The Washington State Department of Ecology is searching for an innovative and strategic leader for the position of Government Relations Director (Exempt Band 4). This is an exempt management service (EMS) Band 4 position that reports to the Director of Ecology. The position is located at Ecology’s Headquarters Office in Lacey, Washington.

This position is critical to Ecology’s success and is focused on establishing and maintaining positive, effective relationships with key members of Ecology’s authorizing environment. In this role, you will direct agency-wide external relations and public affairs. These include the State Legislature, legislative staff, Governor’s office, state and federal agencies, local governments, tribal governments, and Washington’s Congressional delegation. You will also direct agency strategy and public affairs for a variety of non-governmental organizations, including business, environmental, media, agriculture, ports, utilities, community groups and other interests. These relations are critical to furthering Ecology’s mission through successful resolution of issues pertaining to legislation, constituent concerns, budget, regulations, policies, and state and federal agreements. You will be expected to develop solutions that meet the state’s interests in, and responsibility for, environmental protection of air, land, water, and climate while meeting the interests of stakeholders to the extent possible. 

In addition to what is listed above, you will lead and direct the activities of Ecology’s Rules and Accountability Section, including supervision of the section manager. This section provides strategic and diverse management of programs and policies that are highly complex, multi-program and agency-wide, in nature. The section supports the work of this position, and serves the Agency Director, Deputy Director, and the executive leadership team in setting agency direction for strategic and long-range planning, performance, and accountability, continuous process improvement and organizational effectiveness, customer service and surveying, rule-making, economic analysis, and coordination of a variety of agency-wide responsibilities (e.g. enforcement appeals). 

For more information and to apply, follow this link: Government Relations Director (Exempt Band 4)