Administrative Program Specialist 2 - Child Nutrition Services

State of Washington; Spokane (WA); Remote; USD 71,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, life insurance

Retirement plan

Deferred compensation option

Job summary

OSPI is the lead state agency overseeing K-12 education in Washington. The Administrative Program Specialist 2 for Child Nutrition Services plans and conducts program compliance reviews for sponsors of USDA Child Nutrition programs, requiring in-state travel and knowledge of federal/state regulations.

Remote options are available within Eastern WA, with eventual travel to Olympia as needed. This role requires a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, education, public or business administration and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nutrition, education, public or business administration or related field.
• Three years of professional experience in school food service or related field.
• Travel throughout the state of Washington is required; must reside in WA.

Responsibilities

• Conduct administrative reviews, administrative expense audits and reconciliation reports for sponsors of Child Nutrition Programs.
• Review and approve sponsor program applications and budgets.
• Follow financial management processes, procedures and standards to assess, monitor and support financial viability of new and returning sponsors.
• Provide training to sponsors on all areas of program regulations and program management.
• Provide technical assistance to sponsors.

Education

Bachelor's degree in nutrition, education, public or business administration or related field

Job description

Administrative Program Specialist 2 - Child Nutrition Services

$71,136.00 - $95,676.00 annually

Closes November 18,2026

full-time position is remotely based in Eastern WA. Candidates must reside within Kittitas, Grant, Lincoln, Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan, Douglas, or Chelan counties.

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 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

Administrative Program Specialists support the mission of Child Nutrition Services to assist school districts and community nutrition institutions in providing quality nutrition programs that promote life‑long, healthful living while providing nutritious meals each day that prepare children for learning.

This position plans and conducts program compliance reviews for sponsors of USDA Child Nutrition programs. The administration of these programs requires expert knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations and policies pertaining to the programs. The training and technical assistance provided to program sponsors ensures compliance with federal and state regulations and supports sponsors in providing nutritious meals and promotion of nutrition education.

*This position requires travel within assigned region and to the OSPI main office in Olympia. This travel may include multiple overnight stays and traveling during possible inclement weather.*

This is an Administrative Program Specialist 2 position. OSPI reserves the right to fill this position at the Administrative Program Specialist 1 level, as part of an in‑training plan.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct administrative reviews, administrative expense audits and reconciliation reports for sponsors of Child Nutrition Programs.
• Review and approve sponsor program applications and budgets.
• Follow financial management processes, procedures and standards to assess, monitor and support financial viability of new and returning Child Nutrition Program sponsors.
• Provide training to sponsors on all areas of program regulations and program management.
• Provide technical assistance to sponsors.

Employment at the Administrative Program Specialist 2 level requires

• A bachelor's degree involving major study in nutrition, education, public or business administration or related field?and?three (3) years of professional experience in school food service or related field.

• Equivalent years of experience (7 or more) may be substituted for a degree.
• Travel throughout the state of Washington is a requirement of this position. Staying in motels and working evenings to prepare for exit conferences is a common practice. This position requires the use of a motor vehicle. Use of personal vehicle, motor pool vehicle, rental car, or other modes of transportation is dependent on what is most cost effective.
• Must reside in the state of Washington

Employment at the Administrative Program Specialist 1 level, as part of an in‑training plan, requires

• A bachelor's degree involving major study in nutrition, education, public or business administration or related field?and?one (1) or more years of professional experience in school food service or related field.
• Equivalent years of experience (5 or more) may be substituted for a degree
• Travel throughout the state of Washington is a requirement of this position. Staying in motels and working evenings to prepare for exit conferences is a common practice. This position requires the use of a motor vehicle. Use of personal vehicle, motor pool vehicle, rental car, or other modes of transportation is dependent on what is most cost effective.
• Must reside of the state of Washington

Desired Qualifications

• Experience directing in food service operation or as a sponsor of a USDA Child Nutrition Program.
• Registered Dietitian
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, Outlook, etc.).
• Bilingual/biliterate in Spanish

Compensation

The annual compensation for the position is $71,136.00 - $95,676.00 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on 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.

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 Resources Office at [phone] or [phone], or e‑mail [e-mail].