Part-Time Learning & Development Specialist

Washington State School Directors’ Association; Lacey (WA); Hybrid; USD 36,000 - 40,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits packages

Participation in retirement system

Job summary

The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) is hiring a part-time learning and development specialist. This hybrid position involves designing professional development for school directors across Washington. Responsibilities include facilitating workshops, coordinating events, and researching educational trends.

Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree and relevant experience, demonstrating skills in facilitation and project planning. The role emphasizes equity in education and collaborative efforts to enhance leadership among school board members.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience or five years of job-related experience.
• Experience in adult education and professional development training.
• Ability to collaborate with various stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate workshops and trainings.
• Support leadership development events and programs.
• Provide customer service to members.

Skills

Instructional design

Facilitation skills

Project planning

Strong communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

Learning Management System

Word processing software

Online document management software

Job description

The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) is seeking a part‑time learning and development specialist to join our leadership development team. This position plays a key role in designing and delivering professional development, training, and facilitation for Washington school directors and board‑superintendent teams. Working closely with the director, you will help build the knowledge and skills of locally elected school board members — leaders whose decisions directly affect student and staff outcomes across the state. The ideal candidate thrives in collaborative environments and is energized by helping adults lead effectively.

This is a part‑time, hybrid position with expected weekly or bi‑weekly travel throughout Washington and involves some evening and weekend hours. While most staff members telecommute on Mondays and Fridays and work in the office Tuesday through Thursday, this position is expected to work onsite one day per week, depending on travel needs.

WSSDA believes every student deserves a high‑quality education regardless of race, background, or circumstances. We are committed to identifying and eliminating systemic barriers within Washington’s public education system. We strongly encourage applicants with lived experience in historically and systemically underserved communities, as diverse perspectives are essential to this work.

Key Responsibilities

Professional Development Support and Delivery

Work collaboratively with the leadership development branch to:

• Support school board members by planning and delivering workshops, trainings, and in‑district workshops. This may include project planning, scheduling, production of materials, participant outreach, communications, and coordination within WSSDA.
• Design and facilitate both synchronous and asynchronous workshops and presentations for professional development and training, both in person and virtually.
• As requested, conduct research on a variety of K‑12 education issues, including but not limited to best practices, resources for school board members, and educational trends.

Event, Program and Project Coordination and Support

Provide support to the branch for leadership development events, programs, and projects, including Annual Conference, Leadership Academy, Leadership WSSDA, Candidate Workshops, New Director Network, and other professional development opportunities, by:

• Collaborating with the branch and across the organization for successful production of leadership development related events, including but not limited to Annual Conference, training events, and district workshops through scheduling, venue agreements and logistics, participant registration, branding, marketing, communications, outreach efforts, and event evaluations.
• Supporting the continuous improvement of professional development experiences by collecting and organizing data and supporting the branch to improve and update curricular material as needed.

Communications, Administrative and Technical Support

• Provide thoughtful customer service to our members by responding to requests for information and members’ needs in a timely, professional manner, coordinating responses with the branch director and/or other WSSDA staff.
• Work with WSSDA staff to ensure leadership development webpages are current and accurate.
• As necessary, represent WSSDA with education stakeholders.
• Skillfully use technology, including WSSDA’s Learning Management System, to support learning delivery and operational needs.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of two years of relevant professional experience OR at least five years of job‑related experience in education, professional development, and/or curriculum design and facilitation.
• Experience designing, developing, and delivering instruction and other training for adults, including professional development, team building, coaching, and conflict management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with WSSDA members, colleagues, supervisors, WSSDA’s education association partners, and others with whom contact is required to conduct WSSDA business.
• Available to work evenings and/or weekends, and willing to travel.
• Work well under pressure to meet sometimes competing deadlines.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Utilize strong project planning and organizational skills to prioritize workload, set deadlines, and work within established and shared timelines while maintaining accuracy and a strong attention to detail.
• Maintain confidentiality and use good judgment.
• Skillful use of a variety of software for word processing, spreadsheets, online document management, project management, online/remote meetings, and team communication.

Preferred Qualifications

"Preferred" means qualities that would contribute to success in this role, but they are not all required. You may be a good match for this position even if you don’t possess all the qualifications listed below.

• Experience as a school board member is ideal. Current Washington school board members would be required to leave their elected position if hired. Experience working with school boards, education associations, and/or in K‑12 education or college‑level education system(s) is also helpful.
• Experience or interest in the areas of school finance, governance, and student data.
• Demonstrated positive experience in working productively with a diverse team.
• Firsthand lived experience as a member of a community that has been historically and systemically underserved.

WSSDA employee benefits packages are offered through the Public Employee Benefit Board (PEBB), and WSSDA employees participate in the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).

Compensation

$36,000 – $40,000 annually depending upon qualifications, and it is based on an average of 20 hours per week.

WSSDA’s Commitment to Equity and Equal Opportunity Statement

The Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA) is an equal opportunity employer. Equity is foundational to the work of WSSDA.

Our members believe that educational equity can only exist when a student’s level of opportunity and achievement cannot be predicted based on race, characteristics, or circumstances. Therefore, we must identify and eliminate any discriminatory practices and prejudices within our state’s public education system.

As an employer, we strive to create an inclusive working environment that respects diverse backgrounds. Individuals from diverse gender, racial and ethnic backgrounds, religions and creeds, and national origins, individuals with any disabilities or the use of a trained service dog or service animal, individuals over 40 years of age, individuals in honorably discharged veteran or military status and individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Please include your name and preferred pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process.