Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology’s Air Quality Program (AQ) is looking for a collaborative, innovative, and solution-oriented Climate Policy Section Manager. This is an opportunity to lead a high performing team working to help slow climate change. The successful candidate will be a part of a collaborative team working with federal, state and local government agencies, environmental groups, elected officials and the regulated community to address the most significant environmental issue of our time.

As the Climate Policy Section Manager you will provide strategic direction and policy development and direct implementation of laws and rules tracking and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.  This includes the Clean Air Rule (CAR), Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) transition, and Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA).  The section also tracks, monitors, and reports statewide greenhouse gas emissions data, including managing the greenhouse gas reporting program and the statewide greenhouse gas emissions inventory and implements the federal and state Volkswagen (VW) settlement projects and grant processes.  The Climate Policy section Manager ensures regulatory functions are in place so the policies can be implemented smoothly, clearly, and effectively.

In this position you will represent the agency on issues of national scope before elected bodies, the news media, other government agencies and the public. Expectations include providing policy advice and recommendations to senior management related to climate policy.

This position is located in our Headquarters Building in Lacey, Washington and is classified as Washington Management Service 2 (WMS Band 2) position. To learn more about the state’s management classification system, please visit this link.

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.

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.

Local efforts… Diverse people… Statewide impacts

Duties
The mission of the Air Quality Program (AQ) is to protect public health and the environment from the effects of air pollution and climate change.

The primary functions of the Climate Policy section are to:

• track our state’s greenhouse gas emissions, including the emissions reporting program that monitors our state’s largest emitters,
• invest $141 million from the Volkswagen diesel settlement,
• implement new legislation, including reducing the use of climate-warming hydrofluorocarbons and move Washington toward 100% green energy,
• provide technical support for implementing Directive of the Governor 19-18, Environmental Assessment of Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Download PDF reader)

This position manages the Climate Policy Section (CPS) of the air quality program and provides environmental services to understand and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health and the environment.  The CPS Manager has responsibility for managing, directing, developing, and supporting nine technical and professional staff to carry out the responsibilities of the section. This position is also a member of the Air Quality Program Leadership Team – a highly collaborative team working together to protect and enhance air quality and address climate change in Washington.

This position manages the section’s operations and directs, develops and supports nine technical and professional staff using advanced managerial knowledge and skills.  The position ensures that section employees have clear expectations, priorities and objectives and have the skills, training, and tools to effectively accomplish their work in a fiscally responsible, efficient, and customer friendly manner. This position ensures that resources are directed within the section to the most important work consistent with overall agency and program priorities, staff are focused to do their work efficiently and effectively, and that solutions to air quality problems are effective.

This position requires the evaluation of complex issues, such as emerging federal and state policies and provides strategic focus for the program and tactical focus for section staff. This position constantly requires the use of advanced negotiation skills, strategic and multi-disciplinary project planning.

This recruitment will remain open until filled. The initial screening will be September 9, 2020. In order to be considered for the initial screening, please submit an application on or before September 8, 2020. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in physical or natural science, engineering, planning, public policy, environmental law, environmental studies, or other related field.

And

Two years of environmental project management, regulatory, or planning experience.

A minimum of 18 months supervisory experience managing policy or technical staff.

Knowledge and demonstrated application of advanced principles of management, budget planning, strategic planning, and personnel administration.

Experience interpreting multiple local, state, and federal laws and regulations regarding environmental protection, and administrative procedure requirements.

Preferred/Desired Experience:

• A Master’s degree or higher in a physical or natural science, public administration, environmental policy, law, or related field.
• 18 months of experience supervising technical staff in a complex political environment.
• Knowledge of greenhouse gas reduction or reporting programs.

Supplemental Information