L&I Senior Policy Manager

*** The Target Pay Range typically considered for this position is $86,892 - $123,807. Compensation decisions are determined using factors such as job-related skills, experience, and education or training.  We will consider your individual qualifications, should we make you an offer of employment.

Make a direct impact to L&I’s mission by providing high-level strategic direction related to complex policy and operational issues for the Apprenticeship, Contract Release & Clean Energy, Employment Standards, Healthcare Labor Standards, and Prevailing Wage programs!

In this role, you will manage a team of 9 policy analysts and lead all divisional legislative analysis and implementation. You will oversee all rulemaking and administrative policy development for the division and will work closely with legislators, business and labor representatives and the public.

This role is critical to ensuring effective management of the divisional policy team. With the upcoming legislative session approaching, this role plays a pivotal part in maintaining relationships with both internal and external customers, providing policy guidance to support the division's long-term success. This position provides analysis for complex legislative and political issues, ensures divisional operations are aligned with statewide policy objectives and statutory mandates. They analyze policy, rules and proposed laws. 

Some of what you’ll do:

• Serves as the senior Policy Advisor to the Assistant Director for the Division of Labor Standards (DLS)
• Manages the DLS policy team.
• Advises the Assistant Director, leadership and executive management in the management and coordination in the areas of strategic management, policy, legislation and stakeholder efforts for the Labor Standards programs.
• Provides comprehensive policy, rulemaking, analytics, research, legislative and management support to the Assistant Director for DLS and division leadership on agency related policy issues.
• Plans, develops and implements stakeholder engagement strategies relating to complex and high-profile areas.
• Advises senior leaders on stakeholder relations.
• Provides policy advice and consultation to inquiries from the Governor, Legislature, and other key stakeholders.
• Helps identify and address sensitive issues and work with parties to identify solutions.
• Prepares correspondence for the Governor, Director, Deputy Director, DLS Assistant Director, Labor Standards Program Manager(s} and replies directly, when requested, for them. Provides policy responses to queries from the legislature, executive management staff, and other managers. 
• Prepares and presents agency responses to legislation that has direct and indirect impact on the Prevailing Wage program.
• In coordination with DLS Program Managers, identifies risks and develops strategies to minimize or eliminate risk. Ensures development, implementation and monitoring of all appropriate internal controls.
• Participates collaboratively on various teams to work on specific division, critically sensitive policies with external and internal stakeholders. Maintains stakeholder relationships that will serve to inform and educate critical policies.
• The primary interface with the Government Affairs and Policy Division of the agency on behalf of the DLS division.
• And much more!

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree involving major study in public or business administration, journalism, communications, writing, English, or closely allied field, AND two years’ experience with public policy, legislation, providing counsel on policy, litigation and regulatory matters. Additional examples of experience could include the types listed under “Experience could include” section below.

Or 

• Six (6) years’ experience with public policy, legislation, providing counsel on policy, litigation and regulatory matters. Additional examples of experience to reach a total of six (6) years could include the types listed under “Experience could include” section below.

*Additional qualifying experience will substitute for education at the rate of one year of experience for one year of education.

Experience could include:

• Knowledge of Agency authorizing environment, political environment, multiple program statutes and each of the program legal processes. Knowledge of Agency's work functions and current controversies.
• Ability to solve complex problems that impact policy and politics, working with a diverse group of stakeholders with diverse and opposing positions.
• Communicate complex legal information in easily understood terms, analyze intended and unintended consequences of action or inaction by the agency.
• The ability to defend the recommended positions. 
• Ability to give presentations to internal and external stakeholders.

Desired:

Experience:

• Knowledge of tools, materials, and methods used in the construction industry, governmental contracting, principles of legislative and rulemaking processes.
• Compensation and benefits analysis and theory.
• Principles of project/program management.
• Principles of labor law.
• Statistical methods.
• Principles of effective program performance management.

Competencies:

• Technological aptitude
• Leadership and team orientation
• Excellent verbal and writing skills
• Ability to motivate and influence
• Business process analysis
• Superior organizational skills

Things You Need To Know

To help you maintain a proper work-life balance, teleworking is one of the work schedule options for this position. L&I also offers flexible custom work schedules.

State employees who meet the qualifications will become eligible for a generous retirement package at the end of the employee’s career. Click on the “Benefits” tab to learn more.

At L&I, your voice matters. In addition, L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. Take a look at this brief video and learn more about why L&I is an employer of choice.

For this position, telework is dependent upon business needs and supervisor approval. The assigned duty station for this position is Tumwater, Washington.

For positions where in-office work is necessary, the frequency of telework will be discussed with the supervisor of the position at the time of offer.

Application process

We will contact the top candidates directly to interview for this position. Because we base the selection on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities that address the required and desirable qualifications described in the announcement.

Please include the following documents with your application:

1. A cover letter describing specific qualifications.
2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
3. A list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.

Please do not attach or place any medical information (vaccination status included) within the application, resume, or cover letter. If you do, we will have to reject your application to safeguard others from receiving your confidential information. You will have to remove the confidential information before you can apply again.

To learn more about our hiring process timeline at L&I please visit our L&I recruiting page at Hiring Process at L&I. If you would like to read our website in a language other than English, scroll up to the top of the page to select your language of choice from the banner.

Other information

• For positions requiring travel, you must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and have insurance if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• Candidates who are offered a job with L&I must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.
• The Department of Labor & Industries complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal employment eligibility verification form, I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form on the first day of employment.

Did You Know?

Washington is America's Top State to live, play, and work, according to U.S. News (2021). Join the L&I team and enjoy all the Evergreen State has to offer.

In addition to offering a positive balance between life and work, L&I provides one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation. We also believe your voice matters. We value our employees and their work-life balance by encouraging flexible schedules. L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety and health and security of Washington's 3 million workers.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference should attach to their application a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Please blackout any personally identifiable data such as Social Security numbers. For further information, contact L&I’s Jobs@lni.wa.gov.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

L&I employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.

We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the agency mission. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures to provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone and we strongly mean everyone.

The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need accommodation in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call 360-902-5700. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
 

You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.

For more Information

If you have any questions regarding this job posting, program, or the agency, please contact Steve Camerer at cste235@lni.wa.gov