Director, Policy Division
Director, Policy Division
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Job Description
Description
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 $127184 $149628annually. However to allow room for growth and progression increases the salary band maximum is $170076 annually.
This recruitment is open until July 31 2025 at 11:59pm.
The first pull of applications is scheduled for July 17 2025 and again July 31. UTC reserves the right to make a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time.
Applications for this recruitment could be used to fill multiple permanent or non-permanent positions.
The Opportunity:
The UTC seeks to fill the role of Policy Director. This position is responsible for the development and execution of the commissions statewide policy agenda and strategy. The Director provides general oversight of the work of Policy Division staff while partnering and communicating with internal and external parties.Hybrid:
Although this is a hybrid opportunity the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey Washington headquarters building as needed.
Travel:
Some travel may be required during and/or outside normal work hours throughout the state/country for business needs.
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 agencys 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 ofdiversity equity inclusion and belonging while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve.
- We place importance on a healthybalance 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 the calendar year employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year 11 paid holidays and one (1) personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.
How to Apply:
Interested in joining the UTC team Click the Apply button at the top to begin! We only consider candidates for further screening if the following documents are attached to your completed application packet.
- Letter of Interestdescribing how you meet the position qualifications and why you believe you are the ideal candidate.
- Resumedetailing your applicable experience and education.
- A brief writing samplepreferably 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.
At minimum three (3) professional references with current telephone numbers and email addresses must be included with your application; one (1) contact MUST be your current or most recent supervisor.
Please note see resume will not substitute for completing the work experience section of the application or supplemental questionnaire.
Duties
What youll 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 the 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.
The incumbent additionally coordinates with the UTCs Director of Equityregarding the evaluation of equity in energy and transportation industry policy.
Additional duties include but arent 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.
- Communicates and provides relevant information to the legislative director as necessary to support initiatives and impacts to business operations.
Qualifications
Required Education Experience and Competencies:
- Experience leading or supervising a team.
- Bachelors degree or graduate degree in economics public administration or a related field or equivalent relevant years of experience AND three (3) or more years of experience in the field of regulatory environment.
OR
- Three (3) years experience within a related utility public interest group or government agency AND an advanced degree in economics public administration or relevant field.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
- Proficient ability to convey information clearly and effectively both oral and written communication
- Ability to respond quickly in a fast-paced environment while juggling multiple priorities to complex/comprehensive requests for information.
- 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.
- Demonstrated effective supervisory skills through effectively supporting or leading a team of expert-level individuals.
- Demonstrated strong analytical skills by effectively gathering interpreting and evaluating data to support decision making process.
- Exceptional ability to work effectively as part of a team with commissioners advisors staff parties and interested individuals.
- Effective team management skills demonstrating the ability to mediate conflicts using effective conflict management techniques in a neutral and unbiased manner. Encouraging constructive dialogue de-escalation tensions in differing policy positions and recommendations between policy staff administrative law judges regulatory staff and commissioners.
- Demonstrated proficiency in keeping interested parties informed to include but not limited to the Executive Director/Secretary and Commissioners.
Demonstration of:
UTC Leadership Principles (expected of all LEADERSHIP employees):
Consistently reflects the commissions leadership principles in how you behave interact with others and in the decisions you make in your work. 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.
- Set the example- Hold yourself and your colleagues accountable to act and manage according to the commissions values and management principles. Seek feedback from team members and other managers. Always treat everyone with respect; remember your rank makes your voice louder. Actively support management decisions even if you do not fully agree with them. Respect management and personnel confidentiality. Demonstrate professional support to members of the management team.
- Strengthen others Be a coach. Provide new work experiences to develop needed knowledge and skills. Ensure each team member gets training and appropriately applies that training on the job. Reward the behavior you want repeated. Foster accountability for both individuals and the team. Encourage a culture and practice of continuous improvement. Delegate. Explain the requirements of key laws and rules agency policies and the contract with the Federation. Create an environment in which individuals and the team can experiment and take risks.
- Recognize contributions- Set clear expectations and challenging but attainable goals. Provide ongoing timely and constructive feedback complete timely performance appraisals. Recognize contributions and successes. Say thank you often and with sincerity. Be thoughtful. Celebrate accomplishments in public. Have fun together. Participate in organizational events.
- Foster collaboration- Foster trust and respect within your section and between your section and others. Share information and resources across section and division lines. Develop cooperative goals and roles. Structure projects to promote joint efforts.
