Senior Policy Advisor (WMS3)

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washington State Department of Commerce is seeking a Senior Policy Advisor (WMS3) to lead complex policy development and legislative engagement across the department. You will work with executive leadership, Governor’s Office, and lawmakers to advance the agency’s mission.

This role requires a strong background in public policy, data analysis, community engagement, and ability to coordinate cross‑agency initiatives.

Qualifications

• Nine (9) years of combined experience and/or education as described below.
• Experience must include four (4) years of gathering and analyzing legislation proposals, case law, regulations, policies, reports, and other data.
• Minimum one year of experience developing funding-related needs, grants, or related analyses.
• Education includes coursework in public administration, law, economics, or related fields.

Responsibilities

• Lead highly complex policy development with diverse stakeholders and political considerations.
• Advise agency executive leadership with high‑level recommendations, data, coordination, and communications.
• Analyze legislative proposals and help advance bills and their implementation.
• Develop department decision packages, agency request legislation, and fiscal notes for proposals.
• Create materials presenting clear information to specific audiences and stakeholders.
• Collaborate on government affairs initiatives and agency-wide projects.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Public speaking

Relationship building

Education

PhD in public administration/law/economics

Master’s degree in related field

Bachelor’s degree + experience

Job description

Senior Policy Advisor (WMS3)

At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Government Affairs Division (GAD) is hiring for a senior policy advisor. This is an existing role that we’re filling focused on supporting our legislative agenda and government affairs work. The GAD team is responsible for the agency’s legislative strategy development and execution – engaging with state legislators, staff, governor’s office team, and constituents around the state. Reporting to the Assistant Director of the Government Affairs & Policy Division (GAD), the Senior Policy Advisor is primarily responsible for legislative engagement for the department of Commerce. This position is a member of a small team – director, two policy advisors, coordinator, and administrative support – responsible for the comprehensive legislative and policy agenda development, government affairs, and strategic initiatives that drive the agency’s approach to a broad range of budget, legislative, and policy issues impacting the 400+ programs within the agency. The team covers a wide variety of programs, and we share a portfolio work to independently support specific teams and divisions in the agency. We’ll work together through agendas, process, and engagement, but you’ll have independence in supporting teams, establishing relationships and working on specific policies.

This position leads highly visible legislative, budgetary, and policy development that will substantially advance the department’s mission and vision. The position is a key advisor to the director and executive leadership team, providing reliable and professionally sound guidance on complex policy issues and initiatives, and overall strategic direction. The position also works with the Governor’s Office and staff to respond to and collaborate with legislative members and leaders and their staff.

This position works independently through effective working relationships with Commerce team members, community organizations, local leaders, economic development and industry representatives, and policy, governmental, and academic organizations. The position represents the department in official meetings, legislative committees, rulemaking, and other committee boards, councils, or convenings.

During state legislative session (January to April), you will need to work part-time in Olympia at the Commerce office and the state capital to meet with the Commerce team, legislators, staff, among others.

Effectively lead highly complex policy development efforts that involve engagement with and facilitation of stakeholders with diverse and potentially conflicting interests, and that may involve unproven or untried policy approaches and/or politically charged environments:

• Anticipate needs and opportunities for the department and advise on policy direction, communications, and actions.
• Serve as trusted advisor for agency executive leadership, providing high level recommendations, complex analysis, data, coordination and convening, planning, and communication.
• Comprehensively evaluate and recommend high level courses of action to the director and/or executive management.
• Analyze legislative proposals, develop recommendations regarding department positions, and work with and through others to help advance bills and their implementation.
• Advise on and support development of department decision packages, agency request legislation and/or fiscal notes on relevant legislative proposals.
• Develop and/or provide materials that present clear, accurate, and engaging information to specific audiences.
• Collaborate and participate in projects of the department’s government affairs division and/or other agency-wide initiatives.

Conduct and apply research, data analysis, community outreach and engagement to support development of policies and implementation, aligning with the department’s mission and vision:

• Independently conduct and/or lead “just-in-time” research and presentation support to the director and executive leadership.
• Gather and analyze data to understand trends, provide guidance, and develop compelling narratives and graphics to help inform leadership, stakeholders and decision makers about issues, proposals, programs and policies that are important to the agency’s mission.
• Connect, participate, or lead community engagement that can provide community insight based on environmental justice, Pro-Equity, Anti-Racism (PEAR), or co-creation processes to meaningfully engage community in policy development.
• Employ a variety of federal, state, local, and other data sets to understand and support issues and policies.
• Communicate with national and state organizations, federal, state and local policy makers, legislative and congressional staff, Governor, and Office of Financial Management staff, advocacy and lobbying organizations, and media on issues regarding policy and political impacts.

Required Education and Experience: Any combination of professional experience and education totaling nine (9) years. This could be gained by a combination of relevant education beyond high school equivalency, and/or professional level experience.

Nine (9) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:

Experience must include four (4) years of the following:

• Gathering and analyzing legislation proposals, case law, regulations, policies, reports, and other data.
• Interviewing or seeking advice from organizations, community members, stakeholders, or other interested people.
• Building comprehensive strategies for discussion, communications, and official comments with elected officials or staff.
• Technical experience conducting research
• Leading complex projects across multiple departments
• Analyzing and using complex data sets of varied sources and wide-ranging topics

And a minimum of one year of experience in the following areas or work related to the position:

• Developing facts and evidence to support policy development or recommendations.
• Working with elected officials, government agencies, or community members in developing and implementing plans or programs.
• Identifying the specific needs and goals that require funding.
• Research of potential grant opportunities from various sources, such as government agencies, private foundations, corporations, and non-profit organizations.

Education includes coursework in public administration, law, economics, non-profit management, or related fields. Qualifying for education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.

Examples of how to qualify:

• 9 years of experience
• 8 years of experience and one year of education
• 7 years of experience and two years of education
• 6 years of experience and three years of education
• 5 years of experience and four years of education
• 4 years of experience and five years of education
• 3 years of experience and six years of education
• 2 years of experience and seven years of education

Required Position Competencies:

• Effective communication skills –oral, written and listening.
• Existing relationships with policy makers is preferred with strong interpersonal skills including relationship building, problem solving, providing presentations and testimony, and teamwork focused on building and maintaining connections to elected officials, staff, agencies and stakeholders.
• Current understanding of federal, state and local policy development, legislative process, public funding, grant solicitation, and ability to analyze data and policy.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:

PhD in public administration, law, economics, or a related field, or bachelor’s degree and 1 year of progressively responsible professional experience in public policy development and/or grant seeking. OR Master’s degree and 2 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public policy development and/or grant seeking. OR Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in policy development and/or grant seeking.

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: [e-mail] - 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. During state legislative session (January to April), you will need to work part-time in Olympia at the Commerce office and the state capital to meet with the Commerce team, legislators, staff, among others. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely 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 [e-mail].

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@