Administrative Program Specialist 1 - Grants

GENERAL SERVICE

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Administrative Program Specialist 1 - Public School Grants

 $58,380-$78,468 annually

One-year temporary position

Recruitment closes August 1, 2024

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill an

Administrative Program Specialist 1. This full-time position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.

About OSPI and our initiatives

OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K-12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.

At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:

• We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

• We have a tuition assistance policy and support employees seeking tuition waiver through participating higher education organizations.

• We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

• We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.

Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.

Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child

Equity

Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:

• Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.

• Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.

Position Overview

This position provides support to school districts as they navigate the Education Grants Management System (EGMS). Priority will be given to school districts based upon smaller student enrollments, tax bases and operating budgets and other factors that may preclude or limit them from applying for grants that they may be eligible for.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide one-on-one support to small school districts through virtual meetings, phone calls, office hours, etc. This entails EGMS application support and troubleshooting.

• Assist small school districts during the grant process. This includes identifying grant opportunities, submitting grant applications, creating budget redirection or scope of work amendments, creating payment requests, submitting progress reports and finding tasks to be worked on.

• Develop and provide system resources, including short, targeted videos and user guides.

• Present at EGMS trainings geared for small school districts.

• Attend meetings involving small school districts to provide EGMS information.

• Perform outreach to small school districts to ensure they are aware of this position and the resources it provides.

• Communicate EGMS related topics to small school districts.

• Advocate for small school districts to make the grant application process more efficient and effective so they can apply and receive funds for which they are eligible.

• Assist other EGMS staff with responding to requests for assistance from OSPI staff and potentially other outside stakeholders.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and one year of experience in a related field including planning, policy analysis, coordination and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies, organizations, and/or levels of government and supervisory experience. Years of experience may be substituted year-for-year for a degree.

• Experience working on a team and collaborating with others.

• Be organized and work independently in completing tasks timely and accurately.

• Use critical thinking and analyzing skills to review information and provide feedback as necessary.

• Experience in providing technical customer service and support to a diverse audience.

• Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines and work well under pressure.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in working with grants management systems.

• Experience with grants, including the grant life cycle.

• Experience providing training to others, including creating user manuals and other resources.

Compensation

The annual compensation for the position is $58,380-$78,468 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on the work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information.  This is a general service position. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Application Process

Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word and PDF format only:

• A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement; 
• A current résumé, and;
• A list of three or more professional references.  

Please address any questions to:

Sal Salazar, Human Resources Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

 600 Washington Street Southeast

Olympia, Washington 98504-7200

360-725-6278: sal.salazar@k12.wa.us

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.

New Jobs Alert Service

OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.

OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in "Application Process."