Commerce Specialist 3

Description

At the Department of Commerce we strive to be creative, collaborative, and trusted. We identify opportunities to deliver critical funding and services to strengthen communities and aim to promote equity in all aspects of our work. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our success, and we work to foster an environment where all individuals are valued and respected. We cultivate an environment in which we continuously learn, and we own our work.

We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the richness of the communities we serve. Together, we can build a brighter and more inclusive future.

This position works within the Buildings Unit of the Energy Division. This position is responsible for providing advanced professional level program management and contract administration in implementing Washington State’s Energy Performance Standard for Existing Commercial Buildings, as well as additional buildings related initiatives and pilot programs. 

This position serves to support the development and expansion of the state’s Clean Buildings Performance Standard. It will require strategic planning, program management, development, and implementation and will work directly with all relevant industry stakeholders. The position supports the clean buildings workforce efforts and the agency’s goal to strengthen and deepen energy efficiency programs and reduce carbon emissions by broadening the scope and scale of the Clean Buildings Program. By using analytics and developing performance tracking tools and strategies, this position will communicate clean buildings workforce development plan implementation results to Commerce leadership and others on a regular basis. This position will track strategic plan implementation metrics and recommend data-driven decision making.

Duties

• Develop and implement Washington state’s clean buildings workforce development long-range strategic plan 
• Build relationships with clean energy agencies and contractors and promote encouragement to participate in sponsored recruiting and hiring events 
• Build relationships with staff specialists from state, regional, and local agencies and organizations charged with supporting employers and job seekers 
• Expand career outreach efforts to secondary and post-secondary students to stimulate interest in clean buildings careers 
• Speak on behalf of the agency and the state on clean buildings workforce-related topics 
• Coordinate efforts to expand diversity in workforce recruiting and hiring. 
• Track and monitor clean buildings workforce development plan implementation and provide management with analysis and recommendations.
• Develops and maintains technical expertise of Commerce program requirements related to contract management, budgeting, invoicing, and compliance. 
• Negotiates, drafts, and executes grants and contracts and subsequent amendments to scopes of work and special terms and conditions. 
• Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of state and federal requirements for administering grant and loan programs. 
• Oversees and monitors contract management and compliance activities.  
• Partner with support staff to develop and maintain reporting templates based on the funding and program requirements. 
• Serves as a technical specialist for assigned grant programs. 
• Prepares written reports, testimony, and policy recommendations.
• Provide information and technical assistance to promote best practices in existing building energy use to building owners and operators. 
• Coordinate and/or conduct training and provide technical assistance to public policy makers, staff and service providers. 
• Develop reference materials that help tell the story of the State and Federal programs and other assigned programs. 
• Respond to requests for information from stakeholders, state and federal legislators, public associations, and private citizens. 
• Prepare written reports, analyses, resources, and publications as required.
• Provide regular updates to division staff and management on work of these cross-agency initiatives.

Qualifications

Any combination of professional level experience in community, trade, or economic development AND college level coursework in business, public administration or a related field totaling seven (7) years.

Examples of how this can be achieved are listed below: Seven (7) years of experience in community, trade, and/or economic development. 

OR 

Associate’s degree in business AND public administration or related field and five (5) years of professional level experience in community, trade, or economic development. 

OR 

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, or related field AND three (3) years of professional level experience in community, trade or economic development.

Desired Qualifications:
• Professional experience in workforce development sector.
• Two years’ experience navigating and complying with federal and state procurement, contracting, and budgeting policies and practices.
• Familiarity with the energy economy in the state of Washington. 
• Knowledge of the Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
• Experience collaborating with marginalized communities, Tribal communities and vulnerable populations
• Awareness of utility regulations, integrated resource planning and available conservation incentives.

Supplemental Information

To be considered for this position the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: [email protected]- please reference the job number in your message.