Cap-and-Invest Utility Allocation Lead (Environmental Planner 5) (In-Training)

Job Description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

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 Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) is looking to fill a Cap-and-Invest Utility Allocation Lead (Environmental Planner 5) (In-Training) position. This position will be located at our Headquarters Building in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
   
In 2021, Washington’s Legislature passed the landmark Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – a sweeping piece of legislation that directs Ecology to develop and implement the state’s first Cap-and-Invest Program and commits our state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.

Officially launched on January 1, 2023, Washington’s program is only the second such economy-wide program in the nation, and the work of implementing this program has only just begun. It’s a big task with even bigger long-term impacts on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and the global fight against climate change. We are already hard at work hiring a diverse array of mission-focused professionals to help us bring this important legislation to life.

This position serves as the agency expert on electric and natural gas utility greenhouse gas emissions and Cap-and-Invest emissions allowance allocation. As this critical policy lead, you will internally and externally coordinate the development and design of key policies, guidance and processes related to the allocation of no cost allowances to electric and natural gas utilities. You will provide analysis and recommendations on the implications of proposed and current laws, rules and policies. Working with a variety of Cap-and-Invest staff, rulemaking and legislative program planners, utilities and external stakeholders, you will serve as the expert on natural gas and electric utilities GHG emissions policy, utility allowances, and energy markets on request from policy advisors in the Governor’s office and Legislature.

Note: This position offers a career path and on-the-job training. This position allows you to progress through the Environmental Planner (EP) field and achieve the goal class of an Environmental Planner 5 (EP5). Candidates will be considered at the EP4 and EP5 levels, depending on their qualifications. For salary levels for each, please see the qualifications section.

The principal department strategic priorities and goals that relate to the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) include: reduce and prepare for climate impacts; prevent and reduce toxic threats; and deliver efficient and effective services. The CPRP’s mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.

Tele-work options for this position: This position will be eligible to tele-work up to three days per week. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled, we will review applications on March 8, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before March 7, 2024. If your application isn't received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.

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 Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

About the Department of Ecology

Protecting Washington State's environment for current and future generations is what we do every day at Ecology. We are a culture that is invested in making a difference. Join a team that is highly effective and collaborative, with leadership that embraces the value of people. To learn more, check out our Strategic Plan.

Ecology cares deeply about employee wellness; we go beyond traditional benefits, proudly offering:

A healthy life/work balance by offering flexible schedules and telework options for most positions.
An Infants at Work Program that is based on the long-term health values of infant-parent bonding and breastfeeding newborns.
Continuous growth and development opportunities.
Opportunities to serve your community and make an impact through meaningful work.

Our commitment to DEIR
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and respect (DEIR) are core values central to Ecology’s 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 Ecology’s 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.

Duties

What you will do as the Cap-and-Invest Utility Allocation Lead:

Cultivate and apply sector-specific expertise to develop and evaluate allowance allocation methodologies for the electricity sector and other sectors to assess approaches for measuring GHG emissions, mitigate economic and emissions leakage, and provide Cap-and-Invest statutory and rule compliance oversight.
Represent the agency in engaging with state, regional and national electricity markets and transactions impacting the integrity and functioning of the Cap-and-Invest program; liaise with utility operators, commissions and agencies, other regulators, and electricity grid operators on policy development and power accounting within and outside Washington State.
Apply economic and social science principles and scientific methods to develop, implement, and update allowance allocation and electricity sector assessment activities within Washington’s Cap-and-Invest Program.
Communicate regularly with regulated entities, state and local agencies, stakeholders, Tribal governments, and interested parties regarding natural gas or electric utilities, regulation or markets; electricity forecasting; and GHG accounting, reporting and verification of electric power entities.
Collaborate with the Cap-and-Invest Reporting and Verification team to confirm the integrity of GHG emissions data and other program information.
Conduct investigations and studies to support the Cap-and-Invest Program and its coordination among other Ecology climate policies, other State agencies, and external organizations.
Provide science-based policy interpretations and recommendations; represent the Department of Ecology in speaking engagements and responding to external inquiries.
Prepare briefing documents, reports, presentations, web pages, correspondence, and other materials with respect to Cap-and-Invest program allowance allocation.

Qualifications
This is an In-Training Position. The goal class for this position is Environmental Planner 5 (EP5). We will consider applicants who meet the requirements for the EP4 and EP5 levels. If the finalist meets the requirements for the EP4 level, they will be hired in at that level and placed into a training program to become an EP5 within a specified period of time.

Required Qualifications:
Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent
Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

At the Environmental Planner 4 level: Salary Range 63 ($5,900-$7,932 monthly) (In-training)

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s degree with major emphasis in environmental science and/or policy; other areas of science and/or policy; economics, finance, or business; or other subjects or areas applicable to electricity and natural gas utilities functioning and regulation, GHG emissions allowance allocation, auctions, and/or markets, or closely allied fields, AND
Five years of professional experience, including: experience related to natural gas or electric utilities, regulation or markets; electricity forecasting; or GHG accounting, reporting and verification of electric power entities.

Option 2:
A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in environmental science and/or policy; other areas of science and/or policy; economics, finance, or business; or other subjects or areas applicable to electricity and natural gas utilities functioning and regulation, GHG emissions allowance allocation, auctions, and/or markets, or closely allied fields, AND
Three years of professional experience in climate, energy or utility policy, including: experience related to natural gas or electric utilities, regulation or markets; electricity forecasting; or GHG accounting, reporting and verification of electric power entities.

Option 3:
One year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3, at the Department of Ecology.

At the Environmental Planner 5 level: Salary Range 67 ($6,510-$8,758 monthly) Goal class

Option 1:
A Bachelor’s degree with major emphasis in environmental science and/or policy; other areas of science and/or policy; economics, finance, or business; or other subjects or areas applicable to electricity and natural gas utilities functioning and regulation, GHG emissions allowance allocation, auctions, and/or markets, or closely allied fields, AND
Seven years of professional experience, including: experience related to natural gas or electric utilities, regulation or markets; electricity forecasting; or GHG accounting, reporting and verification of electric power entities.

Option 2:
A Master’s degree or above with major emphasis in environmental science and/or policy; other areas of science and/or policy; economics, finance, or business; or other subjects or areas applicable to electricity and natural gas utilities functioning and regulation, GHG emissions allowance allocation, auctions, and/or markets, or closely allied fields, AND
Five years of professional experience in climate, energy or utility policy, including: experience related to natural gas or electric utilities, regulation or markets; electricity forecasting; or GHG accounting, reporting and verification of electric power entities.

Option 3:
Two years of experience as an Environmental Planner 4, at the Department of Ecology.

Desired Qualifications:
We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

Experience relating to natural gas or electric utilities, utility regulation, electricity forecasting, power market regulation, electric or natural gas market operation.
Experience working to address climate change in some capacity, including related to GHG emissions trading schemes (ETS), GHG reduction programs, GHG accounting and related policies.
Quantitative skills, including statistical and/or mathematical, programming, or modeling course work, degrees, and/or experience that may be relevant to GHG reduction programs and policies.
Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Supplemental Information

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 candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Need an Accommodation in the application and/or screening process or this job announcement in an alternative format?

Please call: (360) 407-6186 or email: [email protected] and we will be happy to assist.
If you are deaf or hard of hearing you can reach the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
If you need assistance applying for this job, please e-mail [email protected]. Please do not send an email to this address to follow-up on the status of your application. You can view the latest status of your application on your profile's main page.
If you are reading this announcement in print format, please enter the following URL to your search engine to apply: https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/Jobs-at-Ecology.   

Application Instructions:
It's in the applicant's best interest to submit all of the documents listed below. Applications without these documents may be declined.

A cover letter describing why you are interested in this position.
A resume outlining your experience and education (if applicable) as it relates to the minimum qualifications of this position.
A list of three professional references.
Note: References will only be contacted during the final steps of the recruitment process for candidates selected as finalists. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s formal authorization.

Please do NOT include your salary history. Wage/salary depends on qualifications or rules of promotion, if applicable.

For Your Privacy:
When attaching documents to your application (such as Resume, Cover Letter, Transcripts, DD-214, etc.):

Please be sure to remove private information such as your social security number, date of birth, etc.
Do not attach documents that are password-protected, as these documents may not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded.

Additional Application Instructions for Current Ecology Employees:

Please make sure to answer the agency-wide questions regarding permanent status as a classified employee within the Washington General Service or Washington Management Service. Do not forget to select Department of Ecology as a response to question 2, and type your personnel ID number for question 3. If you are not sure of your status or do not know your personnel ID number, please contact Human Resources.

Application Attestation:
The act of submitting application materials electronically is considered affirmation that the information is complete and truthful. The state may verify this information and any untruthful or misleading answers are cause for rejection of your application or dismissal if employed.

Other Information:
If you have specific questions about the position, please email Andrew Hayes at: [email protected]. Please do not contact Andrew to inquire about the status of your application.

To request the full position description: email [email protected].

Why work for Ecology?
As an agency, our mission is to protect, preserve and enhance Washington's environment for current and future generations. We invest in our employees to create and sustain a working environment that encourages creative leadership, effective resource management, teamwork, professionalism, and accountability.

Joining Ecology means becoming a part of a team committed to protecting and restoring Washington State's environment. A career in public service 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.

To learn more about The Department of Ecology, please visit our website at www.ecology.wa.gov and follow, like or visit us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or our blog.

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

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. Persons needing accommodation in the application/testing process or this job announcement in an alternative format may call (360) 407-6186. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

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.

Contact Details

URL: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/washington/jobs/4374551/cap-and-invest-utility-allocation-lead-environmental-planner-5-in-training