Director, Washington State Department of Commerce

Overview

Please Note:

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $180,180 - $227,268 annually. Our physical office is located in Olympia, WA with the ability to telework. As the Director for the Agency you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs. Additionally, the Director shall have a strong in person presence and engagement with staff.

Per RCW , the Director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, with consent of the senate.

As the Director, you’ll serve as a member of the Governor’s executive cabinet. You’ll be relied on for your leadership on community and economic development, setting the vision, strategy, and direction for work that strengthens communities across Washington.

You’ll lead the stewardship of more than $9 billion in state and federal investments each biennium and oversee a diverse portfolio of more than 400 programs and 8,000 contracts focused on housing, infrastructure, clean energy, economic development, and community services. With responsibility for an agency of approximately 800 employees, you’ll ensure programs are delivered effectively, equitably, and in alignment with the Governor’s priorities, legislative direction, and federal requirements.

Serving as a trusted advisor to the Governor and Legislature, you’ll represent the agency with Tribal governments, local governments, businesses, labor organizations, federal partners, and other stakeholders. This highly visible role requires strong executive judgment, collaboration, and political awareness to advance Washington’s position as a national and global leader in community and economic development.

The Department of Commerce is the state’s lead agency for community and economic development, uniquely positioned to touch nearly every aspect of how communities grow and thrive.

The agency works in close collaboration with local governments, Tribal nations, businesses, nonprofits, and civic leaders throughout the state. Through these partnerships, Commerce helps communities build resilient economies, address housing and infrastructure needs, support businesses and workers, and promote sustainable, inclusive growth so all residents have the opportunity to prosper.

Commerce is organized into the following administrations, whose leaders report directly to the Director:

• Housing
• Energy
• Local Government
• Economic Development
• Community Services

In this role, you’ll administer the activities of the department in accordance with RCW .

• Set the agency’s vision, strategy, and priorities and lead day-to-day operations to deliver high-quality, efficient services statewide.
• Ensure effective stewardship of agency resources and position the agency to meet emerging community and economic development challenges.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven culture that strengthens partnerships with local governments, tribes, businesses, and civic leaders.
• Lead and support a diverse, high-performing executive leadership team.
• Advance diversity, equity, and inclusion by embedding equity considerations into agency programs, policies, and decision-making.
• Serve on the Governor’s Executive Cabinet and advise the Governor and Legislature on community and economic development issues.
• Represent and advocate for the agency and the Governor with the Legislature, Tribal governments, local and federal partners, and other key stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced graduate degree with a major study in economics, community development, public administration, public policy, or closely related field and seven years of professional level experience and specialized knowledge and skills listed below:
  • Senior management level experience in managing complex public or private organizations with a wide variety of functions, which include working collaboratively with public and private sectors, the Governor’s executive staff, legislators, local elected officials, CEOs of major corporations and…