Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Policy Manager (WMS Band 2) - job 2 of 2

The salary listed above includes the 3% pay increase that goes into effect on July 1, 2024. Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen... The Shorelands & Environmental Assistance (SEA) program within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Policy Manager (WMS Band 2) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station. The Shorelands and Environmental Assistance (SEA) Program at the Department of Ecology is looking for an individual interested in working in a fast paced, highly collaborative position. This position coordinates legislative analysis, rulemaking, and policy development, and is based at Ecology Headquarters in Lacey, Washington. This key position gets in front of the issues, is vested in the value of outreach and serves as the Legislative Liaison for SEA and is the Growth Management Act (GMA) coordinator for the Department of Ecology. The position also coordinates federal legislative issues for the SEA Program and leads implementation on emerging program initiatives. This position reports directly to the SEA Program Manager. The SEA Program consists of seven (7) unique policy areas (floodplains, coastal/ocean, shoreline management, wetlands, clean energy, State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), GMA and multiple sections with strong federal nexuses (NW Straits, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Coastal Zone Management, Aquatic Protection and Washington Conservation Corps/AmeriCorps). The Policy Manager engages regularly with the policy leads and managers in these respective areas. Agency Mission: The mission of the Department of Ecology's is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. Program Mission: The mission of the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program is to create community conservation partnerships to protect and restore our shorelands, wetlands, and floodplains. Telework options for this position: This position will be eligible for up to a 60% telework schedule. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change. Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled. We will review applications on June 17, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before June 16, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date. Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave*, 11 Paid Holidays per year*, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information About the Department of Ecology Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan. Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering: • A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions. • An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns. • Continuous growth and development opportunities. • Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work. Our commitment to DEIR Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities, while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect, preserve, and enhance the environment for current and future generations. Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions. Equity: We champion equity, recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive. Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecology’s work. Respect: We treat each other with respect and dignity, acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences, even in times of uncertainty and disagreement. We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey, honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard, seen, and valued. What makes this role unique and challenging? In this role, you'll thrive in a fast-paced environment, needing robust written and verbal communication skills. Your success hinges on your capability to collaborate and coordinate across various programs, agencies, and demographics. You'll be an integral part of a vibrant, creative management team that offers support and encouragement. What you will do: • Analyze pending legislation, develop legislative testimony, and testify at Legislative hearings on SEA program authorities. • Coordinate policy and legislative work in partnership with policy managers, including developing draft agency request legislation, authoring position papers, contributing to and performing final review of budget proposals, developing internal control and accountability measures related to policies and procedures, performing legislative analyses, and coordinating policy impacts around rulemaking. • Strategically direct Program legislative policy development. • Coordinate agency-wide engagement with proposed GMA legislative and policy initiatives that intersect with Ecology authority. • Serve as Department of Ecology point of contact for Growth Management Act and related land use statutes • Coordinate with program experts on federal policy and budget initiatives. • Research and analyze emerging statewide, national, and international shoreline, coastal, wetland, floodplain management, clean energy siting, and youth corps programming policy issues. Required Qualifications: Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are: • 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent • 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, educational and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify. A total of nine (9) years of experience and/or education as described below: • Experience with legislation and policy work. • Education: involving a major study in an environmental, physical, or one of the natural sciences, environmental engineering, environmental planning, environmental law, public policy, management, or other closely allied field. All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position: Possible Combinations College credit hours or degree - as described above Years of required experience - as described above Combination 1 No college credit hours or degree 9 years of experience Combination 2 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits 8 years of experience Combination 3 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree) 7 years of experience Combination 4 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits 6 years of experience Combination 5 A Bachelor's Degree or higher 5 years of experience Additional Required Knowledge and Skills: • Skills that promote a productive and supportive work environment. • Ability to understand and resolve complex planning and policy issues related to the project. • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely. • Knowledge of local government planning processes. • Strong knowledge of environmental regulation and planning. • Strong collaboration and facilitation skills. • Skills in creative problem solving. • Ability to focus on priorities. • Ability to be flexible and open to change. • Ability to manage multiple projects/issues. • Ability to work effectively on teams. • Ability to promote teamwork and lead, coach, and mentor professional staff. • Ability to appreciate and value individual needs and diversity. Desired Qualifications: We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. • Experience with state legislative processes. • Experience with Shorelands and Environmental Assistant (SEA) Program policy areas such as shoreline, wetland and floodplain management, and/or implementation of Statement Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). • Experience with the Growth Management Act. • Experience with federal policy. Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool. Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect through a broad lens including race, ethnicity, class, age, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, immigration status, military background, language, education, life experience, physical disability, neurodiversity, and intersectional identities. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format? • Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: careers@ecy.wa.gov and we will be happy to assist. • If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. • If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail careers@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page. • If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology. Application Instructions: It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined. • A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position. • A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position. • Three professional references. • A writing sample on policy or legislative work. Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable. For Your Privacy: When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.): • Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc. • Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees: Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources. Application Attestation: The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed. Other Information: If you have specific questions about the position, please email Joenne McGerr at: Joenne.McGerr@ecy.wa.gov Please do not contact Joenne to inquire about the status of your application. To request the full position description: email careers@ecy.wa.gov Why work for Ecology? As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability. Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state, while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog. Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology 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, military spouses 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 process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388. Note: This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency