, and implementing policies, strategies, and legislation covering the full range of energy and climate issues affecting the economy, residents, and businesses of Washington.
• Supervise, recruit, develop, and mentor a team of energy policy specialists recognized as energy policy experts in state government and as a national leaders in energy policy.
• Work directly and closely with the Governor’s office on the administration’s energy and climate policies and with legislators, leaders and staff of other agencies, business and environmental stakeholders, and the public to communicate and advance sound energy and climate policies.
• Lead the development and implementation of the State Energy Strategy, in compliance with RCW 43.21F.088 and 43.21F.090.
• Provide strategic direction; lead short-term and long-term planning; and develop a road map and work plan related to the complex challenges of transforming the state’s energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy affordability, and increase economic and environmental justice.
• Develop and implement collaborative frameworks with other units in the Energy Division to ensure that policy insights inform program design, and that feedback from program implementation actively shapes ongoing policy development.
• Represent the agency or the state of Washington on standing and temporary committees, boards, and work groups. Assign and guide the work other staff to such committees and groups, including the agency member of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council.
• Contribute to strategic leadership and decision-making as an active member of the Energy Division Management Team, collaborating with senior leaders to guide division-wide priorities, align cross-functional initiatives, and ensure effective implementation of the division’s mission and goals.

Strategic and tactical decisions of this position have a direct impact on the success of the state in identifying and implementing policies and strategies that advance the state’s statutory climate and energy goals. The complex work of this position involves multi-agency and multi-stakeholder coordination with extensive executive management involvement. This position involves analyses and interpretation of state laws, rules, policies related to energy use and development, oversight of utilities and energy businesses, coordination with utility and environmental regulators at other agencies, and effective communication with multiple external stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
Nine (9) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience must include:
• Five (5) or more years of senior level experience in public policy.
• Two (2) or more years of leading and managing professional teams
• Demonstrating a strong track record of developing employees, fostering professional growth, and leading through change.
• Skilled in managing teams with empathy, mediating conflicts in an unbiased manner, de-escalating tensions, and facilitating constructive dialogue—particularly when navigating differing policy perspectives among staff, leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to develop policy and advise on how to effectively implement policy and monitor outcomes.
• High level knowledge of the executive and legislative branches of state government.
• Knowledge of energy systems, utility regulation, environmental regulation, and energy-related technologies.
• Demonstrated ability in creative thinking, strategic thinking, systems thinking, and situational awareness.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple, high-profile projects with cross agency and cross functional teams.
• Experience in problem-solving with complex, multidisciplinary public policy issues.
• Strong research and analytical skills to lead to syntheses and recommendations for decision-makers.
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative working relationships with a diverse array of external stakeholders, including environmental and consumer organizations, environmental justice organizations, energy producing and consuming businesses, governments, and utilities.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with diverse communities on a wide range of topics.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills, including the ability to interpret and explain state and federal laws and rules to a wide range of audiences.
• Understanding of and commitment to environmental, racial, and economic justice principles, with the ability to identify and advance opportunities that promote equity and inclusion in energy policy and program development

Education: involving a major study in public policy, business administration, law, energy systems, or related field.
*Qualifying post-secondary education (beyond high school or equivalent) may be substituted year-for-year for the required experience.

Examples of Qualifying Combinations:
• 9 years of experience
• 8 years of experience and 1 year of education
• 7 years of experience and 2 years of education
• 6 years of experience and 3 years of education
• 5 years of experience and 4 years of education
• 4 years of experience and 5 years of education
• 3 years of experience and 6 years of education

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies.
• Master’s or higher degree from an accredited college or university in public policy, business administration, law, energy systems, or related field.
• At least five years of executive level management in federal, local, state, or tribal government to include supervisory experience.
• Experience or training managing complex projects involving multiple team members and expert consultants.
• Superior communication skills for public and internal audiences including writing, speaking, and presentation skills, public relations and media communication skills.

Additional Information

- This position is exempt from civil service rules – Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 357.
- This position is overtime exempt from the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

The position requires frequent contact and collaborative working relationships with agency staff, community groups, federal agencies, legislative members and staff, local government entities, state agencies, tribal governments, the public, and other stakeholders.

The position’s assigned duty station is Olympia and requires frequent in-person presence for meetings in the WA State Commerce Olympia office and other locations including the State Capitol. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction.

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.