Agency Rulemaking Lead and Governmental Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 5)

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Agency Rulemaking Lead and GovernmentalPolicy Analyst (Environmental Planner 5)within the Rules and Accountability Section of the Governmental Relations Office.

Location:

• Headquarters Office in Lacey WA.

• Upon hire you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

Schedule:

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.

• You may telework most of your work time with required in-office staff meetings every other Thursday as well as other in-person meetings and activities as needed.

• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline:

• Apply by October 12 2026

• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

As the Agency Rulemaking Lead and Governmental Policy Analyst you will provide essential oversight direction and project management for the agencys rulemaking and hearing officer processes. You will serve as the program legislative lead analyzing proposed legislation and policies assessing impacts and recommending effective implementation strategies while supporting staff and programs throughout the process. We are seeking someone who is strategic adaptable detail focused can understand and explain complex processes analyze laws and rules to guide agency action and bring strong skills in policy implementation project management collaboration problem-solving and facilitation.

Types of problems this position gets to solve:

• Developing policies and policy interpretations that marry complex legal technical and political dynamics.

• Managing agency-wide processes in a consistent way across programs that differ in structure and operational needs.

• Maintaining a consistent and defensible rulemaking process for the agency.

• Meeting program hearing officer needs for public hearings and meetings.

Interesting aspects of this position:

• Work in a fast-paced environment with all of Ecologys programs to support the development of rules and policies.

• Engage with staff on a wide variety of topics while collaborating with multiple teams.

Challenging aspects of this position:

• Some travel and evening hours may be required.

• Presenting to large groups and facilitating complex meetings.

What you will do:

• Provide oversight guidance and mentoring on the agencys rulemaking process and hearing officers.

• Analyze legislation policies and projects with agency-wide impact.

• Serve as the Agency Hearings Officer facilitating public hearings and meetings and certifying other agency staff through training and mentoring.

• Develop and implement new agency-wide policies or processes.

• Provide training and mentoring to staff on rulemaking hearings and related responsibilities.

• Advise and brief executive leadership on rulemaking and other key policy topics.

• Implement the agencys online commenting system.

• Serve as SharePoint co-administrator for the Rules and Accountability Section.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions please visit our Recruitment website.

Required Qualifications:

Eleven (11) years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position which must include the following:

• Government and Rulemaking Knowledge Extensive working knowledge of state government the rulemaking process the Washington Administrative Procedures Act and the legislative process.

• Rulemaking Coordination Ability to guide and coordinate rulemaking activities to ensure legal compliance and alignment with agency leadership; understanding of steps in the process and ability to explain to others.

• Policy and Legislative Analysis Ability to analyze and interpret proposed laws and policies to provide accurate clear information that identifies and supports agency actions.

• Training and Mentoring Ability to teach and support staff in rulemaking and hearing officer responsibilities to strengthen agency capability.

• Project and Accountability Management Ability to plan and manage multiple projects audits and reform initiatives to help the agency meet accountability expectations.

• Regulatory Compliance Ability to interpret and apply legal requirements to ensure rulemaking and related work meet state standards.

• Process Documentation Ability to establish and document process steps in various formats.

• Hearing Officer Skills Ability to conduct public hearings and apply agency procedures to ensure fair well-organized and professional processes.
  
  

Educationinvolving a major study in land use urban regional or environmental planning public administration natural resource planning or a closely related field.

Ecology does not use the E-Verify system; therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT). For more information please visit .

Our Commitment to DEIR

Diversity Equity Inclusion and Respect (DEIR)are core values central to Ecologys work. We strive to be a workplace where we are esteemed for sharing our authentic identities while advancing our individual professional goals and collaborating to protect preserve and enhance the environment for current and future generations.

Diversity: We celebrate and appreciate diversity; our unique perspectives and abilities enrich us all and lead to innovative approaches and solutions.

Equity:We champion equity recognizing that each of us need different things to thrive.

Inclusion: We intentionally create and hold space so that we all have meaningful opportunities to participate and contribute to Ecologys work.

Respect:We treat each other with respect and dignity acknowledging the inherent worth of our diverse perspectives and lived experiences even in times of uncertainty and disagreement.

We believe that DEIR is both a goal and an action. We are on a journey honoring our shared humanity and taking steps to demonstrate our commitment to a vision where each of us is heard seen and valued.

Application Process

Ecology seeks diverse applicants: We view diversity equity inclusion and respect through a broad lens including race ethnicity class age religion sexual orientation gender identity immigration status military background language education life experience physical disability neurodiversity and intersectional identities. Qualified job seekers from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply

Click Apply at the top of this page. Complete the entire application including full work history and responses to all supplemental questions and attach:

• Cover letter describing your interest in and qualifications for this position

• Resume

Because we base our selection on the information you provide it is in your best interest to complete the application thoroughly. A resume will not substitute for the work experience section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields or supplemental question responses with comments such as see resume may be considered incomplete.

For detailed application information please visit our Recruitment website.

Application Attestation: By submitting an application you are affirming that the information contained in your application and on all attachments is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any false or misleading answers may result in rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Need an Accommodation

If you need reasonable accommodation during the application and/or screening process including this job announcement in an alternate format:

• Please contact us at or

• If you are deaf or hard of hearing you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-.

Questions

• For specific questions about the position location options schedule or duties please contact Bari Schreiner at

• If you need assistance applying for this job are inquiring about the status of your application would like to request the full position description or have any other questions please contact the Recruitment Team at

About the Governmental Relations Office

The Governmental Relations Office works closely with Ecologys environmental programs and offices and the Office of Equity and Environmental Justice to:

• Coordinate agency legislative activities rulemaking and appeals.

• Provide legislative and economic analysis for agency regulatory and policy initiatives.

• Support agency performance management including strategic planning customer feedback and continuous improvement initiatives.

The Governmental Relations Office works collaboratively across the agency providing opportunities to partner with staff from all programs. This role offers a unique perspective to learn about the work carried out across all Ecologys environmental and administrative programs. You will engage at many different levels from serving as a hearing officer for rulemaking to analyzing proposed legislation to helping establish or update agency policies to supporting our agency public comment process.

About the Department of Ecology

As the State of Washingtons environmental protection agency we are deeply committed to protecting preserving and enhancing Washingtons environment for current and future generations. Joining Ecology means becoming part of a team dedicated to protecting and sustaining healthy land air water and climate in harmony with a strong economy. A career in public service at Ecology allows you to help solve some of the most challenging problems facing our state while keeping your health and financial security a priority. We combine one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation with a strong commitment to life/work balance. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership effective resource management teamwork professionalism and accountability.

Ecology employees may be eligible for the following: Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s) Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) Vacation Sick and other Leave* 11 Paid Holidays per year* Public Service Loan Forgiveness Tuition Waiver Long Term Disability & Life Insurance Deferred Compensation Programs Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA) Employee Assistance Program Commute Trip Reduction Incentive Combined Fund Drive SmartHealth *Click here for more information

To learn more about Ecology please visit our website explore Working at Ecology check out our Strategic Plan and connect with us on LinkedIn Facebook Instagram YouTube or our blog.

Equal Opportunity Employer: The Washington State Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity employer. 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 military spouses or people with military status and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Collective Bargaining: This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) is the exclusive representative.

Note:This recruitment may be used to fill other positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment announcement are filled the recruitment may only be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days.

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