State of Washington
Housing Policy Manager (WMS2)
Department of Commerce , Washington State
Overview 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
Housing Division (HD)
partners with local governments, Tribes, housing authorities, nonprofits, and other organizations to develop and preserve affordable housing, promote individual and family self‑sufficiency, and reduce adult and youth homelessness.
This position is located within the Housing Policy and Strategic Initiatives Unit in the Housing Division and reports to the Housing Policy Director. It supports collaborative policy development to address current and emerging issues affecting people experiencing housing instability and homelessness in Washington State.
Responsibilities
Serve as a lead advisor for housing and homelessness policy, providing leadership, program management, policy guidance, resource management, and program direction.
Provide supportive supervision and coaching for a staff of five (four policy analysts and one admin/project specialist) working on legislative and policy development, provisional contracts, reports, advisory group staffing, external communications, and complex division‑wide or cross‑agency projects. Develop and assign work and monitor workloads.
Coordinate the development of legislative proposals and budget requests related to housing and homelessness across the division.
Oversee preparation of fiscal notes and bill analysis of pending legislation affecting the Housing Division and review fiscal notes and bill analyses prepared by lead program staff to ensure consistency with Division priorities.
Research and make recommendations on Housing Division policy positions and strategies; represent the Housing Division during legislative hearings and work sessions as needed. Write memos, policy statements, and prepare presentations for agency events, legislative hearings, workshops, meetings, or conferences.
Lead the divisional legislative reports development process, including consultant contract management, research, community engagement, writing, editing, and review.
Supervise staff who provide operational support and project management for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Community Advisory Team, the Permanent Supportive Housing Advisory Committee, the State Advisory Council on Homelessness, and the Inter‑Agency Council on Homelessness.
Work with leadership across the Division to align policy goals and priorities through coordination of division‑level and agency‑level strategic planning processes, including procurement of consultant expertise as needed.
Work with senior policy staff, legislators and stakeholders on complex, Commerce‑wide and/or cross‑agency projects and issues of short‑ and long‑term significance; support the Housing Division’s Assistant Director and leadership with project management support, divisional budget analysis, and other tasks as assigned.
Communicate agency housing policy to other divisions, state agencies, and state, regional and national organizations, and legislators.
Work across the agency to coordinate, consult, develop, and implement housing‑ and homelessness‑related provisos, activities and initiatives.
Coordinate with the state Department of Emergency Management to co‑lead the state’s housing recovery support function following a state disaster proclamation. Maintain the Housing Recovery Support Function annex and participate in state recovery exercises as needed.
Represent Commerce on statewide workgroups, such as the Economic Justice Work Group.
Recommend and manage program development or program changes related to local, state, and federal housing programs; manage or supervise staff coordinating short‑term projects, contracts and grants related to those efforts.
Qualifications Required Education, and Experience:
Nine years of experience and/or education as described below, with two (2) years including supervisory experience.
Experience in public policy, or work related to the duties of the position, that includes two or more of the following:
Project management
Briefing and engaging senior level government officials
Knowledge of public systems that serve vulnerable, low‑income people at risk of and experiencing homelessness and other issues relevant to the Housing Division.
Analyzing legislative and budget proposals and making policy recommendations.
Supervising and coaching a high‑performing team
Public speaking
Education involving a major study in public/business administration, public policy, land‑use planning, or a closely related field.
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
Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, And Competencies
Prior involvement with systems reform.
A graduate degree in public policy, land use planning, or a related field.
Understanding of principles and practices that apply evidence‑based and innovative solutions relevant to Commerce’s mission.
Excellent research, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
Ability to effectively compile and present complex information concisely.
Familiarity with housing disaster recovery work and the Washington Restoration Framework.
Completion of required training: IS 2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework Overview, and EMD Foundations training, among others.
Application Requirements
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: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.
Equal Opportunity Employer 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 Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service at 1‑800‑833‑6388 or 800‑833‑6388.
