Cap-and-Invest Group Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3)

at  State of Washington Dept of Ecology

KEEPING WASHINGTON CLEAN AND EVERGREEN

Washington has adopted ground-breaking legislation to address climate change by sharply reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and achieve carbon neutrality. Do you care passionately about climate change? Are you seeking a challenging and rewarding job in which you will be directly addressing the climate crisis? Then join us as we implement this historic legislation.
The Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP) within the Department of Ecology is looking to fill a Cap-and-Invest Group Administrative Assistant (Administrative Assistant 3) position. This position is located in our Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA. Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.
In 2021, Washington’s Legislature passed the landmark Climate Commitment Act (CCA) – a sweeping piece of legislation that directs Ecology to develop and implement the state’s first Cap-and-Invest Program and commits our state to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.
It’s a big task with even bigger long-term impacts on the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and the global fight against climate change. The Cap-and-Invest Group is already hard at work and looking to hire a diverse range of mission-focused professionals to help us bring this important legislation to life.
In this position, you will be part of the Cap-and-Invest Group charged with implementing all aspects of the Cap-and-Invest Program. In your role, you will primarily support the Cap-and-Invest Group Manager and the Auctions and Markets section, and to a lesser extent the Emissions Reporting and Verifications section, and the Cap-and-Invest Policy section. You will join staff from all over the United States that have come to Washington to implement this critical new legislation on behalf of the people of Washington state. You will serve as an integral resource for the entire team as we work together to develop, implement, and maintain this powerful emissions-reduction program.
Your work will look a little different every day as your efforts contribute to almost every aspect of daily operations of the Cap-and-Invest Implementation Group. If you are organized, an effective communicator, and a multi-tasker, we need you on this team!
The Climate Pollution Reduction Program’s (CPRP’s) mission is to implement policies and programs to reduce carbon emissions in the state of Washington so that the state meets its statutory greenhouse gas emission limits. The CPRP focuses long term, requiring creative and strategic decision making for implementation to achieve broad statewide and interstate success reducing carbon emissions in the state of Washington so residents have a healthy environment and climate.
Tele-work options for this position: This position will have flexibility of a hybrid schedule, empowering work from home and office, providing less time in traffic and shrinking your carbon footprint. This position will be eligible to tele-work up to 3 days per week. Applicants with questions about position location options, tele-work, and flexible or compressed schedules are encouraged to reach out to the contact person listed below in “other information.” Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.
Application Timeline: This position will remain open until filled; we will review applications on August 19, 2024. In order to be considered, please submit an application on or before August 18, 2024. If your application isn’t received by this date, it may not be considered. The agency reserves the right to make a Hire any time after the initial screening date.
Ecology employees may be eligible for the following:
Medical/Dental/Vision for employee & dependent(s), Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), Vacation, Sick, and other Leave, 11 Paid Holidays per year, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, Tuition Waiver, Long Term Disability & Life Insurance, Deferred Compensation Programs, Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP), Flexible Spending Arrangement (FSA), Employee Assistance Program, Commute Trip Reduction Incentives (Download PDF reader), Combined Fund Drive, SmartHealth *Click here for more information

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Years of required experience indicated below are full-time equivalent years. Full-time equivalent experience means that any experience where working hours were less than 40 hours per week will be prorated in order to meet the equivalency of full-time. We would calculate this by looking at the total hours worked per week, divide this by 40, and then multiply by the total number of months worked. Examples of the proration calculations are:

• 30 hours worked per week for 20 months: (30/40) x 20 months = 15 months full-time equivalent
• 20 hours worked per week for 12 months: (20/40) x 12 months = 6 months full-time equivalent

Experience for both required and desired qualifications can be gained through various combinations of formal professional employment, education, and volunteer experience. See below for how you may qualify.

A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR EQUIVALENT, AND A TOTAL OF FOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND/OR EDUCATION AS DESCRIBED BELOW:

• Experience: In clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative office work
• Education: In business administration, public administration, or closely allied field
  All experience and education combinations that meet the requirements for this position:

YEARS OF REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

Combination 1
No college credit hours or degree
4 years of experience
Combination 2
30-59 semester or 45-89 quarter credits.
3 years of experience
Combination 3
60-89 semester or 90-134 quarter credits (AA degree).
2 years of experience
Combination 4
90-119 semester or 135-179 quarter credits.
1 year of experience
Combination 5
A Bachelor’s Degree or higher.
No experience required
OR
One year of experience as an Administrative Assistant 2, at the Department of Ecology.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• A background check will be conducted, which may include criminal record history, fingerprinting, and credit history. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

We highly encourage you to apply even if you do not have some (or all) of the desired experience below.

• Demonstrated success in managing detailed administrative tasks and projects in support of program wide functions.
• Knowledge of office procedures and practices; business management, communication and correspondence practices.
• Excellent computer skills and a high level of proficiency using Microsoft’s Windows Operating System and Microsoft Office software (including Outlook, Word, Excel, SharePoint, and Power Point).
• Experience administering webinars and other web-based communications using software such as WebEx and Skype for Business.

Note: Having some (or all) of this desired experience may make your application more competitive in a highly competitive applicant pool.

DUTIES

The Cap-and-Invest Group is leading the design and implementation of Washington’s new Cap-and-Invest program, which employs market mechanisms to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a cost-effective manner. As part of the Cap-and-Invest program, businesses and organizations are required to obtain allowances tied to their emissions, which can be bought, sold, and traded. This market began in January 2023, and the proceeds are being invested in initiatives to decarbonize transportation and other sectors of the economy, promote clean energy, and advance equity and environmental justice.
In addition to providing a wide range of administrative duties, these positions are responsible for scheduling meetings with internal and external individuals and entities, assisting with recruitment, creating and formatting documents, coordinating travel arrangements, and preparing correspondence.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Review, assign, edit, draft, and track executive correspondence to ensure deadlines are met and letters are completed in accordance with agency and governor guidelines.
• Independently coordinate preparation, proofreading, signatures, and packaging of documents for briefing and/or approval.
• Complete and process internal and external correspondence, including typing, proofreading/formatting, distributing, and filing documents reflecting agency standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of confidential and market-sensitive data.
• Coordinate travel arrangements and agency required documentation. This includes completion of travel vouchers, reimbursement requests, and training requests.
• Coordinate transition for new hires within the section and ensure that necessary paperwork for new hires is complete in a timely manner.
• Coordinate enforcement efforts and ensure enforcement action packages are ready for signature.
• Assist with successfully managing calendars, ensuring that calendars are kept up to date and accurate.
• Monitor budget status and expenditures.
• Maintain the Cap-and-Invest Group SharePoint sites.