Department of Ecology
Lacey, WA

Washington has adopted ground-breaking legislation to address climate change by sharply reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.  Do you care passionately about climate change?  Are you seeking a challenging and rewarding job in which you will be directly addressing the climate crisis?  Then join us as we implement this historic legislation.
 
The Air Quality Program (AQP) is looking to fill the Climate Change: Climate Commitment Act Communications Consultant (Communications Consultant 3) position. This position will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA.

As the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) Communications Consultant 3, you’ll ensure that the meaningful work being done on the CCA is communicated to stakeholders, Tribes, environmental justice groups, and the general public in a clear and engaging way. In this role, you will work collaboratively with a broad team of enthusiastic, mission-driven planners, engineers, outreach specialists, and other communications professionals to make sure that Ecology is providing educational resources, transparency, and public engagement opportunities to Washington residents.

As the Climate Commitment Act Communications Consultant, you will:

• Write, edit and produce strategic web content.
• Design and create visual and written content explaining key concepts to audiences of varying levels of expertise. This may include infographics, videos (live or animated), social media images, posters, bulletins, conference displays, brochures, or other digital or physical publications. 
• Develop presentations related to the implementation of the CCA using Canva and PowerPoint.
• Prepare testimony, focus sheets, presentations, and other materials in collaboration with communications, outreach, and senior staff. 
• Work with web, communications, and other staff to publish materials explaining complex issues in plain talk. 
• Schedule or assist in scheduling, setting up, and running public meetings.        
• Prepare content for Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn, for public education and engagement related to the implementation of the CCA.
• Work collaboratively to develop and implement a long-term social media strategy to bring the CCA to broader public awareness, while remaining in-line with Ecology’s brand, visual, and social media best practices.

For more information and to apply, follow this link: Climate Change: Climate Commitment Act Communications Consultant (Communications Consultant 3)

If you are interested, please apply at your earliest convenience.

PUGET SOUND ENERGY
Closing Date: 4/30/2022

PSE's VP Clean Energy Strategy team is looking for qualified candidates to fill an open Communications Initiative Consultant position!

The Communications Initiative Consultant is responsible for the effective management of the communications and/or outreach components of clean energy strategy, strategic initiatives and issues. Provides input to strategic planning process and leads message development for energy planning processes. Identifies cross-initiative opportunities for improvement and potential risk areas, and utilizes mitigation techniques. Through cross-functional collaboration and excellent team building and management, this position will be a key initiative team member and pro-actively clarify and challenge expectations and assumptions about each initiative and issue reflecting the customer and/or employee perspective.

https://jobs.pse.com/job/Bellevue-Communications-Initiative-Consultant-WA-98004/860317600/

The position is open until filled and the review of applications has been extended until March 28, 2022.

Regular Full-time, 40 hours per week; Exempt FLSA status.

The starting salary will generally range from $85,000 - $92,000 annually, DOE, with full benefits. 

Puget Sound Regional Council; Downtown Seattle, Washington; The position may be eligible for hybrid or remote work (within Washington state).

The Puget Sound Regional Council is the regional transportation, growth management and economic development planning agency serving Seattle and the central Puget Sound. The thriving region is home to over 4 million people and is one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. PSRC brings together the region’s counties, cities and towns, native tribes, ports, the state of Washington and civic interests to understand the challenges facing our region’s future and make plans for the region to continue to succeed. The agency serves as the region’s Metropolitan Planning Organization and plays the leading regional role in growth management and economic development under state and federal laws. PSRC seeks to support an inclusive region and build a work culture which embraces diversity and promotes equity. Visit www.psrc.org to find out more.