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Overview 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
Housing Division (HD)
partners with local governments, Tribes, housing authorities, nonprofits, and other organizations to develop and preserve affordable housing, promote individual and family self‑sufficiency, and reduce adult and youth homelessness.
This position is located within the Housing Policy and Strategic Initiatives Unit in the Housing Division and reports to the Housing Policy Director. It supports collaborative policy development to address current and emerging issues affecting people experiencing housing instability and homelessness in Washington State.
Responsibilities
Serve as a lead advisor for housing and homelessness policy, providing leadership, program management, policy guidance, resource management, and program direction.
Provide supportive supervision and coaching for a staff of five (four policy analysts and one admin/project specialist) working on legislative and policy development, provisional contracts, reports, advisory group staffing, external communications, and complex division‑wide or cross‑agency projects. Develop and assign work and monitor workloads.
Coordinate the development of legislative proposals and budget requests related to housing and homelessness across the division.
Oversee preparation of fiscal notes and bill analysis of pending legislation affecting the Housing Division and review fiscal notes and bill analyses prepared by lead program staff to ensure consistency with Division priorities.
Research and make recommendations on Housing Division policy positions and strategies; represent the Housing Division during legislative hearings and work sessions as needed. Write memos, policy statements, and prepare presentations for agency events, legislative hearings, workshops, meetings, or conferences.
Lead the divisional legislative reports development process, including consultant contract management, research, community engagement, writing, editing, and review.
Supervise staff who provide operational support and project management for the Affordable Housing Advisory Board, the Community Advisory Team, the Permanent Supportive Housing Advisory Committee, the State Advisory Council on Homelessness, and the Inter‑Agency Council on Homelessness.
Work with leadership across the Division to align policy goals and priorities through coordination of division‑level and agency‑level strategic planning processes, including procurement of consultant expertise as needed.
Work with senior policy staff, legislators and stakeholders on complex, Commerce‑wide and/or cross‑agency projects and issues of short‑ and long‑term significance; support the Housing Division’s Assistant Director and leadership with project management support, divisional budget analysis, and other tasks as assigned.
Communicate agency housing policy to other divisions, state agencies, and state, regional and national organizations, and legislators.
Work across the agency to coordinate, consult, develop, and implement housing‑ and homelessness‑related provisos, activities and initiatives.
Coordinate with the state Department of Emergency Management to co‑lead the state’s housing recovery support function following a state disaster proclamation. Maintain the Housing Recovery Support Function annex and participate in state recovery exercises as needed.
Represent Commerce on statewide workgroups, such as the Economic Justice Work Group.
Recommend and manage program development or program changes related to local, state, and federal housing programs; manage or supervise staff coordinating short‑term projects, contracts and grants related to those efforts.
Qualifications Required Education, and Experience:
Nine years of experience and/or education as described below, with two (2) years including supervisory experience.
Experience in public policy, or work related to the duties of the position, that includes two or more of the following:
Project management
Briefing and engaging senior level government officials
Knowledge of public systems that serve vulnerable, low‑income people at risk of and experiencing homelessness and other issues relevant to the Housing Division.
Analyzing legislative and budget proposals and making policy recommendations.
Supervising and coaching a high‑performing team
Public speaking
Education involving a major study in public/business administration, public policy, land‑use planning, or a closely related field.
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
Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, And Competencies
Prior involvement with systems reform.
A graduate degree in public policy, land use planning, or a related field.
Understanding of principles and practices that apply evidence‑based and innovative solutions relevant to Commerce’s mission.
Excellent research, analytical, and problem‑solving skills.
Ability to effectively compile and present complex information concisely.
Familiarity with housing disaster recovery work and the Washington Restoration Framework.
Completion of required training: IS 2900 National Disaster Recovery Framework Overview, and EMD Foundations training, among others.
Application Requirements
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: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.
Equal Opportunity Employer 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 Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service at 1‑800‑833‑6388 or 800‑833‑6388.
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