Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Commerce Specialist 1 (CS1) - (NP) - Olympia

Washington State ESD; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 49,000 - 67,000; Full time

Job summary

A state agency is seeking a Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Commerce Specialist 1 (CS1) to oversee grant management and compliance. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills and experience with public administration or law. This full-time position offers a hybrid work model, requiring collaboration with local communities and state partners. The role is vital in promoting equity in child and youth outcomes in Washington state.

Qualifications

• A combination of education and experience in grant compliance and reporting.
• Experience coordinating and tracking grant application activities.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion in the workplace.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate grant applications and manage tracking.
• Facilitate meetings with community partners.
• Monitor compliance with grant requirements.

Skills

Strong analytical and organizational skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Attention to detail

Ability to manage multiple projects

Strong problem-solving abilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Law, Finance, or Business

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Database applications

Virtual meeting platforms (Teams, Zoom)

Job description

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

Job Title: Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Commerce Specialist 1 (CS1) (Non-Perm) - Olympia
Location: Olympia, WA - Full-Time/Non-Permanent/Hybrid - This is a non-permanent position and is scheduled to end approximately one (1) year from the date of hire.

Closes: Thursday, October 9th, 2025
Salary: $49,428 - $66,372 Annually

We're looking for a Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Commerce Specialist 1 (CS1) to serve as a subject matter expert on contracts and procurement, compliance, and coordination regarding the Preschool Development Grant Birth Through Five and join us in working toward the common goal of eliminating child and youth outcome disparities based on race and ethnicity.

The Opportunity:

As a Preschool Development Grant (PDG) Commerce Specialist 1 (CS1), you will exercise collaboration within the team and agency as occasionally an independent decision-making authority often with competing interests. The incumbent of this position must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing with community groups, tribal representatives, and state and federal partners.

The incumbent of this position must be able to multi-task and perform a variety of skilled duties daily, including grant and contract management drafting and delivering scopes of work, drafting and communicating proposal and project plans, and problem solve daily with little oversight.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Grant application coordination and management, including tracking and reporting on the status of applications.
• Coordinate stakeholder meetings with community partners, grant participants and management teams.
• Represent the PDG B-5, at internal and external meetings such as hiring committees, contracting, steering committee meetings, community outreach, and with key state and national partners.
• Collaborate with PDG’s B-5 Integration Specialist to develop and implement project plans, monitor, suggest recommendations, community outreach, and action plans.
• Facilitates the overall PDG B-5 work plan to ensure all activities are completed in compliance with specific grant requirements and timelines.
• Track the overall PDG B-5 work plan to ensure all activities are completed in compliance with specific grant requirements and timelines.
• Independently resolve daily issues and reach out to both internal and external partners, coordinate the problem-solving process for more complex or unusual problems with PDG’s B- 5 Grant Specialist Senior.
• Manage, prepare, and analyze contracts and procurement agreements for grant funded organizations.
• Draft, review, and support procurement and contract negotiations.
• Compliance monitoring with federal, state, and organizational regulations, and maintaining accurate records of grant expenditures and progress.
• Communicate with contractors to clarify contract terms and provide technical assistance.
• Research and collaborate with PDG team leads to support procurement decisions.
• Resolve contract disputes and issues in a timely manner.
• Maintain detailed records of contract documents and communications.
• Collaborate with finance, legal, and other divisions in execution of contracts and grant deliverables.

Required Qualifications:

• A comparable combination of education and professional experience with grant compliance and reporting; coordinating and tracking grant application activities for grant program(s); contract management and compliance including procurement coordination totaling five (5) years.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Law, Finance, or Business and one (1) year of professional experience with grant compliance and reporting; coordinating and tracking grant application activities for grant program(s); or contract management and compliance including procurement coordination.

AND

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace principles.

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

• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
• Attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously are also important.
• Ability to manage multiple contracts simultaneously.
• Prior experience in a procurement or legal role.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Proficiency with Outlook, Word, Excel and databases applications.
• Professional experience using virtual meeting platforms such as Teams Meetings, Zoom Meeting, and others, to include meeting facilitation.
• Professional experience displaying strong written and oral communications skills.
• Knowledge of Washington State’s Early Care and Education System.
• Experience with non-profit organizations or government agencies.

How do I apply?

In addition to completing the online application in detail, please attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume (current/updated)

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.