Education Services Manager | Pre-Apprenticeship and Vocational Education

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Department of Corrections is hiring an Education Services Manager to lead education initiatives that support successful reentry and public safety. The position will lead the continuation and expansion of vocational and union trades-related programs and partnerships across Washington State, increasing education and employment opportunities for incarcerated students and people transitioning to employment. The manager provides direction and oversight for services that prepare incarcerated individuals for life beyond incarceration. The role ensures programs are efficient, evidence-based, and aligned with Washington State legislative requirements and RCWs, while supporting learning gains, credential attainment, and reduced recidivism. The manager collaborates across the Department and with contract partners to implement consistent strategies, promote student engagement, and achieve measurable outcomes. As a leader in the Reentry Division, the manager formulates recommendations aligned with Reentry and Prison Division priorities, develops statewide partnerships, promotes innovative education practices, manages contracts, stewards public funds, and supports engagement with student leadership groups. The position may be allocated for telework within Washington State, subject to authorization, and requires commuting to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business needs require. Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Education, Public Administration, or a closely related field from an institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent, and at least 4 years of professional experience managing programs at the state level, in corrections, or within higher education institutions, with demonstrated effective supervisory skills, strategic planning, and program management and evaluation, plus at least 4 years in a supervisory or administrative capacity; OR an associate degree from an appropriately accredited institution or foreign equivalent and at least 6 years of the specified program management experience, plus at least 6 years in a supervisory or administrative capacity; OR a high school diploma/GED and at least 8 years of the specified program management experience, plus at least 8 years in a supervisory or administrative capacity.
Three professional references are requested with the application; each reference must include a phone number and email address.
Foreign equivalent degrees must be accompanied by a credential evaluation report.
The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
A background check, including criminal record history, will be conducted before hire.
A pre-employment drug test may be administered; applicants who test positive for controlled substances will be disqualified.
The successful candidate may be required to provide proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Social Sciences, Criminal Justice, Education, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
Oral and written communication skills.
Ability to explain complex or technical information in user-friendly language.
Actively listens, paraphrases, asks clarifying questions, and clearly and concisely emphasizes key messages.
Ability to facilitate meetings.
Analytical skills.
Ability to embrace challenges in new and innovative ways.
Ability to break down, sort, and synthesize information; identify key themes and messages; formulate accurate conclusions; and provide briefings to support information management of critical issues.
Working knowledge of RCWs, WACs, department policy, federal law, the legislative process, case management, and incarcerated individuals.
Familiarity with adult and higher education standards, privacy acts, and state and federal financial aid applications and rules.
Experience in data development, analysis, and presentation.

Responsibilities

Provide organizational leadership for education services and performance measures or initiatives within the Reentry Division.
Serve as the Department's lead on postsecondary educational services, including coordinating student services and reentry efforts.
Formulate, review, revise, disseminate, interpret, and implement education-related policies, practices, and directives.
Analyze and monitor education-related legislation and work sessions, and brief DOC leadership.
Build and sustain partnerships with national and philanthropic organizations, research organizations, state agencies, local and tribal governments, and community partners to support data sharing, collaboration, educational opportunities, reduced recidivism, and public safety.
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and consistent identification, development, and delivery of educational programming in DOC prisons and student services in the community.
Work with contract education service partners and Reentry leadership to develop collaborative approaches to education programs and service delivery.
Facilitate cross-departmental and multidisciplinary workgroups and support continuous quality improvement efforts.
Develop solution-oriented approaches to resolve issues at the lowest level and proactively address challenges.
Provide leadership of contracted and volunteer educational service providers.
Oversee the Education Services process for supporting incarcerated people with learning disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and other cognitive impairments requiring accommodations to participate in educational programming, including GED tests and postsecondary education.
Manage contracts and support responsible stewardship of public funds.
Support engagement with student leadership groups to better address the needs of corrections education participants.