Director of Government Relations

Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 21-14.2 (Download PDF reader), Washington State employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination as part of the hiring process, prior to their start date. Requests for medical and religious exemptions will be considered. If you have questions, please contact Careers@ecy.wa.gov with “COVID-19 vaccination” in the subject line.  

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Washington State Department of Ecology is searching for an innovative and strategic leader for the position of Government Relations Director. This is an exempt management service (EMS) Band 4 position that reports to the Director of Ecology. The position is located at Ecology’s Headquarters Office in Lacey, Washington.

This position is critical to Ecology’s success and is focused on establishing and maintaining positive, effective relationships with key members of Ecology’s authorizing environment. In this role, you will direct agency-wide external relations and public affairs. These include the State Legislature, legislative staff, Governor’s office, state and federal agencies, local governments, tribal governments, and Washington’s Congressional delegation. You will also direct agency strategy and public affairs for a variety of non-governmental organizations, including business, environmental, media, agriculture, ports, utilities, community groups and other interests. These relations are critical to furthering Ecology’s mission through successful resolution of issues pertaining to legislation, constituent concerns, budget, regulations, policies, and state and federal agreements. You will be expected to develop solutions that meet the state’s interests in, and responsibility for, environmental protection of air, land, water, and climate while meeting the interests of stakeholders to the extent possible. 

In addition to what is listed above, you will lead and direct the activities of Ecology’s Rules and Accountability Section, including supervision of the section manager. This section provides strategic and diverse management of programs and policies that are highly complex, multi-program and agency-wide, in nature. The section supports the work of this position, and serves the Agency Director, Deputy Director, and the executive leadership team in setting agency direction for strategic and long-range planning, performance, and accountability, continuous process improvement and organizational effectiveness, customer service and surveying, rule-making, economic analysis, and coordination of a variety of agency-wide responsibilities (e.g. enforcement appeals). 

Agency Mission: Ecology’s mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations. 

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements and health-screening questions before entry.  

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of August 3, 2022. In order to be considered for initial screening, please submit an application on or before August 2, 2022. The agency reserves the right to make an appointment any time after the initial screening date.

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.
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. 
• A wellness program that offers education, fitness classes, and an agency-wide fondness for outdoor meetings.
• 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. 

Duties

Director of Government Relations – Primary Responsibilities

• Agency lead for tracking, monitoring, testifying, and negotiating 400-500 bills per session. Testimony may be in person or using virtual forums. Many of these bills deal with issues that the Governor has placed on his top priority list, such as climate change, environmental justice, and salmon restoration. The bills related to environmental issues tend to be some of the most controversial and hard-fought bills of any given session and impact budget priorities and budget negotiations.
• Conducting activities during the interim (between legislative sessions), including legislative and Governor task forces, public workshops and hearings, rule development, and one-on-one in-district in-person negotiation with legislative leadership and key committee chairs, and working with legislators/Governor’s office to address constituent issues.
• Developing and facilitating and supporting passage of all agency request legislation.
• Advising the Governor, Chief of Staff, and the Governor’s legislative director on bills and policies pertaining to environmental and natural resources issues.
• Representing the agency on the Governor’s Natural Resources Legislative Policy Group, the Governor’s Cabinet Agency Legislative Director’s Group, and other Governor’s Office meetings pertaining or relating to the agency’s environmental work.
• Taking a lead role in negotiations with legislators and key stakeholders regarding the agency’s Operating, Capital, and Supplemental Budgets.
• Rulemaking responsibility for all agency rule filing, including the CR 101, CR 102, and CR 103, with the Code Reviser’s Office.
• Overseeing the staff responsible for strategic planning and performance management for the agency. 
• Ensuring that stakeholders are notified of significant actions by the agency, including the Governor, congressional delegation, and the legislature.
• Speaking before legislative and congressional committees, the news media, business, environmental organizations, and community groups.
• Serving as a member of Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team.
• Advising Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team regarding external relations.

Who are we looking for? 

We are searching for a strategic thinker with impeccable judgment and leadership skills that is passionate about our issues, is relationally oriented, and loves to dig into policy. A leader with heart who can communicate and influence change, modeling the highest standards of ethics, follow-through, and accountability. Key attributes of who we are searching for include: 

• Superior communication and problem solving skills.
• Collaborative approach combined with ability to make executive decisions.
• Deep commitment to principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect.
• Well-developed understanding of political process and political strategy.
• Strong working knowledge of how to interpret legislation and rules including understanding of how legislation and rules may apply to a range of factual circumstances. 
• Ability to leverage the creativity and innovation of others to deliver services, problem solve and improve processes.

A Member of Ecology's Executive Leadership Team
 
This position reports to the Director of Ecology and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and represents the Director or advises the Director on external stakeholder issues and many internal operational issues. The nature of the position requires the application of advanced management and negotiation principles and skills. 

In this role you will:

• Serve as Ecology’s primary resource for issues relating to the Washington State legislature, including the development and negotiations of agency request legislation, Governor request legislation pertaining to the environment, and legislative branch proposals that support or impact the agency’s environmental work.
• Direct Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team’s efforts in all aspects of legislative involvement.
• Make decisions on agency positions on numerous legislative bills and proposals dealing with environmental and natural resources, and related local/state government issues.
• Represent Ecology in stakeholder discussions dealing with the development and implementation of agency policies, rules, and legislation.
• Serve as Ecology’s lead representative to the Governor’s Office and other state agencies on matters relating to legislative actions and high profile issues that have a legislative interest or nexus. 
• Lead and manage Ecology’s Rules and Accountability Section.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Five years of work experience in position(s) responsible for leading an organization’s policy work and/or working directly within the legislative process including development of legislative strategy, developing constituent relationships and accomplishing results through influence and leadership of others.

Experience must demonstrate being able to successfully: 

1. Communicate effectively and professionally, both orally and in writing, to a wide variety of internal and external audiences.
2. Develop and maintain key internal and external relationships.
3. Collaborate with internal and external organizational partners to solve problems. 

Desired Qualifications:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below. 

• A Bachelor’s or advanced degree in public administration, political science, environmental or natural sciences, law, communications or related field.
• Experience in management and supervision of employees and executive level communications, negotiation, and consensus building.
• Knowledge of Washington State’s budget development and administration principles and process, legislative processes, state rulemaking processes, and intergovernmental relations.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

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.

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 Teri North at Teri.North@ecy.wa.gov. Please do not contact Teri 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.

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 *See the Benefits tab in this announcement for more information 

Student debt: how working for Ecology can help
The Department of Ecology is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Forgiveness Program (PSLF). See https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/repay-loans/forgiveness-cancellation/public-service for more details.

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.

Government Relations Director (Exempt Band 4)