- Envision the future- Develop and communicate a long-term vision for your industry or program that is consistent with the commissions vision and direction. Help others see how their interests and the vision are aligned. Balance short and long-term goals. Demonstrate an awareness of external environment and trends.
- Manage your program- Take steps to understand customer needs be responsive to those needs and ensure you and your team meet all commitments to customers. Consistently and appropriately apply administrative policies to section operations and personnel. Share information appropriately and timely internally and externally. Set standards for the quality and timeliness of section work products actively monitor those standards. Provide input to agency standards policies procedures and expectations. Address issues disrupting team functioning facilitate resolution of conflicts. Communicate the decisions made by senior management to team members. Develop annual business plans aligned with agency goals and strategic plan contributes to development of agency strategic plans. Hold all team members accountable for meeting performance expectations.
- Challenge your business processes- Devote resources to improving how you and team members do your work and use technology with Lean principles in mind. Adapt regulatory principles as needed to do your work better faster and cheaper. Seek ideas from outside the commission. Experiment and take risks. Encourage new ideas from team members. Sponsor pilot projects to generate small victories. Apply what you learn from pilot projects to broader changes.
Equity Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Competencies (expected of all employees):
- EDI Knowledge Understanding & Commitment.
- Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth.
- Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships.
- Inclusive Excellence & Allyship.
UTC Values (expected of all employees):
- 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 Core Competencies (expected of all employees):
- Accountability-With courage we hold ourselves and each other accountable for exhibiting respect professionalism and integrity.
- DEI Knowledge Understanding & Commitment-Ability to be exposed to know and understand the language and concepts of DEI and be committed to being part of creating maintaining and improving a diverse equitable respectful and inclusive workplace.
- Self-Awareness and Commitment to GrowthEngages in self-reflection lifelong learning and growth.
- Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships-Conducts themselves in a manner that builds trust enhances work relationships and meaningfully partner and engage with those they serve and serve with.
- Inclusive Excellence & AllyshipAbility to demonstrate that all people are valued and engaged as members of the group team organization or community through equitable inclusive and respectful behavior.
- Measuring Success and ImprovementAbility to develop implement evaluate and continually improve strategies that promote equity and inclusion in their organization and with the communities they serve.
- Customer FocusResponsive to both internal and external customers. Works with customers to identify needs; assumes responsibility for their own role in meeting those needs. Ensures commitments to customers are met. Receptive to customer feedback.
- Results FocusAccepts personal accountability for individual results or share of team results. Manages workload and interpersonal relationships to achieve results: prioritizes tasks appropriately overcomes obstacles works with others as necessary and meets deadlines and quality standards.
- Communication SkillsDemonstrates communication skills (reading comprehension writing listening speaking) appropriate to the position. Shows respect and courtesy in interpersonal communications.
- Adaptability/FlexibilityOpen to new ideas. Responds constructively to changing and stressful situations. In consultation with supervisor adjusts plans to meet changing needs.
- Self-DevelopmentDemonstrates proactive learning. Keeps knowledge and skills up to date. Solicits and accepts constructive feedback. Seek developmental assignments to improve skills. Turns challenges into learning opportunities.
- Continuous Process ImprovementUtilizes Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements solve problems and improve work processes. Participates in process improvement projects/teams. Actively engages in section/division huddles and incorporates visual management into daily work.
- Masters degree in business or public administration public policy or a related field.
- Progressive management experience working within utility regulations.
- Progressive management experience working with policy initiatives policy advisory committees and providing advisory statements to top level leadership/executive management on controversial and complex matters.
- Experience managing a budget and forecasting for necessary resources.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
- 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.
- Ability to evaluate financial and accounting information and explain the information to others.
- In depth knowledge and understanding of current high profile regulatory matters and Washington government.
Supplemental Information
READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION COMPLETELY:
- This position is exempt fromcivil service rules Washington Administrative Code (WAC) Chapter 357.
- This position is overtime exemptfrom the requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act.
If you have gotten this far and are thinking you do not qualify consider again! Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the UTC we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. If you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every qualification in the job description we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the candidate needed for this or other roles.
All information may be verified; additional documentation may be may be disqualified if the education and/or work experience does not include information used to meet the minimum qualifications of the job.
The UTC 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 contactFor TTY service please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-.
For more information about the UTC please visit:
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
