Regulatory Analyst 3 at State of Washington, WA in Thurston County – Lacey

Job description

• Respect. Professionalism. Integrity. Accountability.
• Regulatory Analyst 3
• Salary Consideration: Range 65, Step A ($80,496) – Step L ($105,612) annually.
• The starting employment offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications. Typically Step M of the pay range is a longevity step.
• This recruitment is open until October 01, 2026, at 11:59pm.
• UTC reserves the right to render a hiring decision and/or choose to close or extend this recruitment at any given time. Applications for this recruitment could be used to fill comparable positions that open within the next 60 days.
• The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is seeking to fill the role of one (1) Regulatory Analyst 3 within the Water, Solid Waste, Transportation (WST) Strategic Review section of the Regulatory Services Division. This is a project position and is anticipated to end on June 30, 2027. This position will primarily oversee the billing and payment structures of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), ensure compliance with Senate Bill 5284 (SB5284), ensure compliance with Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 70A.208’s and collaborate with partner agencies to implement SB5284 and RCW 70A.208’s provisions.
• Although this is a hybrid opportunity, the successful incumbent must reside within Washington state and must be available to report to the Lacey, Washington headquarters building when needed.
• Moderate travel during and outside normal work hours, throughout Washington state or the United States, may be required. This includes occasional overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Reporting to an assigned Section Manager, this Regulatory Analyst 3 project position works on complex issues with significant and broad impact on private solid waste collection, transportation, water companies, customers, and other stakeholders. This position plays a critical role in helping the commission navigate the most complex technical issues by conducting reliable analysis, summarizing and packaging information clearly, accurately, and in easy-to-understand terms, identifying the critical decision points of complex filings, and balancing stakeholder interests. Tasks are unstructured and require the incumbent to understand the private water and transportation industries and operating environment and apply appropriate administrative codes, statutes, regulatory policies and procedures, legal and regulatory precedents, and other information to complete assignments.
• Performs detailed quantitative and qualitative analyses using economic, financial, accounting, and regulatory principles, with particular emphasis on solid waste rate filings, EPR and Organics billing and payment structures, and compliance with SB5284 or RCW 70A.205 and RCW 70A.208 requirements. Ensures solid waste investment plans and asset acquisitions provide recycling services or expands recycling services in areas not currently or adequately served, in accordance with the requirements of SB5284 or RCW 70A.205 and 208.
• Investigates and monitors the processing of recycling material through “responsible markets” in accordance with the requirements of SB5284 or RCW 70A.205 and 208. Quantifies the financial qualitative and quantitative impacts of the practice or issue to ratepayers and the public interest which includes anti-racist and pro-equity considerations, identifies the root cause of the issue, and recommends resolution through a specific course of action to decision makers.
• Independently evaluates the validity of utility and transportation requests through quantitative, qualitative, and anecdotal analysis and by applying advanced principles of economics, financial accounting, and regulatory theory.
• Independently conducts research that is directly relevant to the regulation of public utilities and transportation companies in Washington.
• Translates complex and technical concepts into accessible terms for decision-makers through memoranda, formal testimony, or presentations on tariff filings, petitions, and other relief sought by utilities, transportation companies and stakeholders.
• Leads rulemaking teams or participates as a member of a rulemaking team drafting administrative rules to implement new legislation, streamline or improve existing administrative procedures, and eliminate or replace outdated processes.
• Leads or participates as a member of a team to assess utility and transportation rate filings critically, comprehensively, and holistically.
• Initiates or leads complex and specialized staff investigations concerning business practices or potentially problematic regulatory issues.
• Leads or participates in teams for policy dockets on complex regulatory issues.
• Leads and participates in agency processes as a representative of the UTC. This includes preparing fiscal notes and detailing how a proposed bill would affect the agency's workload, providing responsive materials for requests for public records, and attending section meetings and agency-required meetings.
• Provides information and process guidance to companies, customers, and other stakeholders.
• Supports other staff members with written deliverables by providing clarifying, corrective, or substantive edits. Assists team members with creating narrative aids that help convey meaningful messages from complex information, visual presentations, charting, and infographics.