PSRC is seeking an experienced candidate to work collaboratively with staff across the agency on a wide range of outreach and engagement activities. Reporting to the Program Manager for Equity Policy and Initiatives, this position will provide daily oversight for PSRC’s community engagement. The Senior Public Engagement Specialist will lead the development of engagement strategies for the region’s long-range plans – VISION 2050 and the Regional Transportation Plan – for the Regional Economic Strategy, and for PSRC’s funding programs. The position will also provide staff support on agency-wide initiatives or events that involve the public, local, state, and regional stakeholders and community groups. Additionally, this position will periodically update PSRC’s Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan and Title VI Plan in accordance with federal requirements, and work as part of a team on the development and implementation PSRC’s Regional Equity Strategy, which includes support of the agency’s Equity Advisory Committee.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A passion for communicating with the public.
• A deep commitment to effectively engage people who are historically marginalized, underserved, disproportionately impacted, and seldom heard. This includes people affected by racism, bias, poverty, limited-English proficiency, disability, and immigration.
• Extensive knowledge of communication and engagement principles, methods, practices, and techniques.
• The ability to develop and nurture productive relationships with PSRC’s member jurisdictions and community-based organizations, especially those who serve harder-to-reach and historically underserved people.
• Comfort and experience in facilitating group discussions and conversations.
• An interest in developing innovative ways to engage the public with digital and transitional methods.
• Experience advising management and staff on emerging community engagement concerns.
• Familiarity with urban planning and transportation issues and/or public policy.

Necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Ability to use communication to advance programs and policy objectives.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Familiarity with state and federal laws, regulations, policy, and guidance for public involvement, including evolving practices relating to environmental justice.
• Demonstrated ability to turn technical documents into readable, user-friendly materials for non-technical audiences.
• Ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work effectively with agency staff, other agencies, and the public.
• A Bachelor’s degree in Planning, Public Policy, Marketing, Communications, Journalism, Public Relations, Human Services, or a related field.
• Four years increasingly responsible experience working in planning, government relations, community relations, or public involvement that includes leading outreach projects within a diverse community.
• Or, any combination of lived experience or education experience in a related field that would provide the applicant with the desired skills, knowledge, and ability required to perform the job.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional, philanthropic, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Additional desired qualifications:

• Fluency in a language other than English widely spoken in the central Puget Sound region, preferably Spanish.

To be considered, applicants must submit a cover letter and resume as part of the application process and apply at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/psrc.

Working closely with the Community Development Analyst, the Housing Analyst will identify housing needs and opportunities, conduct research, outreach to local agencies and the general public, while managing and supporting a variety of housing and community development projects. The Housing Analyst will review existing housing programs to help create new City programs that support low-income homeowners and create new affordable housing in our community. One key initiative is the creation of a land acquisition program to help local developers build needed housing in Springfield.  A successful candidate will be someone who is skilled in project management and developing community partnerships, particularly with organizations that work with individuals with low-incomes and/or who are underrepresented.

Closes Sunday, March 20, 2022 at 11:59 pm (Pacific)

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/springfieldor/jobs/3436831/housing-analyst?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

The Toxics Cleanup Program (TCP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Senior Section Planner (Environmental Planner 4) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.

During Healthy Washington Roadmap to Recovery, employees are working a combination of in-office and/or telework based on position and business need. This position is expected to work in the office up to 1 day every two weeks. Ecology is following current state guidance regarding mask requirements, health screening questions before entry, and social distancing.
 
The Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act is landmark piece of environmental legislation, with huge implications for environmental justice. This position will be on the front lines as the cleanup program works to ensure impacted communities have their cleanups prioritized. The HEAL Act has specific deadlines about incorporating environmental justice into all aspects of agency work. You will have the opportunity to be innovative and creative as we work towards this goal.  

What you will do: 

• Coordinate efforts to ensure that environmental justice and the requirements of the HEAL act (SB 5141) are integrated throughout section projects. Facilitate consultation and engagement with external stakeholders early and often throughout the policy development process. 
• Lead the development of complex guidance documents regarding major new initiatives or major modification to policy and program needs, working closely with technical staff and program management. 
• Develop outreach strategies and materials. 
• Lead involvement for internal and external training efforts related to environmental justice.
• Coach and mentor other planners and project managers regarding best practices for developing and rolling out key rule and policy initiatives.  

For more information and to apply, follow this link: Senior Section Planner (Environmental Planner 4)

If you are interested, please apply at your earliest convenience.

City of Boulder, Colorado

The Community Engagement Senior Program Manager is a key strategic and program implementation role that supports the creation and continued use of a consistent and effective citywide approach to meaningful community engagement. This position is responsible for collaborating with team members and department-level outreach/engagement staff to create and evaluate engagement plans; designing and sharing information and materials that contribute to a shared understanding of best engagement practices; developing positive relationships with internal and external partners; identifying ways to improve inclusivity in city programs and decision-making processes; and demonstrating an ability to hear and incorporate feedback to better inform decisions or the next phases of a project.

Closes Feb 17 at 11:59pm Mountain Time

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/cityofboulder/jobs/3409812/community-engagement-senior-program-manager

City of Seattle

SALARY:	$52.36 - $78.53 Hourly
LOCATION:	Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 5th Ave., Seattle, Washington
JOB TYPE:	Civil Service Exempt, Regular, Full-time
SHIFT:	Day
DEPARTMENT:	City of Seattle Human Services Department
BARGAINING UNIT:	Not represented
CLOSING DATE	Continuous

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Director of External Affairs | Job Details tab | Career Pages (governmentjobs.com)

The Seattle Human Services Department (HSD) lives out its mission, as one of the largest contributors to Seattle's safety net. HSD is responsible for investing hundreds of millions of dollars to more than 200 community-based human service providers that support the city's most vulnerable populations each year. The department maintains close partnerships with community partners, the public, and non-profit service providers to understand and address current and emerging human service needs, and to invest in the creation of a comprehensive and integrated regional human service system.
 
The Human Services Department is seeking a Director of External Affairs to join the department's executive leadership team. The Director of External Affairs owns responsibility for managing direction, planning, analysis, implementation, and oversight of HSD’s overall integrated public affairs program, and related strategies and activities.
 
Using a lens of racial equity, this role builds interest and understanding of HSD’s mission, priorities, services, and impact through consistent and compelling communications. A well-qualified candidate will also have experience forging shared vision through collaboration and delivering actionable insights and analysis that shape decisions that have significant impact on an organizations service, operation, reputation, or bottom line.
 
HSD has six key impact areas:
Preparing Youth for Success, Supporting Affordability and Livability, Addressing Homelessness, Promoting Public Health, Supporting Safe Communities & Safe Lives, Promoting Healthy Aging
 
HSD’s External Affairs program includes:Strategic communications to align external affairs work with HSD’s mission, goals, workplan, RSJI commitments, and other business needs such as emergency or crisis response.

• Marketing and public relations to promote and share HSD’s work and impact, manage proactive and reactive news media engagement, and uphold HSD’s brand presence and reputation, using a diverse mix of channels and tools, including social, digital, print, and web.
• Mayor, council, and government relations, including interjurisdictional relations, state legislative advocacy, and elected official constituent relations.
• Community outreach that engages and invites the public, service partners, community organizations, employees, and other stakeholders help shape decisions, actions, or services.
• Strategic advising that enables informed action via transfer of technical expertise, briefings, evaluation and analysis, policy input, program or project planning, and leadership support.

This position reports to the Department Director, provides functional daily direction and supervision to a team of 3-4 FTE’s, and works in a large, dynamic, cross-function and matrixed business environment. Competitive candidates will have experience demonstrating the ability to deliver strategic counsel and support services to executives and elected officials to advance HSD’s business needs.   The Director of External Affairs must be adaptable and agile, and be able to collaborate effectively with the departmental executive and senior leadership teams, the Mayor's Office, City Council and Council Central staff, City employees, the City's Budget Office, and other stakeholders.

A first review of candidates will occur on February 25, 2022. If position was not filled after first review, candidate pool will be reviewed.  

