Chief Financial Office

Managing Director, Clean Transportation Unit (WMS 3)
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 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. The Energy Division partners with diverse stakeholders to catalyze our transition to a clean, affordable and just energy future.

 
The Managing Director (MD) of the Clean Transportation Unit  provides leadership both nationally, and within Washington State, on transportation sector decarbonization. This position aligns transportation sector decarbonization program implementation across multiple state agencies, serving as co-lead administrator of the IEVCC. Refine and implement a statewide transportation electrification strategy to ensure market and infrastructure readiness for all new vehicle sales;
Identify of all electric vehicle infrastructure grant-related funding to include existing and future opportunities, including state, federal, and other funds;
Coordinate grant funding criteria across agency grant programs to most efficiently distribute state and federal electric vehicle-related funding in a manner that is most beneficial to the state, advances best practices, and recommends additional criteria that could be useful in advancing transportation electrification;
Develop of a robust public and private outreach plan that complies with the HEAL Act & Office of Equity requirements
Within the Energy Division, this position serves as a lead clean transportation sector policy advisor to the governor’s policy office. This position leads highly visible and long-term transportation infrastructure development and buildout, including development and implementation of the 2030 electric vehicle standard. Management focus ranges from strategic planning to tactical implementation, taking the recommendations from the 2021 State Energy Strategy to develop a policy and implementation roadmap for the transportation sector to meet the state’s greenhouse gas emissions limits in statute.

 
This position is responsible to ensure that communication and collaboration occurs between the unit’s programs and the programs within Commerce and other state, federal, and local organizations. The MD of the Clean Transportation Unit reports to the Assistant Director for the Energy Division and serves as a member of the division’s and agency’s management teams.The position provides senior level program and project management with statewide scope, and national impact, on the clean transportation sector and transportation electrification. The position oversees the administration and implementation of one of the state’s most visible statewide program and policy areas to reduce emissions in our highest polluting sector.

 
This position provides leadership and supervision to a unit of approximately 8 FTEs who develop statewide clean transportation sector best practices and provide guidance, assistance, training and oversight to align all transportation electrification grants in Washington to build on the 2021 state energy strategy to achieve the statutory goal that by 2030 all vehicles sold in Washington State will be electric.

 
2030 100% electrification target
Uses the recommendation of the 2021 State Energy strategy to align transportation policy and program towards the requirement that all publicly owned and privately owned passenger and light duty vehicles of model year 2030 or later that are sold, purchased, or registered in Washington state be electric vehicles.
Co-leads the interagency electric vehicle coordinating council to complete a scoping plan for achieving the 2030 target on or before December 31, 2023.
Ensure the statewide transportation electrification strategy, grant distribution, programs, and activities associated with advancing transportation electrification benefit vulnerable and overburdened communities.
Develop Washington’s first statewide transportation electrification strategy to ensure market and infrastructure readiness for all new vehicle sales;
Coordination of grant funding criteria across agency grant programs to:
recommends additional criteria that could be useful in advancing transportation electrification;
Development of a robust public and private outreach plan that includes engaging with:
Community organizers and the environmental justice council to develop community-driven programs to address zero emissions transportation needs and priorities in overburdened communities; Local governments to explore procurement opportunities and work with local government and community programs to support electrification;
~ Clean Transportation Unit
Prioritizes, through collaborative processes, the recommendations in the 2021 State Energy Strategy for the transportation sector and leads policy development through program alignment, design, and delivery and leads teams across multiple agencies through this transition;
Provides national and statewide expert level technical assistance on clean transportation sector performance and greenhouse gas emissions;
Leads the development and expansion of transportation de-carbonization leadership capacity with both internal staff and external state agencies;
Delivers expert level verbal and written communication to a range of audiences on detailed and highly technical clean transportation performance topics in a format that is digestible and understandable;
Collaborates with all Energy Division’s units to ensure cross-team coordination within the SEO, as well as within Commerce, and with external stakeholders, on matters related to policy and program development, contract development and administration, and fiscal accountability.
Management and Supervision
Leads, develops and supervises a unit of highly trained clean transportation sector expert professional staff;
Directs, manages, and leads staff in all aspects of clean transportation development and program administration. Oversees all work performed by the Clean Transportation unit and is responsible for the statutory deliverables of the IEVCC, including reports, strategic plans, and community benefits of covered programs.
Delegates workload responsibilities and assignments to staff. Provides regular feedback, coaching, and guidance to staff;
Leads and resolves conflicts of priority between staff, program, and activities;
Develops and provides training and mentorship for staff; Provides advanced level leadership and mentorship to staff. Evaluates staff performance and addresses performance concerns as necessary. Encourages and supports staff professional development goals and opportunities. Works with staff to identify training needs & development goals.
Budget and Financial Management:
Sets the strategic direction for the unit’s programs, including managing the unit’s financial resources to stay within established allotments, and seeking other external funding opportunities; Distributes grant funding to eligible applicants owners based on state policy priorities ensuring that contracts comply with agency, state, and federal rules and regulations.
Develop and Maintain Policies and Procedures:
Develops and analyze clean transportation policy, rules and guidance.
Oversees development of clean transportation ARL/DP proposals and technical advisory groups
Ensures all unit staff adheres to agency, state, and federal rules and regulations and that associated policies are implemented accurately and with a high degree of integrity; Contributes to agency policy-setting as a member of the agency Management Team
Bachelor’s degree in public/business administration, public policy, energy management or a related field
Public policy
Transportation electrification policy, programs, and implementation
Minimum two years supervising professional level staff
Knowledge of regulatory environment in Washington
Demonstrated experience working within the political environment, including clear understanding of legislative process, influencing the continuation and maintenance of resources and policy development, and decision-making that impacts programs.
Demonstrated ability to take broad public policy conceptual ideas, provide appropriate guidance, leadership, and oversight and bring such concepts into practical applications with minimal guidance and direction.
Demonstrated Strategic Planning Experience.
Strong communication skills, including mastery with English grammar, punctuation and vocabulary, and production of communication deliverables using software such as Word and PowerPoint. 
Skills to anticipate problems and changes in the authorizing environment and respond quickly with short and long term solutions.
A demonstrated ability to comply with ethics laws and standards as defined by federal or state law or policy.
Capable of making critical recommendations and decisions affecting statewide economic and community development policy.
Successful project management experience.
A complete and detailed online application.
A cover letter (enter online).
At least three professional references (enter online).
This position may be located anywhere within Washington State, though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remote or have a hybrid schedule.
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 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, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits.