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

Sowela; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

In-office meetings every otherThursday

Job summary

Washington State Department of Ecology in Lacey, WA seeks an Agency Rulemaking Lead and Governmental Policy Analyst to oversee rulemaking, hearing officer processes, and policy implementation. The role emphasizes procedural rigor, cross-team collaboration, and advisory support to executive leadership in a dynamic regulatory environment.

The position offers telework options and occasional in‑person meetings, with duties spanning legislative analysis, staff mentoring, and agency-wide policy

Job description

Keeping Washington Clean and Evergreen

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Agency Rulemaking Lead and Governmental Policy 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.

Duties

As the Agency Rulemaking Lead and Governmental Policy Analyst, you will provide essential oversight, direction, and project management for the agency’s 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 Ecology's 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 agency’s 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 agency's online commenting system.
• Serve as SharePoint co-administrator for the Rules and Accountability Section.

Qualifications

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.
• Education – Involving a major study in land use, urban, regional, or environmental planning, public administration, natural resource planning, or a closely related field.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 11 years of experience.
• 10 years of experience AND 30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter college credits.
• 9 years of experience AND 60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter college credits (Associate’s degree).
• 8 years of experience AND 90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter college credits.
• 7 years of experience AND a Bachelor’s degree.
• 5 years of experience AND a Master’s degree.
• 4 years of experience AND a Ph.D.

If you are excited about this role and meet the required qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Desired qualifications reflect additional knowledge, skills, or experience that are nice to have but not required. Studies have shown that some applicants, especially women and people of color, are less likely to apply unless they meet every listed qualification. At the Department of Ecology, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging, and we welcome applicants with varied backgrounds and unique perspectives.

Supplemental Information

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.

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.

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.

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 360-407-6186 or [e-mail]

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 711 or 1-800-833-6384.

Questions?

For specific questions about the position location options, schedule, or duties, please contact Bari Schreiner at [e-mail]

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 [e-mail]

About the Governmental Relations Office

The Governmental Relations Office works closely with Ecology’s 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 Ecology’s 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 Washington’s environmental protection agency, we are deeply committed to protecting, preserving, and enhancing Washington’s 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.

Benefits

• 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

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.