Policy Change Director jobs in Olympia, WA

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION

Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.

Help protect the consumers of Washington state! 

Policy Director

Range of Consideration: Exempt Management Service (EMS) - Band 4

 The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the salary range of $105,960 - $123,552 annually. However, to allow for growth and progression the salary band maximum is at $160,308 annually.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

This recruitment is open until Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 11:59pm.
 UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time.

Hybrid: Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must be available to report to the office as needed and must reside within Washington state.

Travel: Occasional travel during and outside normal work hours throughout the state for public meetings or hearings related to commission filings may be required.

The Opportunity:
The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of Policy Director within the Policy Division. This position is responsible for the development and execution of the commission’s policy agenda and strategy which contributes to achieving the UTC’s mission of protecting public safety and ensuring utility and transportation company service rates, terms, and conditions are fair, just, reasonable, and sufficient.

Who We Are: 
Our mission is to protect the people of Washington by ensuring that investor-owned utility and transportation services are safe, equitable, reliable, and fairly priced. 
 

We protect consumers by regulating the rates, services, and practices of private or investor-owned utilities and transportation companies to ensure they are safe, equitable, reliable, and affordable.
 
The UTC is continually recognized for its excellence and integrity as a regulatory agency, as we challenge the status quo and ourselves to ensure equitable outcomes for our customers and the people of Washington State.
 
We recognize that our employees are the key to the agency’s success. We are committed to our work but value balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth, and offers continuing learning opportunities, meaningful work, and a comprehensive benefits package. For more information about our benefits or working at UTC, please visit our website.
 

What We Offer Our Employees:

• UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve. 
• We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
• Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. 
• We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan. 
• Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.

Our Values:

• Respect - We treat every person and interaction with consideration and goodwill.
• Professionalism - We are committed to excellence in our work and conduct.
• Integrity - We do the right things for the right reasons - trusting others to do the same.

UTC Leadership Principles 

Consistently reflect the commission’s values in how you behave, interact with others, and in the decisions you make. Among those, actively support the direction of the agency. Work cooperatively on issues and to find solutions that meet the needs of the whole commission, not just individual section needs. Communicate and carry out the decisions of the management team in a complete and timely manner. 

Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Competencies:

1. EDI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment. 
2. Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth. 
3. Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships. 
4. Inclusive Excellence & Allyship. 

The Position:
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Policy Director is responsible for the development and execution of the commission’s statewide policy agenda and strategy. The Director provides oversight to and oversees the work of staff within the Policy Division, while partnering and communicating with internal and external parties such as legislative staff.  

What you’ll do:
Serving as a member of the Leadership Team, the incumbent plays a key role in advising the Commissioners, Executive Director, and Administrative Law Judges on routine and complex matters. The Director ensures the quality and consistency of policy analysis, assessment of current and anticipated social, political, and economic factors influencing the UTC, in coordination with the Director of the Administrative Law Division. The policy advice and the strategies established and communicated by this position have statewide, regional, and national implications. 

In adjudicatory proceedings, this position serves as a primary advisor to the Commissioners as they develop and make quasi-judicial decisions.   This position works closely with policy staff and senior industry experts who review filings made by regulated companies and is responsible for providing recommendations for the Commissioners. 

Additional duties include, but aren’t limited to the following: 

• Develop comprehensive strategies impacting short-and-long-term direction for emerging sound policy recommendations.
• Provide high-quality analysis and make recommendations to decision makers on comprehensive and complex issues affecting industry structure, competitiveness, and the lives and well-being of Washington citizens.
• Provide technical or policy-oriented analysis and critiques of proposals by staff, companies, industry associations, other governmental bodies, including legislative or congressional committees, or consumers.
• Retains and builds on the reputation earned by the commission and its staff for professional excellence and progressiveness through the continuation of quality work and participation in state and national forums.
• Direct development of agency legislative proposals and guide the agency’s lobbying efforts by working with staff to determine testimony and strategy.  

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or graduate degree in Economics, Public Administration, or a related field AND three (3) years of experience in the field of utility regulation OR seven (7) year’s comparable experience within a related utility, public interest group or government agency, OR an advanced degree in a related field.
• Experience supervising and/or leading a team. 

Knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following:

• Substantial demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to respond in a fast-paced environment while juggling multiple priorities to complex requests for information from legislators and legislative staff.
• Ability to interpret and explain state and federal laws and rules, and commission policies and practices, to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively in the development of commission policies and to advocate for the selected policy position.
• Demonstration of the UTC Values, Leadership principles, and EDI competencies outlined within this posting.

Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business or public administration, public policy, or a related field.  
• Demonstrated knowledge of the unique attributes of the energy industry in the Pacific Northwest, including roles of the Bonneville Power Administration, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, and various stakeholders and interest groups.  
• Experience directly controlling an operational budget. 
• In depth knowledge of Washington government.

How to Apply:
 If you’re interested in joining our Team, please read the instructions below carefully; click “Apply” at the top of the page to begin the process.
 
Your application will only be considered complete if the following attachments are submitted in addition:

1. Letter of Interest describing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate. 
2. Resume detailing your applicable experience and education.
3. A brief writing sample, preferably no more than ten (10) pages demonstrating your ability to provide in-depth policy analysis and recommendations that you have written without contribution, assistance, or substantive editing by anyone else demonstrating your professional work.
4. References: At least three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses; one (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.

Our agency will only invite the top candidates to interview. The initial screening of candidates will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application, including answers provided to the Supplemental Questionnaire, along with the required attachments - letter of interest, resume, writing sample, and references submitted as part of the application process. 

Please note: a resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa.

All information may be verified, and documentation may be required for verification. Candidates may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.
  

The Utilities and Transportation Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We want to make sure you have an equal opportunity to join our team. Our commitment is making sure current and future employees are treated fairly and equally without regard to age, sex (including gender identity), race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or religious or political affiliation.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact humanresources@utc.wa.gov.  For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

For more information about the UTC, please visit:

www.utc.wa.gov, www.twitter.com/wautc and www.facebook.com/wautc

The State of Washington:
 http://access.wa.gov