Program Specialist 5: Veterans and Military Families Program Operator

State of Washington; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Washington seeks a seasoned Program Specialist 5 to lead Veterans and Military Families initiatives. The role emphasizes strategic leadership, policy analysis, and cross‑division collaboration to improve employment outcomes for veterans and families.

The position supports statewide program performance, develops training frameworks, and guides staff and partners through policy changes. A strong emphasis on equity, accountability, and fiscal stewardship informs daily work.

Qualifications

• Eight years of experience in planning, policy analysis, coordination with public/private agencies, and supervisory roles.
• Alternative: Associate’s degree with six years of related experience in planning and policy coordination.
• Alternative: Bachelor’s degree with four years of related experience in planning and policy coordination.
• Alternative: Master’s degree with two years of related experience in planning and policy coordination.

Responsibilities

• Serve as statewide expert and principal advisor for Veterans and military family programs within the Workforce Services Division.
• Promote human-centered service and continuous improvement to improve customer outcomes.
• Lead program performance, ensure compliance, and align initiatives across divisions and partners.
• Develop and facilitate comprehensive training architectures for staff and partners.
• Research and analyze federal and state legislation to provide strategic options to leadership.

Skills

Policy analysis

Coordination

Communication

Leadership

Data interpretation

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Public Admin / Political Science / Business

Master's degree

Associate's degree

Job description

Come join our team and make a positive difference for Washington’s veterans and their families!

This position is mainly virtual but may be required to come into the office for occasional training and meetings as requested.

The ideal candidate for the Program Specialist 5 – Veterans and Military Families Program Operator role is a seasoned, strategic leader who brings deep expertise in workforce development and a strong commitment to serving veterans and military families.

They are committed to excellent service for veterans and military families, resulting in strong employment outcomes for our customers. They excel at navigating complex federal and state program requirements, interpreting legislation, and shaping statewide operational strategies that strengthen customer outcomes. They are recognized as a subject-matter expert who can translate policy into clear, human-centered processes that improve service delivery, enhance performance metrics, and ensure compliance across Washington’s workforce system.

This candidate thrives in environments where collaboration, coordination, and high-level problem-solving are essential. They are skilled at building statewide consistency through standard operating procedures, developing comprehensive training frameworks, and guiding staff and partners through policy changes and labor market shifts. They are an effective communicator who can lead multi-partner coalitions, facilitate complex discussions, and provide advanced technical assistance to resolve sensitive program barriers. Their ability to integrate WIOA principles, align cross-division initiatives, and manage corrective action plans demonstrates both operational sophistication and strategic foresight.

The ideal candidate is also an experienced program manager who brings strong analytical, supervisory, and fiscal stewardship skills. They are adept at interpreting data trends, designing reporting mechanisms, and ensuring that expenditures meet strict federal and state requirements. They lead with accountability, equity, and inclusiveness—mentoring staff, shaping long-range program objectives, and representing Washington’s Veterans programs with professionalism at the state, region, and national levels. Their blend of policy expertise, leadership capability, and commitment to veteran-focused service makes them a trusted architect of statewide program excellence.

Serve as the recognized statewide expert and principal advisor for Veterans and military family programs within the Workforce Services Division (WSD). This Includes:

• Promote human-centered service and continuous improvement to ensure veterans and military families receive excellent service that result in continuous improvement to customer outcomes including employment and earnings.

• Serve as the recognized statewide expert for Veterans programs and an advanced resource across other aligned Workforce Services Division (WSD) initiatives.

• Research and analyze federal and state legislation to provide strategic operational options and recommendations to agency leadership.

Serve as the principal authority for statewide program performance, compliance, and strategic alignment of Veterans workforce programs. This includes:

• Assure statewide program quality and performance for the Veterans programs, including the internal controls and documentation necessary to pass state and/or DOL monitoring reviews, complete annual funding application, and complete all required federal and state reports and requirements.

• Provide a comprehensive understanding of WIOA and Washington's workforce development service system particularly as it relates to the Veterans programs including how the program interacts with and affects other workforce development programs, key partners and internal agency divisions.

• Interpret and administer complex policies, state laws, and federal regulations regarding the Veterans’ programs and workforce development environment impacting outside service networks and regional council.

Serve as the Lead Program Manager for Veterans Programs. This includes:

• Direct and coordinate multiple concurrent projects for the Veterans programs and strategic initiative timelines for the Veterans programs across varied agency divisions and external entities.

• Establish a unified communication protocol and centralized document bank for the Veterans’ programs, to align field staff on policy revisions and labor market shifts that affect Veterans’ programs.

• Develop and facilitate comprehensive training architectures, coordinating with internal and external teams to deliver real-time professional development modules for the Veterans programs.

To request a detailed position description, click here.

• 8 years 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.

• ORAssociate’s degree and 6 years 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.

• ORBachelor’s Degree and 4 years 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.

• ORMaster’s Degree and 2 years 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.

Required equity competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

The required experience includes:

• Advisory Expertise:Proficiency in delivering targeted technical support; Collaboration Skills: Ability to work closely with clients to refine program activities.

• Policy Coordination Skills:Proficiency in aligning organizational programs with external entities.

• Analytical Skills:Proficiency in designing research studies and reporting systems; Technical Expertise: Ability to analyze data and deliver technical reports effectively.

• Reporting Expertise:Ability to create detailed and clear program documentation.

• Budget Management Expertise:Proficiency in drafting budget proposals and addressing financial issues.

Desirable/Preferred Education, Experience or Certifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Public Administration, Political Science, Business Management, Human Resources, or a closely matching discipline.
• Curriculum Design: Demonstrated experience with the development and management of eLearning Curriculum.

• System Design: One-stop operator experience.

• Selective preference will be accorded to Veterans with first priority given to qualified service-connected disabled Veterans, second to qualified eligible Veterans, and third given to qualified eligible persons as defined by Title 38, USC, Section 4101(5).

• To receive selective veteran preference, please attach your U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs – ‘Civil Service Preference Letter’, DD214 or equivalent document along with your resume and cover letter.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents.

Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Cover Letter, Resume, and military documentation as outlined above (if applicable) with your Online Application through the \"Add Attachments\" field. A resume will not substitute for the \"work experience\" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as \"see attachments\" may be considered incomplete.

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact [e-mail] or [phone] or toll free [phone], Washington Relay 711.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

**This Organization Participates in E-Verify**