Description
Solar Energy Section Manager (WMS 2)
At the Department of Commerce we strive to be creative, collaborative, and trusted. We identify opportunities to deliver critical funding and services to strengthen communities and aim to promote equity in all aspects of our work. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to our success, and we work to foster an environment where all individuals are valued and respected. We cultivate an environment in which we continuously learn, and we own our work.
We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the richness of the communities we serve. Together, we can build a brighter and more inclusive future.
The Energy Division (Energy) works toward a more clean, affordable and just energy future. This position works within Energy and reports directly to the Managing Director of the Energy Programs in Communities (EPIC) Unit. This position is responsible for overseeing the Solar Energy Section, comprised of several ongoing programs that include a mix of state and federal funding. The Solar Energy Section Manager is responsible for providing direction, oversight, management, and administration of solar energy programs that provide funding and technical assistance to a diverse set of stakeholders.
This position manages the Solar Energy Section of the EPIC unit, which includes, but is not limited to, approximately $265 million in federal and state solar energy programs that provide funding and technical assistance to a diverse set of stakeholders. This position is responsible for strategic planning, oversight of programs, budgets, policy development, technical assistance, legislative tasks, and external relations and outreach.
The solar energy programs provide pass-through funding, technical assistance and education to a wide array of sub recipients, including local governments, tribes, non-profits, schools, small business, utilities, and lenders statewide. The Solar Energy Section collects client-level data on the use of funds to guide policy making and planning, assess service delivery gaps, develop plans to address needs based on data, stakeholder input and national best practices to help drive clean energy innovation that allows the state to reach our emissions targets.
Duties
Solar Energy Section Management:
• Represents the Solar Energy Section, the EPIC Unit, and the agency at local, state, regional and national meetings, including legislative work sessions as the recognized subject matter expert.
• Leads the guidance and consultation to staff, other agency programs, executive management, and external stakeholders and partners.
• Oversees the administration and implementation of nine distinct funding sources and related solicitations including, but not limited to, stakeholder engagement, incorporating legislative intent and proviso requirements, managing complex federal funding sources, ensuring policies and procedures are followed, and approving program guidelines.
• Leads the development of administrative procedures and allocates staff resources. Determines and assesses organizational goals and adjusts resource levels associated with mandatory requirements.
• Designs and facilitates the application review and rating processes. Responsible for making the final funding recommendations to Energy Division leadership for all solar energy grant programs.
• Provides oversight of the program’s contract development (~260+ active contracts), negotiation and execution processes. Leads the team responsible for ensuring appropriate terms and conditions, scope of work, certifications, and other documents are identified to mitigate risk to the agency and comply with state and federal laws, agency requirements, and program policies.
• Statewide subject matter expert leading a team who provides complex technical assistance to nonprofits, local governments, small businesses, and tribes. Oversees technical assistance and outreach efforts to support potential applicants and effectively market the programs and their resources.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and alignment with state clean energy and environmental justice policy goals. Collects, analyzes, and reports program performance data on a quarterly basis. Ensures data for the section is reported accurately and timely. Develops executive reports and summaries for leadership as requested.
Budget and Fiscal Management:
• Responsible for providing direction, oversight, management, and administration of approximately $265 million in federal and state solar energy programs that provide funding and technical assistance to a diverse set of stakeholders.
• Assists the Energy Division Deputy Assistant Director, EPIC Managing Director and Budget Manager in the development of biennial and federal budgets and allotments, assists in the re-appropriation process, and manages spending projections.
• Develops systems for contractor authority, invoicing, reasonableness, approval, and processing.
• Establishes fiscal process and resources for staff in accordance with agency and state policies, rules, and regulations.
• Provides fiscal information and assistance for unit, division, and agency budget and financial meetings. Responds to fiscal information requests from the Office of the Governor, the Legislature, OFM, and Commerce Executive Management.
Legislative Activities:
• Prepares decision packages and drafts legislation to implement solar energy capital, operating, and federal programs and promotes state policy objectives.
• Identifies legislative initiatives that will affect the solar energy programs and its stakeholders. Tracks capital budget throughout the legislative process, prepares analysis on draft budget bills and document issues/concerns for management review.
• Oversees the preparation of legislatively mandated reports as required.
• Responsible for the development of presentations, briefings, and statements for legislative hearings and work sessions related to solar energy programs.
Leadership:
• Leads a team of ten professional staff, including two Commerce Specialist 5’s, six Commerce Specialist 3’s and two Commerce Specialist 2’s. Oversees all work performed for the solar energy programs and relevant direct appropriations, delegates workload responsibilities, priorities, and assignments to staff.
• Evaluates staff performance and addresses concerns as necessary. Addresses and resolves conflicts between staff as they occur. Recommends corrective or disciplinary action to the Managing Director.
• Oversees support staff professional development goals and growth opportunities. Works with staff to determine training needs.
• Develops and supports the culture of the section and the EPIC unit, recognizing the need to consider culture in a continuous and deliberate way.
Managing Director Support:
• Assists the Managing Director with agency and executive leadership team assignments and tasks.
• Represents the Managing Director, the unit and associated programs in internal and external meetings, workgroups, and taskforces, as needed.
Qualifications
Nine years of professional-level experience managing complex programs, procurement processes, grants, or loans. Two of the nine years of professional-level experience must include supervision in a professional setting.
OR
An Associate’s Degree in public/business administration, public policy, environmental science, or a closely related field and seven years of professional-level experience must include supervision in a professional setting.
OR
Bachelor’s degree in public/business administration, public policy, environmental science, or a closely related field and five years of professional-level experience managing complex programs, procurement processes, grants, or loans. Two of the five years of professional-level experience must include supervision in a professional setting.
Required Competencies:
• Accountability--Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, meets attendance/punctuality requirements
• Communication--Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others, has good listening skills.
• Computer Skills--Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, keeps abreast of changes, learns new programs quickly, use computers to improve productivity.
• Customer Service--Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
• Integrity--Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, and conveys good news and bad.
• Leadership--Supports the unit’s, division’s, and agency’s expectations and a modern work environment. Nurtures and drives the team’s culture. Provides professional development support and opportunities for staff. Allows staff to bring their best selves to work, own their work, and encourage an environment of trust and support.
• Organizational Savvy--Operates within the organization's formal and informal structures, builds allies and relationships across departments, uses allies to build consensus and create results, is appropriately diplomatic, understands others' roles and perspectives, can sell projects and ideas across the organization.
• Results Focus--Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, sets team standards and responsibilities, provides leadership/motivation.
• Teamwork--Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion - Collaborates with and involves others with divergent viewpoints, as well as diverse people and groups, contributing to developing an environment that is equitable, inclusive, respectful and cooperative. Demonstrates a commitment to learning about and advancing environmental and climate justice initiatives.
Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies.
• Three years’ experience managing solar energy projects or working in the solar energy sector. Advanced knowledge of solar energy technologies.
• Professional-level experience with federal funding and braiding state fund sources to increase impact.
• Technical knowledge and aptitude of state legislative and budget processes.
• Two years of experience working for, or in partnership with, organizations based in environmental or climate injustice and/or experience collaborating with historically marginalized communities, tribes and low-income populations.
Supplemental Information
To be considered for this position the following are needed:
- A complete and detailed online application.
- A cover letter (enter online).
- At least three professional references (enter online).
For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.
Work from Anywhere in Washington State This position may be located anywhere within Washington State though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings may be required. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remote or have a hybrid schedule.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.
Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity The Washington State Department of Commerce 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 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, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
