Administrative Program Specialist 1 - Teaching Learning and School Improvement

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is seeking to fill multiple full-time Administrative Program Specialist 1 positions within its Professional Certification division. These positions are headquartered in Olympia, Washington, and offer a hybrid work model with eligibility for partial to near full-time telework. In-office attendance is required each Tuesday, with potential for additional days in the future, as well as during mandatory in-office days and for onboarding and training. This role supports OSPI's mission to ensure all certified educators and education staff associates meet state requirements to positively impact student learning. Candidates should align with the agency's commitment to racial justice, antiracist practices, and its core values of Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, and Focus on the Whole Child.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in education, public or business administration, or closely related field AND one or more years relevant experience in a program specialist role or a regulatory, compliance, or education-focused program environment (Experience may also include application, licensing, certification or document evaluation roles in high-volume settings).
OR Five (5) years' experience in a program specialist role or a regulatory, compliance, or education-focused program environment may be substituted for a degree (Experience may also include application, licensing, certification or document evaluation roles in high-volume settings).
Employees are expected to be available and working during standard business hours (between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.), consistent with their approved work schedule.
Telework arrangements combine in-office collaboration with telework, based on operational needs.
Minimal travel.
Must reside in the state of Washington.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Washington State Law, Rules, and Regulations related to public education.
Experience with Washington State Teaching Certification requirements, rules, and policies and procedures.
Experience with Public school administration and organization.
Experience with Organization of non-public schools.
Experience with Preparation and certification policies and trends statewide.
Experience reviewing applications and other documentation according to specific criteria.
Ability to plan and coordinate administrative and education service programs, delegate, supervise, and evaluate professional and technical work of others, interpret statutory and program administrative provisions to Career and Technical Education, and maintain effective public relations.

Responsibilities

Evaluation of general educator certification applications and serving as a certification specialist to the Professional Certification Office and stakeholders.
Reviewing, monitoring, and analyzing various certification programs to ensure conformity with law and policy, and developing modifications as necessary.
Conceptualizing, developing, and establishing new procedures and policies for certification evaluation programs.
Implementing new certification evaluation programs and activities, ensuring compliance with Washington Administrative Code (WAC).
Consulting with the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) in the development and implementation of approved WAC language and standards.
Performing complex evaluations of certification applications for eligibility, determining appropriate endorsement areas, notifying applicants of deficiencies, and making decisions on approval or denial.
Providing advisory services, leadership, and technical assistance to Professional Certification program specialists, records staff, and college/university and ESD certification officers.
Verifying individuals' WA certification status to school district personnel, state agencies, employment services, or other public entities.
Analyzing and preparing recommendations for the Director regarding section objectives, administrative procedures, and teacher certification procedures and rules.
Administering, planning, developing, and implementing a program for Out-of-State applicants for Washington certification, evaluating their applications and providing information on foreign-trained educator programs.
Serving as Military Liaison per RCW 18.340, performing callbacks, email correspondence, and participating in bi-annual meetings with 49 states.
Administering, planning, developing, and implementing the administrator certificate program, including analysis of rules and regulations, and providing expertise to stakeholders.
Reviewing and making decisions on the approval and denial of applications for administrator certification.
Answering correspondence and oral inquiries regarding Washington standards for certification, application procedures, and specific requirements.
Providing advisory services, leadership, and assistance to educator stakeholders including school district administrators, teachers, and Institutes of Higher Education.
Assisting the Director in oversight and participation in agency and department policy and operational meetings, committees, and accountability.
Maintaining and updating administrator certification content, and supervising support staff to implement updates to media outlets.
Serving as backup to other program specialists as needed.
Providing analysis and administration of rules and regulations to teacher and administrator certification.
Regularly providing trainings to School HR personnel, educators, and administrators.