Integrative Infrastructure & Technical Assistance Specialist (COM 4)

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

9d•Remote

About The Position

The Department of Commerce is seeking an Integrative Infrastructure & Technical Assistance Specialist (COM 4) to join the Local Government Division (LGD). The LGD partners with local governments and community organizations to strengthen their capacity to fund and develop critical services. This role specifically supports the Public Works Board (PWB), which provides technical assistance, training, and low-interest loans and grants for public infrastructure projects. The specialist will develop, negotiate, and monitor technical aspects of infrastructure investments supporting Washington’s goals in natural resource management, emergency response, climate resilience, economic development, and housing growth. This position involves coordinating with various partners, including state agencies, federal programs, and Federally Recognized Indian Tribes, to align technical assistance and financing tools with community needs. The specialist will act as a strategic conduit between the PWB and other agencies, providing subject matter expertise for programmatic improvements, policy development, and statutory changes. The role also involves advising on key infrastructure investment needs and leading the PWB’s technical assistance program, including developing implementation strategies for policies, rulemaking, funding methodologies, and financing tools.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education in community, trade, economic development, local government land use or infrastructure planning or finance, and/or construction management consisting of two or more of the following: Federal/state or local infrastructure financing, Grant and loan administration, Research and analysis related to local governments and infrastructure or urban and regional planning, Technical assistance to stakeholders including local, state, federal, and/or Tribal governments.
Education involves business, public administration, urban or regional planning or related field. Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.
Excellent interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to build trusting relationships and loyal partnerships with customers, employees, and executive management.
Technical knowledge of Infrastructure programs related to financing, contract management, and compliance.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to participate in multi-stakeholder processes.
Intermediate skill level in the Microsoft Office suite products including OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.

Nice To Haves

Experience working with state, federal or local policy boards.
Experience with Infrastructure planning, funding or construction, impact fees or system development charges
Experience with housing planning and / or affordable housing development.
Experience with leading a program, including budgeting, communication skills such as press releases, coordinating with other funding programs
Proficient in the use of state agency accounting and finance database system
Experience with managing contracts in a state process.

Responsibilities

Provides highest-level research, interpretation, and implementation of program policy, rules and statutes to promote investments in infrastructure that support Washington’s natural resource management, emergency response, climate resilience and climate change mitigation, economic development, and housing growth goals.
Develop strategies for how the PWB can reduce barriers to the deployment of infrastructure funding assistance in support of these goals.
Make policy recommendations to PWB leadership and committees to ensure PWB’s public infrastructure investments are integrated with statewide goals.
Provide expert consultative assistance to other infrastructure financing programs that also support the above statewide goals.
Foster and maintain relationships with other Commerce teams, interagency partners, and any statewide initiatives that provide technical assistance to the communities with greatest need for infrastructure investments that support these goals.
Coordinate technical assistance and outreach efforts through SYNC and with infrastructure investment partners to support potential applicants.
Prepare technical information for other agencies, units of government, Washington State Legislature, or qualifying applicants on PWB programming, policies and processes.
Collect, organize, and analyze data on project applications, contract spending, and project outcomes that showcase infrastructure integration needs and outcomes, such as housing development, economic growth, climate resilience, and other areas of significance to the statewide goals in order to promote continuous improvement of PWB programs.
Maintain data and documentation integrity in Commerce systems and coordinates data correction with the database administrator to ensure accurate, timely and complete data.
Coordinate internally to meet data collection needs and ensure best practices.
Take primary responsibility for implementing the Public Works Board’s technical assistance strategy.
Act as the main point of contact for the PWB’s technical assistance program by receiving, assessing, triaging, and responding to technical assistance requests.
Collaborate with technical assistance partners at Department of Commerce, other state agencies, and external organizations to provide customized technical assistance services to communities.
Lead any procurement for and manage contractors providing specialized technical assistance services on behalf of PWB.
Provide PWB presence at internal and external technical assistance groups, such as the PWB’s Communications, Engagement, and Technical Assistance Committee (CETAC), the Infrastructure Assistance Coordinating Council (IACC), and SYNC subcommittees.
In consultation with the PWB Communications and Equity Lead and the PWB Board Liaison and Coordinator, coordinate program communications efforts relating to technical assistance, including conference attendance, public presentations, webinars, and training events.
Research nationwide best practices and trends to support infrastructure funding and innovations, community development, and technical assistance.
Train, advise, and support other PWB staff to provide technical assistance at all stages of application, project award, or contract development.
Develop, negotiate and monitor complex contracts with applicants, including agreements that involve outcomes such as housing development, climate resilience, or disaster recovery as key outcomes of the improvements financed by the PWB.
Support the development of program contract templates and resources.