Tribal Climate Resilience Program Manager (COM 4)

Full Job Description

Tribal Climate Resilience Program Manager (COM 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, tribes, 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. This position is located within the Growth Management Services Unit (GMS) of LGD, and reports to the Climate & Ecosystem Section Manager. The mission of GMS is to assist and guide local governments and tribes in Washington to manage growth and development.

This position plays an important role in supporting implementation of the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) by leading and coordinating the Tribal Climate Resilience Grant Program. This position is the agency’s expert in tribal climate resilience topics. This position will provide grant program leadership, support effective climate resilience activities, support CCA annual reporting, and build strong partnerships with tribal governments to help ensure statewide climate goals are advanced through equitable and collaborative approaches.

Requirements

Tribal Climate Resilience Agency Expert
Tasks include:
• Establish and lead implementation of statewide policies, procedures, and documentation governing the Tribal Climate Resilience Grant Program, ensuring compliance with state regulations and grant allocation requirements.
• In collaboration with the Office of Tribal relations, serve as the agency’s technical expert on Tribal Climate Resilience–eligible activities and the requirements that govern the award and management of program funds. This expertise should be both informed by and co-created with ongoing consultation with tribal nations.
• Provide expert advice and recommendations to agency Tribal Planning Liaisons, Office of Tribal Relations, the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs, Commerce executive leadership, the Growth Management Services Unit Managing Director, policy leads, and the Director of Commerce.
• Develop and deliver clear, appropriate communications and presentations, and respond to information requests from tribal governments, local governments, legislators, associations, and the public.
• Coordinate Commerce and cross-agency participation with state, federal, and tribal resource partners, including collaborative groups that align funding and intergovernmental work.
• Provide expert guidance and support to tribes on climate resilience planning activities and funding on tribal lands at various meetings and conferences such as Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians.
• Provide testimony to the legislature on Tribal Climate Resilience Grant Program related activities and grant program funding.

Program Administration
Tasks include:
• Lead the end-to-end program direction by defining priorities, objectives, work schedules, and the full application lifecycle, including rating, underwriting, funding recommendations, and award decisions.
• Evaluate and report program performance and emerging trends through quarterly reporting, financial management, and continuous improvement activities.
• Oversee statewide allocation and disbursement of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds to tribal governments for climate resilience activities.
• Monitor legislative and economic conditions affecting the program, including Climate Commitment Account revenue.
• Conduct program research, analysis, and interpretation of applicable state and federal laws, directives, and policy initiatives as related to tribal funding and grant program.
• Build and maintain cooperative relationships with federally recognized tribes, state government partners, industry, and community organizations by participating in workgroups.
• Help prepare data requests, spreadsheets, reports, presentations, and responses to public record requests.
• Create and support the development and implementation of competitive or formula funding rounds by:
• Reviewing requirements and providing guidance on applicable federal and state regulations.
• Convening and facilitating meetings with subject matter experts and tribal representatives.
• Working with tribes and subject matter experts to draft application materials.
• Developing tracking and scoring tools.
• Reviewing, evaluating, and scoring applications, ensuring public records protocols are followed.
• Supporting applicant notifications for both successful and unsuccessful proposals and providing feedback consistent with policies and requirements.

Contract Management
Tasks include:
• Manage the full application and eligibility review process, including evaluation and scoring, and determine awards and contracts in alignment with program requirements and public records protocols.
• Provide ongoing technical assistance to grantees throughout the contracting process, including addressing fiscal discrepancies or other issues as they arise.
• Negotiate and finalize contract terms, budgets, and scopes of work, working collaboratively with the Office of Tribal Relations, Commerce’s Assistant Attorney General and Chief Contracting Officer to appropriately limit agency liability.
• Monitor contract performance, deliverables, and risks; ensure grantee compliance with contract criteria, program requirements, and applicable state and federal laws.
• Use the Contracts Management System (CMS) and project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet) to track and manage all contract components and workflows.
• Review, authorize, and process contract reimbursements; ensure expenditures meet allowable cost requirements and fall within authorized limits.
• Support the allotment process by forecasting timing and dollar amounts for projected reimbursements.

Qualifications

Required Position Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience in climate resilience, community development, or economic development in two or more of the following areas or work related to the position:
• Urban planning, economic development, or climate change.
• Public policy administration related to tribal planning or tribal governance
• Tribal planning and tribal governance
• Experience in grants, contracting and RFPs in a state agency, or local or tribal government

Education involves tribal relations, tribal governance, tribal planning, urban planning, environmental sciences, political science, public administration/policy or related field. Qualifying education must be post High School or equivalent.

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 project management and management of federal grants.
• Experience as grant manager or as a development coordinator for tribal governments.
• Knowledge of climate science, vulnerability analysis and resilience planning practice.

Required Position Competencies:• Cultural competency: Understands and upholds tribal sovereignty principles.

Understands and seeks to support and uphold tribal self-determination, tribal consultation, and tribally-led program co-creation.• Accountability--Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, meets attendance/punctuality requirements• Customer Service--Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, maintains pleasant and professional image.• Integrity--Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and conveys good news and bad.• Results Focus--Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, sets team standards and responsibilities, provides leadership/motivation.• Communication--Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others, has good listening skills.• Computer Skills--Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, keeps abreast of changes, learns new programs quickly, use computers to improve productivity.

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.