Cap-and-Invest Legislative and Climate Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 4)
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Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen
The Department of Ecology is hiring a Cap-and-Invest Legislative and Policy Analyst (Environmental Planner 4) within the Climate Pollution Reduction Program.
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.
- A minimum of one day per week is required in the office, currently on Tuesdays for this team.
- Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline:
- Apply by August 17, 2025.
- This position will remain open until filled. The agency reserves the right to make a hire at any time after application review begins. Applications received after August 17th may not be considered.
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Duties
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Are you a policy professional with a strong interest in climate action and legislative matters? We’re looking for a Legislative and Policy Analyst to support the development and coordination of legislative policy for Washington's Cap-and-Invest Program. In this role, you’ll work under the direction of the Policy Section Manager and in collaboration with the program’s Senior Legislative Planner to guide legislative responses and engage with external parties on key policy issues.
This position offers an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the success of one of the state’s most significant climate initiatives. If you have legislative and policy analysis experience, enjoy collaborative work, and are interested in helping shape effective climate policy, we encourage you to consider joining our team.
What you will do:
- Apply legislative and policy analysis, public policy expertise, and experience navigating the legislative process to develop and evaluate legislative approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and to interpret and apply state laws and regulations.
- Draw on your specialized experience to craft legislative proposals, regulatory measures, implementation plans, and procedures that support the state's ambitious climate goals.
- Handle complex and sensitive work, often in areas where policies are still developing. This work may involve navigating differing perspectives and priorities, such as public concerns, Tribal government concerns, government interests at all level, environmental justice and economic considerations.
- Evaluate and analyze existing and proposed laws and regulations are in compliance with applicable statutes to support achieving state greenhouse gas reduction limits, and develop regulations and other measures for achieving Cap-and-Invest and related policies.
- Lead the creation of legislative and policy proposals with immediate and long-range impact on Washington’s climate change programs, recommending creative and dynamic solutions.
- Utilize appropriate and effective task and project management skills to keep legislative and policy work on track, ensuring quality and timeliness.
- Lead and take part in meetings and outreach events with Tribal governments, industry representatives, environmental groups, environmental justice organizations, other organizations, and the public.
- Help draft and refine legislative materials, such as bill analyses, fiscal notes, testimony and presentations for legislative meetings, hearings and work sessions. This also includes coordinating, reviewing and editing reports prepared for agency management, the Legislature, or the Governor's Office.
- Prepare policy and technical reports, regulatory proposals, memos, briefing papers, speeches, presentations, and other materials to assess and advance potential regulatory amendments.
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Qualifications
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For detailed information on how we calculate experience, please visit our Recruitment website.
Required Qualifications:
Nine years of experience and/or education in environmental science and/or policy; other areas of environmental science and/or policy; economics, finance, or business; law or public policy; environmental or natural resource planning, public administration, or public health; or other subjects or areas applicable to climate and energy policy, and/or emissions trading systems.
Examples of how to qualify:- 9 years of experience.
- 8 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
- 7 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
- 6 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
- 5 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
- 3 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
- 2 years of experience AND a Ph.D.
- 1 year of experience as an Environmental Planner 3, at the Department of Ecology.
Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:
A background check will be conducted, which may include criminal record history, fingerprinting, and credit history. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.Desired Qualifications:
- Legislative experience in Washington, another state or at the federal level.
- Legal, statutory and regulatory analysis, including course work, degrees, and/or experience that may be relevant to greenhouse gas reduction programs and policies.
- Experience working to address climate change in some capacity, including working on policies relating to climate and energy policy.
- An understanding of greenhouse gas emissions trading systems, including cap-and-trade style regulatory programs, greenhouse gas reduction programs and policies.
If you are excited about this role but not sure if your experience aligns perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging. You may just be the needed candidate for this or other roles.
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Supplemental Information
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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 www.uscis.gov.