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

Candidates should have a good understanding of the political and policy climate within the City and are able to advocate for HSD’s intergovernmental and legislative interests in a variety of political conversations and legislative environments.   Successful candidates will also be passionate about building better communities through public service, value a diverse workforce with authentic perspective, and have firm work ethic and integrity.
 
The most competitive candidates for this role will be able to:

1. Effectively direct, manage, and delegate duties to implement a largescale strategic communications and external affairs program and related projects.
   • Develop and implement plans at the organizational level and specific to business areas.
   • Lead staff through various planning and implementation activities. 
   • Provides strategic direction regarding marketing campaigns. 
   • Define scope, strategic approach, methods and tactics, metrics, and reporting activities.
   • • Ensure situationally appropriate plans, goals alignment, and resource allocation.
     • Align work with HSD’s racial equity and social justice values and commitments.
     • Address racial, structural, and institutional bias and to reduce disparities.
   • Analyze and define audience segments, personas, and identify needs or priorities.
   • Define and drive strategic messaging.
   • • Determine public affairs strategy pertaining to controversial and sensitive matters, and emergency response or crisis communications.   
     • Establish mechanism for timely sourcing and sharing of success stories to targeted audiences.
     • Gather relevant factual information to create timely communications.
     • Create compelling written content and creative collateral materials.
     • • Ensure content and materials are accessible, clear, and concise.
       • Explain complex and technical information like program and procedural content and policies simply, effectively, and accurately.
       • • I.e., reports, program announcements, fact sheets, briefing documents, public presentations, marketing content, translated information, and for executive communications.
     • Guides social media, digital communications, and oversees department website
     • • Produces content for HSD digital channel engagement such as newsletters, blog posts, website and social media platforms.
2. Lead comprehensive assessment and update of HDS community engagement framework.
   • Promote and encourage stakeholder and community involvement, including participation in forums, funding opportunities, advisory groups, and to provide public input/feedback that are used to inform HSD actions and decisions.
3. Define HSD’s legislative affairs strategy and actions.  
4. Lead Media Relations
   • Serve as HSD’s lead public information officer and relationships with reporters.
   • Manage HSD’s proactive and reactive media engagement and inquiries.
   • Write and distributes news releases, background materials, and speaking points.
   • Monitor news coverage to identify good news and address critical issues.
5. Provide strategic counsel and serve as an agency representative.
   • Serve as strategic counsel to senior leaders, and/or elected officials.
   • • Conduct research and analysis and use subject matter expertise and solid business case to shape decisions, actions, services, or direction that having significant impact the organization. 
     • Develop technical knowledge human services issues.
   • Respond to stakeholder and community inquiries in an organized and timely fashion.
   • Engage with the public or business partners on sensitive or controversial topics.
6. Demonstrate agile and accountable organizational leadership that reflects sound judgement.
   • Foster a culture of change, growth, and continuous improvement.
   • Nurture respectful interpersonal, teamwork, listening, and communication.
   • Mentor reporting staff’s ability to take initiative and demonstrate self-direction.
   • Support planning that defines scope, priorities, objectives, and roles, to direct action and effective utilization of time and resources.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Public Relations, Journalism, Public Administration, or other related field (or a combination of education and/or training and/or experience which provides an equivalent background required performing the work described).
Experience: A minimum of seven years of experience working in a strategic communications or external affairs role in a large mission-driven organization, government agency, or environment of similar size and complexity.  Two years leading and supervising direct report staff.
 
Required Skills: Successful candidates must have good understanding and successful application of communication and public relation methodologies and strategies, including the use of social media platforms, marketing techniques and promoting controversial matters to a highly sensitive and unpredictable audience.  Candidates must have excellent strategic writing ability and presentation skills, must be able to analyze issues and problem solve and be results-driven.  Successful candidates must also be comfortable working in a politically sensitive environment with multiple priorities and tight deadlines.    

 Required Commitment:  Successful candidates are passionate about contributing meaningfully through public service, value the opulence of a diverse workforce with authentic perspective, and have firm work ethic and integrity to "do the right thing" on behalf of the City of Seattle.
 
