Commerce Specialist 3 (CS3) Olympia

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington is seeking a Commerce Specialist 3 to support ELMS data coordination for ECEAP and ECLIPSE statewide. You will deliver individualized consultation, troubleshoot system issues, support users in meeting reporting requirements, and provide clear, actionable data to inform program decisions.

This role requires independence, responsibility, and expertise in early learning data systems, strengthening outcomes for Washington’s children and families.

Qualifications

• Minimum six years of total experience in comprehensive Pre-K data at the community or state level.
• Bachelor’s degree with two years of experience in Pre-K data at the community or state level; or
• Associate’s degree with four years of experience in Pre-K data at the community or state level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with system users and contractors across government and community organizations.
• Implement ELMS program policy for providers and stakeholders per state/federal guidelines.
• Resolve complex ELMS requests with specialized knowledge; coordinate across teams/divisions.
• Support ELMS Support Lead with shared inbox and assist ELMS product owner.
• Anticipate conflicts and analyze needs within ELMS for programmatic/implementation improvement.
• Document and recommend technical requirements and future ELMS enhancements.
• Lead or co-lead portions of ECEAP projects; prepare data and reports for researchers and legislators.

Skills

Strong oral and written language

Ability to learn and grow

Ability to meet the needs of others

Independent work capability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Associate’s Degree in related field

Equivalent combination of education and experience (6 years)

Tools

Outlook

Word

PowerPoint

Excel

Online meeting platforms

Job description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community.”

Job Title: Commerce Specialist 3 (CS3)

Location: Olympia, WA - This position is hybrid with the expectation of in-person attendance to meet business needs.

Closes: Sunday, November 8th, 2026

Salary: $67,704 - $91,104 Annually

DCYF’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) is seeking a Commerce Specialist 3 to serve as the Early Learning Management System (ELMS) Data Coordinator. This role provides critical support for early learning programs by offering technical assistance to ELMS users, monitoring contractual requirements for ECEAP and Early Childhood Intervention Prevention Services (ECLIPSE), and analyzing and presenting program data. The position works closely with internal teams, external partners, and early learning providers to ensure accurate data use, strong program accountability, and high-quality services for children and families.

The Opportunity

As an ELMS Data Coordinator, you will assist the coordination, analysis, and data management functions that support ECEAP and ECLIPSE statewide. You will deliver individualized consultation, troubleshoot system issues, support users in meeting reporting requirements, and provide clear, actionable data to inform program decisions. This role requires a high level of independence, responsibility, and expertise in early learning and data systems, offering an opportunity to directly strengthen outcomes for Washington’s youngest learners and their families.

Some of what you will get to do

• Develop and maintain cooperative relationships with system users and contractors, which include business, industry, government and community organizations.
• Implement program policy within ELMS for internal and external providers and stakeholders regarding state or federal guidelines.
• Resolve complex requests from and provide technical assistance to ELMS users, which requires specialized early learning system and policy knowledge. This requires cross-team,
  cross-division or cross-agency coordination.
• Support ELMS Support Lead with shared inbox.
• Assist ELMS product owner.
• Utilize expert knowledge to anticipate potential conflict and programmatic/implementation barriers, analyze business, management or technology needs within ELMS.
• Document and recommend technical requirements and future system enhancements.
• Provides user acceptability testing for new technical application releases and functionality, troubleshoot potential technical issues affecting users, reports issues to ELMS Product
  Owner.
• Monitor and document contractual requirements compliance, including and not limited to eligibility, child assessment and staff qualifications data entry, monthly reports.
• Research and analyze comprehensive reports, including desktop comprehensive reports.
• Have working knowledge of state and federal guiding resources including ECEAP and ECLIPSE Performance Standards.
• Prepare data and reports for researchers, legislators, and others requesting information about ECEAP and ECLIPSE. Maintains data integrity for public and confidential information, uses information for creation of user profiles, update records and manage sensitive data.
• Leads, or independently manage, a share of ECEAP projects.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Equivalent combination of education and experience in comprehensive Pre-K data at the community or state level, or other related professional experience totaling six (6) years.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of professional experience in comprehensive Pre-K data at the community or state level, or other related professional experience.

OR

• Associate’s Degree and four (4) years of professional experience in comprehensive Pre-K data at the community or state level, or other related professional experience.

AND

• Strong oral and written language skills.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

NOTE

Other related professional experience means - Intermediate level knowledge and experience in three or more of these areas: Current research and policy in early learning, early learning data system technical assistance, developmentally appropriate preschool education research, early learning and family outcomes, direct early learning services for low-income children and families.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following

• Ability to collaborate with DCYF staff and positively represent the agency with diverse external partners.
• Ability to use an equity lens and approach to essential duties.
• Experience and skills interpreting, analyzing, and synthesizing data into documents and presentations.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel and online meeting platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and manage details on multiple projects.
• Demonstrated initiative, flexibility, accountability, responsiveness, and willingness to learn.
• Demonstrated knowledge and skill in supporting data system planning and technical assistance at a statewide level.

Supplemental Information

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.