Infrastructure Protection Program Manager (Project / EMPS4)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

10d•Remote

About The Position

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 Energy Division (Energy) catalyzes the transition to a clean and just energy future. This position works within the direction of the Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Director to provide expert-level energy infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, physical security, response coordination, planning, training, and exercises. This individual will be responsible for implementing the Energy Emergency Management Office strategic plan and State Energy Security Plan. Additionally, this position conducts outreach work with federal partners, neighboring states, state agencies, tribal governments, local jurisdictions, and the private sector to coordinate the assessing, measuring, planning, and reporting of energy infrastructure protection capabilities and additional needed resources. This role fosters collaborative relationships with public and private sector partners to enhance and improve infrastructure protection and energy security statewide. This position will operate as the primary subject matter expert for infrastructure protection including but not limited to cyber and physical security during emergency coordination activities that could impact all energy sectors. This position is a Project Position that has funding through May 2, 2027. The position duration may be extended as funding allows.

Requirements

Completion of IS235.c Emergency Planning Independent Study Course from the Emergency Management Institute
One (1) year experience in the following: Supervising professional staff
Performing emergency planning for organizations of 25 or more personnel in the last 5 years.
Working with catastrophic, comprehensive emergency management, infrastructure protection, recovery, hazard mitigation, business continuity, or continuity of operations plans.
Facilitating an emergency planning process
Three (3) or more of the following areas or work related to the position: Emergency management, Homeland security, Disaster or hazard mitigation planning, Emergency communications systems, Financial management (grant management, contracting, claims management, budgeting), Training/education, Public information/affairs, Program/project management, Scientific environmental analysis or planning, Civil/structural engineering, and/or urban planning.
Demonstrated technical/legal knowledge and aptitude of principles of emergency management, the National Incident Management System (NIMS), and the incident command system; performance management principles; concepts for development of training using adult learning styles; state and federal rules and regulations related to emergency management functions.
Ability to: lead, direct, coordinate, monitor and evaluate a project or program having a specific goal to be achieved within a specific time; communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to conduct training, provide proactive responses, advice, reports and comprehensive documentation; convey ideas and information in writing using language that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic and the knowledge and understanding of the listener/reader; employ leadership skills in making assignments, coaching, providing guidance and training teammates.
Accountability--Meets commitments, works independently, accepts accountability, handles change, sets personal standards, stays focused under pressure, meets attendance/punctuality requirements.
Customer Service--Handles customer questions and complaints, communicates with customers, handles service problems politely and efficiently, always available for customers, follows procedure to solve customer problems, understands company products and services, maintains pleasant and professional image.
Integrity--Deals with others in a straightforward and honest manner, is accountable for actions, maintains confidentiality, supports company values, conveys good news and bad.
Leadership--Leads through change and adversity, makes the tough call when needed, builds consensus when appropriate, motivates and encourages others.
Teamwork--Meets all team deadlines and responsibilities, listens to others and values opinions, helps team leader to meet goals, welcomes newcomers and promotes a team atmosphere.
Results Focus--Targets and achieves results, sets challenging goals, prioritizes tasks, overcomes obstacles, accepts accountability, sets team standards and responsibilities, provides leadership/motivation.
Communication--Communicates well both verbally and in writing, creates accurate and punctual reports, delivers presentations, shares information and ideas with others, has good listening skills.
Organizational Savvy--Operates within the organization's formal and informal structures, builds allies and relationships across departments, uses allies to build consensus and create results, is appropriately diplomatic, understands others' roles and perspectives, can sell projects and ideas across the organization.
Computer Skills--Skilled in the use of computers, adapts to new technology, keeps abreast of changes, learns new programs quickly, use computers to improve productivity.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with energy sector stakeholders such as electrical utilities and petroleum refiners.
Knowledge of generation, transmission, and distribution systems for the electrical grid, petroleum, and liquid natural gas systems.
One year experience working with catastrophic, comprehensive emergency management, infrastructure protection, recovery, hazard mitigation, business continuity, or continuity of operations plans.
Knowledge of and experience facilitating an emergency planning process
Demonstrated skills in facilitation and stakeholder work.
Demonstrated communications skills and experience gathering and documenting customer requirements.
Experience with Microsoft Office.
Certificates of completions for FEMA courses: IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, IS-800
Experience implementing Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program

Responsibilities

Administers, establishes, and facilitates statewide workgroups to address energy infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, physical security, critical energy infrastructure information data governance.
Coordinate with local, state, and federal partners, internal and external committees, and the state’s energy sector owners/operators to share current and emerging technology, risks, threats, vulnerabilities, standards, and other relevant industry information in order to support our state’s energy sector critical infrastructure owners/operators and the state’s energy transition
Administer the state’s energy cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection plan
Conducts outreach and education efforts on the state's energy cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection with statewide critical infrastructure, private industry, and state, local, and tribal governments to support prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and restoration activities.
Develop and maintain data handling plans, procedures, and training for all critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) and any other energy critical infrastructure data in coordination with the appropriate partners.
Develop, facilitate, participate in and or support energy sector exercises and trainings with federal, state, local, tribal, and energy sector partners for cybersecurity, physical security, and other technological hazards.
Develop and maintain a process and modeling that allows for cross-sector dependency mapping of energy critical infrastructure assets.
Participation in the Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Office strategic planning process for statewide energy emergency, private sector, and critical infrastructure goals, objectives, strategies, and performance measures
Recommend, develop, modify or inform policies, plans, strategies as appropriate to align with the state’s energy transition strategy with the perspective of energy security, cybersecurity and physical security, and infrastructure protection.
Recommend changes to state policies, RCWs, and WACs to the EREMO Director improve the state’s posture on infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and physical security.
This position will operate as the primary subject matter expert for infrastructure protection including but not limited to cyber and physical security during emergency coordination activities that could impact all energy sectors.
This position will serve as the alternate ESF 12 Operations Team Lead and will be the back-up connection point with the Operations Section in the state emergency operations center (SEOC).
Travel is an essential function of this role to ensure all duties and functions can be appropriately fulfilled by a subject matter expert on energy emergency management.