Requirements

• The commission values diverse career paths and recognizes that competencies may be acquired through a combination of education, training, certifications, research, volunteer service, lived experience, military service, professional practice, or other demonstrated accomplishments.
• Advanced knowledge in one or more of the following disciplines: engineering, finance, accounting, physical or social sciences, statistics, economics, law, public utility regulation, public policy, or a closely related field.
• Extensive experience in conducting research and analytical work involving regulatory, policy, financial, financial, economic, legal, scientific, technical, or public administration matters.
• Highly proficient in the evaluation of quantitative and qualitative information; identifying trends or issues; drawing supported conclusions; and developing recommendations based on data, research, and analysis.
• Advanced practitioner with interpretation and application of laws, rules, policies, procedures, or regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate complex information effectively in writing and verbally with diverse audiences in both formal and informal settings.
• Strong practitioner in building and maintaining productive, respectful, and collaborative working relationships with stakeholders, partners, and coworkers.
• Consistently manages complex projects, assignments, timelines, priorities, or process improvement objectives.
• Highly proficient in conducting research, analysis, regulatory, policy, compliance, auditing, investigative, or closely related experience.
• Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking - Independently formulates judgments on complex issues, qualitative, and anecdotal data, evidence, and research; reaches conclusions through the holistic review of multiple forms of evidence and identifies connections, gaps, discrepancies, and key data necessary to reach an informed decision; distinguishes information that is and is not pertinent to a decision or solution. Assesses the workload impact versus the value to the public interest of new proposal.
• Fundamental Regulatory Skills - Applies economic theory, accounting standards and principles, Commission policy and interpretive statements, legal precedents, administrative rules, and statutes in a manner consistent with the subject matter; examines issues to understand and discuss historical context; researches general fields of study to understand implication on regulatory mechanisms and practices including; economics, accounting, business administration, engineering, and computer science. Effectively persuades others to voluntarily accept recommendations or advice.
• Writing and Communication - Writes clearly and concisely using the Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking core competency and holistically reasoned arguments; independently translates complex technical concepts into messages non-technical audiences can readily understand; listen carefully, reflects upon what is being said, and responds appropriately; presents information clearly, accurately, and in an audience-specific manner; demonstrates situational awareness by adapting communication styles and tools to ensure that information is accessible to everyone including people of non-while cultures and backgrounds.
• Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct - Takes responsibility for actions and impacts; works collaboratively as a part of a team; respects the point of view of others and approaches disagreements about work matters with active listening and good will; ensures individual interactions incorporate equitable treatment of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to a supervisor or leader; demonstrates UTC’s Values at all times, through the lens of antiracism, equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Leadership - Leads by example, always demonstrating the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct core competency, exhibiting balance and fairhandedness in considering various perspectives, maintaining composure and level-headedness in difficult situations; demonstrates emotional intelligence and intellectual humility; pursues compromise and collaboration.
• Project Management – Plans, designs, organizes, leads, and executes the work of an individual or team project, ensuring a high-quality work product within specific time constraints; leads the development of project plans which includes, but is not limited to, establishing realistic timelines, identification of attainable project deliverables, articulating clear roles and responsibilities for team members, and specific criteria for successful project completion; regularly monitors progress and provides updates to direct supervisor and applicable leaders on the status of the project, including but not limited to, risks and issues that affect the completion of the project the Leadership core competency, and facilitates the building and managing of interpersonal relationships to ensure project success; demonstrates personal accountability and commitment to the success of a project; responsible for managing and facilitating internal and external feedback processes.
• Mentorship - Explains and teaches non-expert how to conduct analysis and reach a recommendation on the employee’s area of expertise; demonstrates the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and Writing and Communication core competencies; acknowledges that peers may have differences in how they best receive information due to personal, cultural, or linguistic preferences and modifies mentorship approach so that it is accessible to the recipient.
• Peer Review - Feeback is expected to demonstrate the Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct and the Writing and Communication core competencies; be completed within a reasonable timeframe with reasonable accommodations as necessary consistent with section guidelines; be mindful of the personal, cultural, and linguistic preferences of the recipient.
• Continuous Process Improvement - Uses Lean tools and principles to continuously identify improvements, solve problems, and improve work processes. Participates in process improvement projects/teams and thoughtfully engages in section/division meetings.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.
• Accountability
• DEI Knowledge, Understanding, & Commitment
• Self-Awareness and Commitment to Growth
• Cultivating Mutually Beneficial and Trusting Strategic Partnerships
• Inclusive Excellence & Allyship
• Measuring Success and Improvement
• Customer Focus
• Results Focus
• Communication Skills
• Adaptability/Flexibility
• Self-Development
• Continuous Process Improvement
• An advanced degree involving major study in economics, accounting, business or public administration, finance, social sciences, engineering, law or related field.
• Applicants who demonstrate one or more of the following may be most successful in this role:
• Expert proficiency in persuasive writing or writing for decision makers.
• Specialized experience writing administrative rules or participating in a rulemaking at a regulatory agency.
• Advanced proficiency in implementing data analytics tools, methodologies, and concepts, including organizing, mining, cleaning, and analyzing complex datasets; applying statistical modeling techniques; developing data visualizations; and utilizing Microsoft data and automation tools such as Power Query, Power BI, energy system modeling tools (e.g., Plexos, Aurora, etc.), and Power Automate to support business processes, performance measurement, and decision-making.
• Experience performing regulatory analysis for Washington State government, including work equivalent to the Regulatory Analyst 2 level or higher.
• Experience applying quantitative, financial, economic, accounting, legal, engineering, or policy analysis principles to support recommendations, regulatory decisions, operational improvements, or public interest outcomes.
• Professional experience conducting regulatory analysis, policy analysis, research, compliance review, financial analysis, economic analysis, utility regulation, utility operations, or related analytical work in a governmental, regulatory, legal, utility, or public policy environment.
• Experience leading, coordinating, mentoring, or supporting teams, projects, or workgroups, including assigning or monitoring work activities and facilitating collaboration.

Skills

Required

• Analytical Skills and Critical Thinking
• Fundamental Regulatory Skills
• Writing and Communication
• Inclusive and Collaborative Conduct
• Leadership
• Project Management
• Mentorship
• Peer Review
• Continuous Process Improvement
• Demonstration of Equity Competencies

Benefits

• UTC fosters an environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, while striving to hire and retain a workforce from the communities we serve.
• We place importance on a healthy balance between personal and professional lives; offering flexible work schedules, wellness programs, and mobile/telework opportunities.
• Through the state, our employees (and their families) are offered options for medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance.
• We offer enrollment into the state retirement programs and a deferred compensation plan.
• Throughout a calendar year, employees receive a minimum of 14 days of vacation leave per year and 11 paid holidays and 1 personal holiday in addition to accruing sick leave.