Energy Policy Director; EMS

Overview

Energy Policy Director (EMS
3) at the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you. Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Energy Division partners with diverse energy stakeholders to create a clean, affordable, and just energy future. This position provides leadership, long-range strategic perspective and direction that supports a comprehensive, multi-dimensional statewide energy policy office that affects all areas of the state and supports all sectors of Washington’s energy economy. This work is highly visible to the public and supports the state’s administration-wide efforts to develop and implement policies and laws that transform the state’s energy systems to reduce use of fossil fuels, increase energy efficiency and production of renewable energy, increase environmental and economic justice, and support economic development.

This leadership requires balancing competing objectives, demands, and priorities such as cost, reliability, resilience, and emissions and diverse perspectives of public and private stakeholders, including the general public, advocates, utilities, private businesses, overburdened, vulnerable and tribal communities, and others. The position supervises multiple energy policy specialists who are statewide experts and thought leaders on significant aspects of the state’s energy and climate policies, and this position integrates the work of this team to produce effective, cohesive, and strategic plans and policies.

This position’s assigned duty station is Olympia.

• Lead the Energy Policy Office within the Energy Division in developing, communicating, negotiating, and implementing policies, strategies, and legislation covering the full range of energy and climate issues affecting the economy, residents, and businesses of Washington.
• Supervise, recruit, develop, and mentor a team of energy policy specialists recognized as energy policy experts in state government and as national leaders in energy policy.
• Work directly and closely with the Governor’s office on the administration’s energy and climate policies and with legislators, leaders and staff of other agencies, business and environmental stakeholders, and the public to communicate and advance sound energy and climate policies.
• Lead the development and implementation of the State Energy Strategy, in compliance with RCW 43.21F.088 and 43.21F.090.
• Provide strategic direction; lead short-term and long-term planning; and develop a road map and work plan related to transforming the state’s energy system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy affordability, and increase economic and environmental justice.
• Develop and implement collaborative frameworks with other units in the Energy Division to ensure that policy insights inform program design, and that feedback from program implementation actively shapes ongoing policy development.
• Represent the agency or the state on standing and temporary committees, boards, and work groups. Assign and guide the work of other staff to such committees and groups, including the agency member of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council.
• Contribute to strategic leadership and decision-making as an active member of the Energy Division Management Team, collaborating with senior leaders to guide…