Climate Pollution Reduction Deputy Program Manager

Salary : $108,963.00 - $139,231.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Lacey, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2025-CPR6
Department: Dept. of Ecology
Division: Climate Pollution Reduction Program
Opening Date: 03/10/2025
Closing Date: Continuous

Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Climate Pollution Reduction Deputy Program Manager (WMS Band 3)within the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP).
Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of two days per week is required in the office.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by March 31, 2025.
• This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after March 31st may not be considered.

Duties
The brand new Deputy Program Manager position for the Climate Pollution Reduction Program provides a rare opportunity to play a leadership role in reducing Washington's greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This position will manage the program's legislative and federal affairs, budget, Tribal relations, environmental justice and Title VI compliance, policy and planning functions, and information technology functions. With the Program Manager, you will provide guidance and strategic direction to program staff and managers. Researching and analyzing complex emerging climate, energy, and policy issues, you'll provide consultation to the agency executive team to best position the agency and the state to respond to these issues.
In this role, you will also be an internal and external point of contact on a range of issues and will be in regular contact with legislators and staff, federal agencies and congressional staff, Tribes, local governments, other state agencies, and interest groups. You will also represent the program at conferences, public forums, and to the news media to speak on the program's work. You'll serve on, or appoint staff to serve on, work groups, advisory committees, and high-level executive and legislative branch groups formulating climate and energy policy, ensuring good information transfer from these groups to the rest of the program and agency.
If you are a skilled people manager, an open communicator, and a strategic leader with experience in fostering a supportive, collaborative team atmosphere, we invite you to join our team.
Responsibilities of the Deputy Program Manager include:

• With the Program Manager, manage and facilitate Program Leadership Team (PLT) meetings. Guide staff to achieve objectives set by the PLT, particularly work regarding legislative and federal affairs, budget, Tribal relations, environmental justice and Title VI, policy and planning, and information technology.
• Manage day-to-day internal program operations, including control of operating budget funds to facilitate purchasing, hiring, travel, contracting, and program events.
• Supervise five direct reports, including assigning work, hiring, engaging in performance management, corrective and disciplinary action.

• Foster cooperation with teams of staff working on program initiatives. Create a supportive, collaborative work environment to promote a diverse workforce, meaningful work, creative problem solving, and continuous learning throughout the program.
• Maintain the highest standards of personal, professional, and ethical conduct and support the state's goal for a diverse, equitable, inclusive, respectful workforce.
• Promote a customer-service ethos, and support effective communication throughout the program and the agency.
• Make critical decisions on the effects of climate and energy legislation, rules, programs, policies and budgets.
• Supervise and support the program Legislative Planner in reviewing proposed federal, state, and local legislation to assess impacts on the agency and state and preparing agency responses. Ensure the timely preparation of briefing materials and testimony for agency management, and when assigned, testify before legislative committees.
• Supervise and support the program Tribal Liaison in building and maintaining relationships with Tribal leaders, staff, and consultants and serve as a spokesperson for all of the program's work with our Tribal partners.
• With the program Tribal Liaison, provide training, guidance, and feedback to program staff on interactions with Tribal leaders, members, and staff.
• Coordinate implementation of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act within the program and serve as primary liaison between the program and the Ecology Office of Environmental Equity and Justice. Oversee staff carrying out all program environmental justice assessments.
• With the Budget Manager, oversee staff carrying out budget proposal equity analysis requirements, and environmental justice and equity analysis for bill analyses and fiscal notes.
• With the Policy and Planning Section Manager, oversee the development, coordination, and planning of all of the program's rules. Follow established protocols and help create protocols to incorporate new requirements, such as those of the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. Ensure that feedback from key groups of interested parties is solicited and incorporated.
• Working with the Policy and Planning Section Manager, oversee the development of the program's strategic plan and the program's contributions to the agency strategic plan.
• Support the strategic plan development process with teams and sections to develop specific, measurable, achievable, and compatible work plans that promote achievement of the vision, values, and primary goals and strategies of the updated strategic plan.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Nine years of experience and/or education as described below:

• Experience in natural resource planning, program development or management.
  • Professional experience must include a minimum of three years of supervisory experience managing technical and policy staff.
• Education involving a major study in environmental, physical, or natural science, engineering, planning, public administration, business administration, or related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 9 years of experience.
• 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate's degree).
• 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor's degree.
• 3 years of experience AND a Master's degree.
• 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

Additional Required Knowledge and Skills:
Knowledge of:

• State legislative processes.
• Principles of policy and program planning and development.
• Principles of developing and managing program budget and workload.
• Basic knowledge of market-based climate policy.

Specific skills required include:

• Performance assessment, budget management, people management, and strategic planning.
• Experience in Tribal and legislative relations.
• Experience in building consensus, conflict resolution, and maintaining key relationships internally and externally.
• Experience assessing equity and environmental justice impacts of proposed projects, legislation, investments, etc.
• Ability to work effectively in a stressful environment, prioritizing tasks and managing workload to meet requirements or deadlines.
• Ability to maintain a calm, respectful, and professional demeanor.
• Ability to be dependable, flexible, and willing to accept new responsibilities.
• Ability to think analytically, innovatively, and strategically to develop, evaluate, and synthesize recommendations for agency management.
• Understand the needs and objectives of customers and interested parties and be viewed as open and responsive and able to influence positions to achieve maximum consensus.
• Ability to create a supportive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment to promote meaningful work, creative problem solving, and continuous learning throughout the program.

Desired Qualifications:

• Advanced management and planning courses and work experience.
• Knowledge and experience with climate laws and policies.
• Experience managing subordinate managers who supervise staff.

If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.
Supplemental Information
Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) . click apply for full job details