Special Education District Services - Analyst - 1.0FTE

Seattle Public Schools; Washington; On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SEBB benefits

Job summary

Seattle Public Schools seeks a Special Education Contracts Specialist to manage the full lifecycle of contracted services, from procurement to closeout, ensuring compliance with IDEA and grant funding rules.

The role handles invoices, renewal tracking, and budget reporting, collaborating with Accounting, Budget, Purchasing, Grants, and external partners to maintain audit-ready records and support annual budgeting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management, Public or Business Administration or closely related field; master’s degree preferred.
• Three (3) years of professional budget experience or equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provides budget and cost analysis and controls for the Special Education Department; tracks budget and expenditures; prepares fiscal analyses and projections.
• Prepares recurring fiscal control/cost reports; develops cash flow and expenditure forecasts; reconciles staffing with budget and HR.

Skills

Budget management

Data analysis

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management/Public/Business Administration

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

SAP

MS Word

Access

Excel

Job description

Overview Of Position
This is a 260‑day work‑year position that will remain open until filled. The posting will consider applications received on or before July 19, 2026. The Special Education Contracts Specialist provides critical budget, cost analysis, and fiscal control functions for the Special Education Department, supporting a multimillion‑dollar contracted services portfolio. The Specialist manages the full lifecycle of the department’s contracted services, including personal service contracts, non-public agency (NPA) agreements, interagency agreements, and purchase orders—from initial procurement and contract development through execution, invoice reconciliation, amendment, and closeout. The specialist monitors contract spending against budget, tracks encumbrances, identifies cost trends and variances, and prepares fiscal analyses and projections to inform departmental decision‑making and annual budget development.

The Specialist balances daily operational demands—processing invoices, resolving vendor payment issues, tracking contract expiration and renewal timelines, and coordinating staffing‑related expenditures—while maintaining audit‑ready records. The position works closely with Accounting, Budget, Purchasing, and Grants departments, as well as external vendors, service providers, and agency partners, serving as the department’s primary point of contact for contract and vendor fiscal matters. The role carries significant compliance responsibility: the Specialist ensures that all contracting and expenditure practices adhere to federal and state Special Education law and procedure, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and that expenditures charged to IDEA Part B and other Special Education grant funding meet allowability, allocability, and documentation requirements. The position supports grant reporting, audit preparation, and corrective action responses as needed.

Essential Functions

• 30% Provides budget and cost analysis and controls for the Special Education Department; coordinates and collaborates with Budget and Human Resources to identify budget problems, resolve issues, reconcile funding and positions, and provide accurate reports; provides instructional and informational documents used to develop or maintain the Special Education budget; ensures the District adheres to Special Education law and procedures related to IDEA and other grant funding.
• 20% Prepares recurring fiscal control/cost reports; develops cash flow and expenditure forecasts; recommends budget adjustments and resolves problems as program needs change; reviews options for using different fund sources; reconciles staffing with budget and Human Resources.
• 20% Provides training, leadership, and monitoring to other SPED Technicians and school‑based staff to ensure proper monitoring of school building expenditures.
• 10% Responds to inquiries regarding assigned areas of responsibility as a representative of the Special Education Department; serves as a resource to outside representatives involved in department operations.
• 10% Works collaboratively with department supervisors to establish and maintain data for key performance indicators related to fiscal responsibilities for Special Education.
• 5% Attends and participates in regular meetings related to the area of assignment with budget staff, grants, accounting, Human Resources staff, and Assistant and Deputy Superintendent as needed.
• 5% Compiles statistical information and data for estimations and reports.
• Other Functions May perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

Relevant Competencies

Customer Focus

Commits to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders; acts with stakeholders in mind; values importance of providing high‑quality customer service.

• Makes customers and their needs a primary focus of actions.
• Thinks ahead and considers impact of actions both internally and externally.
• Develops trust, credibility, and maintains strong relationships with customers.
• Goes the extra mile to satisfy customer needs and expectations.

Integrity

Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; does not misrepresent for personal gain.

• Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
• Represents information and data accurately and completely.
• Represents confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
• Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.

Managing & Measuring Work

Clearly assigns responsibility for tasks and decisions; sets clear objectives and measures; monitors progress and results; designs feedback loops into work.

• Identifies people and resources necessary to accomplish tasks.
• Develops success indicators and monitors and reports status based on those indicators.
• Develops effective communication skills and tools to interact with team.

Managing Through Processes & Systems

Designs practices, processes, and procedures necessary to get things done; simplifies complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources; creates systems that manage themselves.

• Sets clear, well‑defined outcomes for desired results and tracks progress.
• Breaks down objectives into actionable steps with targeted deadlines.
• Leverages and uses resources efficiently and creatively to achieve desired outcomes.

Timely Decision Making

Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; thinks well on feet.

• Makes timely and sound decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment.
• Takes appropriate action that is consistent with available facts, time constraints and possible outcomes.
• Takes calculated risks.
• Takes responsibility for decisions.

Collaboration

Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties.

• Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
• Works skillfully in difficult situations with internal and external groups.
• Represents own interests while being open‑minded to other groups.
• Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally.

Getting Results (Action Oriented)

Performs work with energy and drive; values planning, but will take quick, decisive action when opportunity presents itself.

• Demonstrates strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
• Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
• Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
• Strives for new levels of performance.

Decision Quality & Problem Solving

Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.

• Weighs consequences of options before making a decision.
• Applies appropriate criteria to situations for making decisions.
• Displays self‑confidence in own judgment.
• Focuses on facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.

Accountability

Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high‑quality, timely and cost‑effective results; determines objectives, sets priorities and delegates work; accepts responsibility for mistakes; complies with established control systems and rules.

• Takes responsibility and action as if risks (financial or otherwise) are own.
• Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
• Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and willing to accept consequences of failure.
• Aligns own priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
• Demonstrates courage and confidence in own ability.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Special Education law and procedures related to IDEA.
• Principles and practices of budget management.
• Methods employed to collect, analyze and interpret data.
• Proficiency with SAP, MS Word, Access and Excel.

Skilled in

• Customer service.
• Excellent oral and written communications.
• Planning, organizing and prioritizing work.
• Writing procedures.

Ability to

• Interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations.
• Collect, analyze and interpret data.
• Complete projects independently.
• Provide guidance and train others.
• Maintain records and prepare reports and correspondence.
• Communicate effectively with others.

Experience and Education

Three (3) years of professional budget experience in budget development, cost analysis, interpretation and application of complex fiscal control procedures, reconciliation, auditing and correcting fiscal control data; Bachelor’s degree in Financial Management, Public or Business Administration or closely related field; master’s degree preferred; additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year‑for‑year basis; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides relevant knowledge, skills and abilities will be considered.

Clearances

Criminal Justice Fingerprint and Background Check.

Conditions and Disclaimers

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. District employees are not authorized to make promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions, and that any such agreement must be in writing and signed by the Superintendent. Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than the Superintendent are null and void. Additionally, nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Benefits

Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.