Environmental Justice Analyst (MA 4)

Full Job Description

Environmental Justice Analyst (MA 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 Energy Division catalyzes the transition to a clean, just, and resilient energy future.

This position works within the Energy Programs in Communities (EPIC) unit of the Energy Division, and:
• Supports the implementation of Washington’s environmental justice law known as the HEAL (Healthy Environment for All) Act.
• Conducts HEAL Act and environmental justice related analytical research and provides expert consultation across divisions within Commerce.
• Aligns programmatic efforts to agency environmental justice and HEAL Act priorities and makes recommendations regarding implementation, including significant agency actions, environmental justice implementation plan, community engagement plan, and a tribal consultation framework.
• Supports program leads with implementing and integrating Commerce’s environmental justice framework.

Requirements

Agency research, data analysis, and consultationTasks include:• Determine research methods to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and information.

Develop and plan how to generate and communicate useful insights to facilitate informed decision-making by leaders in COM.

Focus areas include creating dashboards for agency program performance metrics, specific HEAL metrics tracking, and agency budget and funding analytics.

It also includes tracking HEAL-covered interagency outputs and outcomes, and evaluating established datasets on the Washington Tracking Network, the Environmental Health Disparities Map , and other EJ and health-related data.

o This also includes ArcGIS mapping applications and applying quantitative coding and analyses to qualitative data.• Identify potential data sources related to equity, environmental justice, and other related topics, request data from data owners or gather it from original sources, integrate data from multiple sources, analyze data using statistical, qualitative, and/or predictive analysis methods, and document data analysis methodology.• Review literature (laws, rules, and policies, relevant websites, professional journals, human resources associations, research institutes, etc.) to respond to business questions, identify promising practices/potential countermeasures, and to develop benchmarks.• Provide analyses and serve as consultant to multi-divisional stakeholders across the agency on HEAL Act and environmental justice integration agency-wide, in accord with the HEAL Act and other statutes, executive orders, and state-government directives.

At times, analyses will also be shared externally to the interagency workgroup and others.• Design and administer surveys to the public regarding the agency’s HEAL Act implementation metrics and outputs, and internally to agency staff to evaluate the incorporation of EJ into agency practices, in accord with the law.• Interpret data and information to generate actionable insights, create data visualizations, and draft and present written and oral reports, presentations, and briefings to leaders and staff.

Projects and processes technical assistance
Tasks include:
• Assist with cross-division implementation efforts, including interacting with appointing authorities, managing directors and program leads, thus serving as EJ consultant to ensure effective implementation of the statewide HEAL Act law, EJ state government best practices, and associated directives and laws.
• Design and draft processes to help assess progress towards targets and goals.
• Help design data/analytics projects for the EJ-CE Section and with other related sections across the entire agency, including planning, implementation, and closeout for use agency wide.
• Identify potential improvements and innovations and evaluate effectiveness of changes using clearly defined measures and metrics. Make recommendations to section, unit, division, and intra-agency division leaders, or facilitate the development of recommendations, based on data and research, leadership direction, and stakeholder input.
• Communicate with internal stakeholders and leadership to ensure clarity around analytics and process goals and status relating to environmental justice, HEAL Act implementation and compliance, and other related agency work.

Analytics/Informatics expertise
Tasks include:
• Advise agency leaders and staff on analytics pertaining to environmental justice, HEAL Act compliance, other state directives, interagency workgroup compliance strategies, and EJ applications across the agency.
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in assigned subject areas (e.g. equity, environmental justice, state budget and legislative cycles); stay current on recent research, trends, and business needs.
• Provide guidance and consultation to leaders and staff on compliance and implementation of the HEAL Act and other related laws and directives, within the context of specific divisions and programs across Commerce’s entire book of business.
• Collaborate and coordinate with subject matter experts across the agency, relating to all potential areas of work at Commerce, to align their work with HEAL Act compliance and implementation.

State enterprise change management
Tasks include:
• Support Management Analysts in agency-wide project workgroup activities, including outcome measures, strategic initiatives, and other opportunities that align with the duties of this position.

Policy and strategy development
Tasks include:
• Evaluate existing policies and/or strategies to determine effectiveness and efficiency across Commerce’s work, with a lens on its overall integration of EJ, equity, community and tribal engagement.
• Identify and coordinate with stakeholders to provide input on draft policies and/or strategies.
• Document and communicate policies and/or strategies to stakeholders and other affected parties.

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 or work related to the position:
• Creating dashboards and interactive tools to display data and results using software tools such as: ArcGIS, Tableau, PowerPoint, SmartSheets, Mural, MS Word, and MS Excel.
• Qualitative or quantitative data analysis through conducting research
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
• Developing and/or analyzing excel-based datasets
• Leading business projects
• Policy advocacy and or development
• Designing and drafting processes
• Survey building and or administration
• Project management
• Leading and managing complex projects or programs
• Program development, in coordination with and/or response to communities

Education involves studying political science, environmental policy, public administration, public or community health, climate justice, energy justice, environmental justice, statistics, mathematics, social work, or a related field.

Qualifying education post High School/GED 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 of education

Required Position Competencies:• Ability to communicate clearly with diverse groups, including senior-level management, elected officials, subject matter experts, and other interested parties.• Experience creating dashboards and interactive tools to display data and results.

Experience using data to support continuous performance improvement and data-driven decision making.• Intermediate to advanced skill level for MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Mural, and database and GIS software such as PowerBI and ArcGIS.• Stays focused under pressure, performs duties with minimal supervision, uses time efficiently and effectively to accomplish priorities.

Motivates and encourages project team members to persevere through change and adversity, skillfully negotiates competing needs and priorities, and facilitates consensus-based decision-making when appropriate.• Operates within the organization's formal and informal structures, builds allies and relationships across the division and agency, seeks to understand others' roles and perspectives, and navigates organizational structure with diplomacy and goodwill.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:• A master's degree in political science, environmental policy, public administration, public or community health, climate justice, energy justice, environmental justice, statistics, mathematics, social work, or related field• Experience performing research and data analysis in environmental justice, social justice or similar sector.• Experience collaborating with marginalized communities, Tribal communities and vulnerable populations• Advanced-level proficiency in Smartsheet, MS Office Suite, contract management databases, cloud-based productivity tools.

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 position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement

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.