Infrastructure Protection Program Manager (Project Position)

Description Infrastructure Protection Program Manager (Project Position / Emergency Management Program Specialist 4) 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. Position Objective: This position serves as a state resource in energy resilience, emergency management and energy security and is responsible for supporting the administration and refinement of the Washington State Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Office. This position works within the direction of the Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Director to implement and execute RCW 43.21F.045 to ensure proper planning, response, and restoration coordination across government and private sector. This position provides expert‑level energy infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, physical security, response coordination, planning, training, and exercises and is responsible for implementing the Energy Emergency Management Office strategic plan and State Energy Security Plan. 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 position will foster collaborative relationships with public and private sector partners to enhance and improve energy security and disaster resiliency statewide. 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). 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. Duties Energy Infrastructure Protection, Energy Cyber and Physical Security Planning and Response Coordination: Subject Matter Expert on Critical Infrastructure Protection, Energy Cyber and Physical Security matters. Administers, establishes, and facilitates statewide workgroups to address energy infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, physical security, critical energy infrastructure information data governance. Serve as the primary alternate on behalf of the Energy Emergency Management Director as requested: alternate POC, State’s Energy Emergency Assurance Coordinator (EEAC) to the Department of Energy; lead work in any internal, statewide, and national collaborative energy sector forums, sharing best practices, supporting new practices in the state, and contributing to multi‑state and national energy security, energy infrastructure protection, cyber and/or physical security. 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. Coordinates with outside organizations: ensure energy sector disruptions affecting the state are coordinated with contacts at FEMA Region 10, CISA Region 10, Department of Energy Region 10, and DOE Headquarters; coordinate with the state’s energy sector owners/operators through sharing of 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. Develop and maintain trusted relationships with neighboring states, energy sector‑specific associations, energy sector critical infrastructure partners, Washington State Fusion Center, Department of Homeland Security CISA Region X, Department of Energy Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response. Committee work: serve on the Emergency Management Council’s Cybersecurity Advisory Committee as the energy sector subject matter expert; serve on DHS Region 10 Critical Infrastructure and Resilience Committee as the Washington State energy sector subject matter expert; support the Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council as the energy infrastructure protection subject matter expert. Planning and Data Governance: administer the state’s energy cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection plan, coordinate the development, review, and update process, community engagement on plan creation and updates; administer the energy cybersecurity and critical infrastructure protection planning workgroup to facilitate the planning process across multiple state agencies, tribal, public, and provide energy security programs; conduct 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; participate as the state energy critical infrastructure protection and cybersecurity subject matter expert in other agencies, statewide, and multi‑state planning efforts to ensure alignment with the state energy security plan and other relevant energy security plans; administer the state’s critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) program: develop and maintain data handling procedures and training for all critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) and any other energy critical infrastructure data; develop and maintain plans and procedures for energy data management; align program materials to necessary industry standards (EMAP, NIMS, NIMS, NRC, NIST, etc.). Training, Exercise and Assessments: administer the state’s energy infrastructure protection and cybersecurity training and exercise program: develop, facilitate, participate and or support energy sector exercises with federal, state, local, tribal, and energy sector partners for cybersecurity, physical security, and other technological hazards; administer the NERC GridEx exercise program for Washington State and all participating electric utilities; develop and coordinate workforce development and in‑state training opportunities to improve access for continuing education and best practices within industry for existing energy cybersecurity professionals; develop and maintain the energy critical infrastructure portion of the state Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment process; develop and maintain a process and modeling that allows for cross‑sector dependency mapping of energy critical infrastructure assets; integrate critical energy infrastructure analysis into the ESF 12 situational awareness platform. Strategic Planning, Policy Development, and Supervision Active 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. Participate in both short and long‑term strategic planning at the division, agency, and statewide levels; develop metrics and create reports quarterly to document progress on desired outcomes. 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; review and provide input on state‑drafted policies and procedures; review previous significant energy disruptions, private sector, and critical infrastructure actions and processes for lessons learned; recommend changes to engagement processes with partners, internal and external, to the Office to the EREMO Director. Provide direct supervision of the Energy Emergency Operations Program staff by setting appropriate expectations to ensure the diverse work of the team is carried out in a way consistent with the division and agency; participate in interviewing and selecting all supervised positions; review and evaluate work of lower‑level staff providing coaching or corrective action as needed; identify and communicate training opportunities; facilitate inclusive team meetings, managing performance, providing oversight, and leadership. Administer the internship program for the Energy Emergency Management Office: recruitment and close‑out process for internships; managing individual intern work assignments, review, and provide constructive feedback; develop and implement learning/training opportunities for interns for their education and professional growth. ESF 12 Operational Team Lead for Energy Emergency Response and Restoration Coordination 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. Serve as the alternate ESF 12 Operations Team Lead and be the back‑up connection point with the Operations Section in the state emergency operations center (SEOC). Implement all relevant energy emergency plans required based on the incident or planned event to ensure an adequate supply of energy. Coordinate State Resource Allocation Requests for an energy supply disruption; create and distribute support and request templates to facilitate information flow during a significant energy disruption; evaluate energy emergency situations across the state to take action for resolution, or make recommendations to a higher authority for determination; integrate state and federal agency interaction in response to an energy emergency within the State; provide policy recommendations or actions to the Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Director related to response activities. Cross‑Agency Collaboration and Workgroup Participation Participate in agency‑wide project workgroup opportunities, including outcome measures, contracting risk workgroup, strategic breakthrough initiatives, and other opportunities that align with the duties of this position. Qualifications Nine (9) years of combined experience and/or education as described below or one (1) year of experience as an Emergency Management Program Specialist 3. Experience must include: 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.

Note: Qualifying Program/Project management is defined as: directing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating a project or program having a specific goal to be achieved within a specific time frame. Education involves emergency management, homeland security, disaster or hazard mitigation planning, public information/affairs, program/project management, scientific environmental analysis or planning, urban planning or related field. Qualifying 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 1 year of education
• 7 years of experience and 2 years of education
• 6 years of experience and 3 years of education
• 5 years of experience and 4 years of education
• 4 years of experience and 5 years of education
• 3 years of experience and 6 years of education
• 2 years of experience and 7 years of education
• 1 year of experience and 8 years of education

Required Position Competencies: 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; convey ideas and information in writing using language that is appropriate; 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. Preferred/Desired Qualifications: 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 System. To be considered for this position, the following are needed: A complete and detailed online application. A cover letter (enter online). At least three professional references (enter online). For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: View email address on click.appcast.io – please reference the job number in your message. Supplemental Information 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. If selected, you will need to travel to pick up equipment and receive instruction. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule. The hours for this position will be Monday‑Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm. This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days. Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, View phone number on click.appcast.io (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at View email address on click.appcast.io. 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 View email address on click.appcast.io. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7‑1‑1 or View phone number on click.appcast.io. Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details. #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Washington