Salary: $60,156.00 – $78,900.00 Annually
Location: Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Job Type: Full Time – Permanent
Department: Dept. of Commerce
Job Number: 2023-02067
Closing: Continuous
First Review: February 24, 2023

Learn more about this position at Washington State Department of Commerce’s Government Jobs page.

Job Description:

At the Department of Commerce, we are creative, collaborative, and trusted. We identify opportunities to deliver critical funding and services to strengthen communities, we cultivate an environment in which we continuously learn, and we own our work.

The Local Government Division (LGD) partners with local governments, nonprofits, and others to strengthen the ability of all forms of local governments and community-based organizations to fund and develop critical services to their citizens. The division provides leadership in local government finance and statewide infrastructure initiatives that help create and retain jobs.

The Commerce Specialist 3 works within the Growth Management Services (GMS) Unit of LGD. This position provides technical assistance to counties and cities in Washington State through the review of comprehensive plans, critical areas ordinances and development regulations on a statewide basis ensuring timely feedback. In addition, this position will assume one or more GMA related technical specialties and provide assistance related to the specialty to other GMS planners and counties and cities. This position’s assigned jurisdictions include the following counties and the cities and towns within them: Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, and Stevens.

This posting may be used to fill other vacant positions within 60 days once position is filled.

Duties:

The Commerce Specialist 3 position requires a strong working knowledge of land use planning and experience with Washington State’s Growth Management Act is preferred. Some of the duties performed in this role are:

Technical Assistance to Assigned Jurisdictions:

  • Analyze, review and provide technical assistance on comprehensive plans, critical areas ordinances and development regulations in assigned jurisdictions as needed.
  • Determine need and provide appropriate technical assistance to assigned jurisdictions.
  • Develop and maintain an ongoing relationship with staff in assigned jurisdictions.
  • Coordinate the quarterly eastern Washington Planners’ Forum.
  • Assist program coordinators in the coordination of GMA Short Courses, conferences, meetings and training opportunities.
  • Travel to meetings in assigned jurisdictions as needed.

Technical Specialty Assistance:

  • Serve as the GMS unit’s subject matter expert on rural lands.
  • Independently determine jurisdictional needs then provide appropriate technical assistance concerning their comprehensive plans and development regulations.
  • Determine need and provide appropriate technical assistance to Washington counties, cities, and other stakeholders on issues involving the assigned technical specialty.

Plan Review Support:

  • Analyze and review comprehensive plans, critical areas ordinances and development regulations from counties and cities in Washington State in order to alleviate temporary plan review backlogs experienced by the GMS unit during periodic update cycles and at other times as needed.
  • Use independent, critical thinking to determine appropriate plan review comments and prepare letters or other communication and feedback to local governments on items reviewed.
  • Determine existing need then communicate with the Plan Review Manager about alleviating temporary plan review workflow and bottleneck issues as they arise.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications: 

  • Bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, and three years of professional experience with local government planning and/or environmental laws and rules including the Growth Management Act, or
  • Bachelor’s degree in a field closely related to planning and four years of professional experience with local government planning and/or environmental laws and rules including the Growth Management Act, or
  • Master’s degree in a field closely related to planning and three years of professional experience with local government planning and/or environmental laws and rules including the Growth Management Act, or
  • Master’s Degree in urban and regional planning from a program accredited by the Planning Accreditation Board, or closely related field and two years of professional experience with local government planning and/or environmental laws and rules including the Growth Management Act.

 OR

  • Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the education requirement.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

  • Experience with Washington state planning and plan implementation procedures.
  • Specialized training or experience related to a GMA technical specialty.
  • Experience with administration of state or federal grants for planning.
  • Certification by the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP), or ability to obtain AICP certification within two years of appointment.

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 (3) professional references (enter online).

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement.

The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of your application. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. For questions about this recruitment, please contact Jose Dominguez at 360-810-0182 or jose.dominguez@commerce.wa.gov.

Work From Anywhere in Washington State:

This position is assigned to the eastern regional office in Spokane, WA, but the applicant may be located anywhere within Washington state though occasional travel to a Commerce office building or in-state travel to attend events or meetings will 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. However, it is anticipated that interviews for this position will be held using virtual videoconferencing. You will work with your supervisor to identify an appropriate work schedule and balance, including telework and reporting to a duty station for work activities, if needed.  

Important Notice:

Per Governor Inslee’s Directive #22-13.1, state employees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to your first day of employment. Your vaccine status will be verified prior to an offer of employment.  Please reach out to Human Resources Specialist Jimmie Wimberly at jimmie.wimberly@commerce.wa.gov if you need information on medical or religious accommodation.

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 call Human Resources at (360) 725-2650. 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.