Certification/License: None 

Desired Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a field complementary to job expectations and duties.
• Eight or more years of experience managing similar work in a large public sector agency.
• Three years leading and supervising direct report staff.  
• Two years advising and supporting senior leaders or elected officials
• Experience serving as a media relations officer and working with members of the press on behalf of a sizable organization that serves racially, culturally, and socially diverse community needs, and/or people with low income or other vulnerable populations.
• Certification, training, or technical understanding of any of the following:
• Strategic communications, advocacy communications, marketing, public relations, business communications, copyediting, public participation, digital and/or social media

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Hiring Process
Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.
2. Current résumé indicating relevant experience and education. 
3. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications. 

Offers of employment are contingent on verification of information provided by the applicant as part of the application process, including potential background check, pre-placement physical exam, and full driver's abstract.

The Air Quality Program (AQP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill two Cap and Invest positions. Apply here to be considered for both the:

• Allowance Trading and Education Lead (Environmental Planner 4)
• Auctions Lead (Environmental Planner 4)

Both positions will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA. We embrace a modern work environment that includes high levels of telework, flexible work hours, and options for a compressed workweek.

Role 1: Allowance Trading and Education Lead: As the staff lead for allowance trading and entity education, you will be responsible for ensuring firms can trade—and participate—in the Cap-and-Invest market. By helping firms get comfortable with this new market and how it works, you will enable them to maintain a primary focus on decreasing emissions so Washington can meet its goal of reducing emissions by 95% by 2050.
 
Role 2: Auction Lead: As the staff lead for auctions, you will be a crucial member of the Cap-and-Invest team. You will coordinate and implement allowance auctions that firms participate in to meet their emissions compliance obligations. These auctions are the linchpin of the cap-and-invest program and generate significant proceeds applied towards the decarbonization of the transportation industry, improving access to clean energy, and advancing health equity and environmental justice.

PUGET SOUND ENERGY

Closing Date: one month from now 

PSE’s Communications Initiatives team is looking for a communications and public engagement professional to develop and implement public engagement and communications strategies for complex infrastructure projects. The Communications Initiatives Consultant is responsible for strategic planning and execution to educate and engage our customers on PSE’s large-scale electric and natural gas infrastructure projects. The consultant will identify opportunities across various company work streams to find opportunities for process improvement, potential risk areas, and utilize mitigation techniques. Through cross-functional collaboration and excellent team building and management, this position will be a key initiative team member who proactively clarifies expectations, challenges assumptions, and advocates on behalf of our customers and communities. 

PSE aspires to be a beyond net zero carbon company by 2045. This position will be integral in telling our story about how PSE’s infrastructure projects fit into that goal while maintaining reliable energy service for our customers.

https://jobs.pse.com/job/Bellevue-Communications-Initiative-Consultant-WA-98004/830922500/

Company: Department of Ecology, State of Washington

Job summary: The Climate Commitment Act is one the most important Washington environmental laws in the last 50 years. Along with reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, the Climate Commitment Act charges Ecology with also reducing toxic air pollution, and working closely with the communities most affected by pollution. Engaging with these communities, educating them about Ecology’s work, and listening to their input are critical if this effort is to succeed. 

What you’ll do:

• In this community engagement position, you will lead the development and implementation of the community engagement plan required in the Climate Commitment Act. 
• In this role you could have the opportunity to organize and present at public meetings, create outreach and education materials, meet with community leaders and other stakeholders, coordinate with local governments, tribes and clean air agencies, speaking with members of the media, collaborating with other Ecology environmental programs, and responding to community questions and requests.
• Play a key role in supporting Ecology’s agency-wide environmental justice efforts and the state Environmental Justice Council and Interagency Work Group. 
•  Support public outreach and engagement during the development of the Climate Commitment Act’s greenhouse gas reduction program.

Closing date: This position will remain open until filled, with an initial screening date of February 4, 2022.

Link to the source: State of Washington Job Opportunities | Work that Matters (governmentjobs.com)