Integrative Infrastructure & Technical Assistance Specialist (COM 4)

About the Department

Integrative Infrastructure & Technical Assistance Specialist (COM 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 Local Government Division (LGD) partners with local governments, nonprofits, and others to strengthen the ability of all forms of local government 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. We also provide grants, loans, and planning and technical assistance to local governments for community development needs, infrastructure improvements, and economic development opportunities.

The Public Works Board (PWB) assists local governments in meeting their critical infrastructure needs by providing technical assistance, training, and low interest loans and grants for public infrastructure including water, sewer, solid waste, stormwater, roads/streets/sidewalks/bridges and broadband.

This position develops, negotiates and monitors technical aspects specific to supporting the Public Works Board’s capacity to strategically finance infrastructure investments that support Washington’s natural resource management, emergency response, climate resilience and climate change mitigation, economic development, and housing growth goals. This position coordinates directly with partners such as the Growth Management Services and Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) to align technical assistance for governments, elected officials, private entities, citizens, technical experts, federal and state governmental program staff, as well as Federally Recognized Indian Tribes. This position prioritizes support to Washington communities where the State’s goals will be most impactful by successfully aligning financing tools for public works infrastructure systems with the communities’ needs.

This position is the strategic conduit between the Public Works Board and peers at Department of Commerce, SYNC, and other agencies to identify and provide subject matter expertise for the development, negotiations and monitoring of targeted programmatic improvements, including necessary policy, rules or statutory changes. This position advises on key infrastructure investment needs across Washington in support of strategic statewide goals, including natural resource management, emergency response and disaster recovery, climate resilience and climate change mitigation, economic development, and housing growth. This position leads the Public Works Board’s technical assistance program and develops implementation strategies for policies guiding PWB infrastructure programs, including rulemaking, funding methodologies, and public infrastructure financing tools.

Position Duties

Subject matter expert for integrating the Public Works Board’s public infrastructure financing strategy with statewide goals
Tasks include:
• 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.

Lead the Public Works Board’s technical assistance strategy implementation
Tasks include:
• 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.

Contract Management
Tasks include:
• 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.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Position Qualifications:
Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience working 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.

Examples of how to qualify:
• 8 years of experience
• 7 years of experience and one year of education
• 6 years of experience and two years of education
• 5 years of experience and three years of education
• 4 years of experience and four years of education
• 3 years of experience and five years of education
• 2 years of experience and six years of education
• 1 year of experience and seven years of education

Required Position Competencies:
• 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.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:
• 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.

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: [email protected] - please reference the job number in your message.

Other Qualifications

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.  

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at [email protected].
 
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 [email protected].  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.
               
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.

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

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Agency Information

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View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov