Program Specialist 3 - 2 POSITIONS

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) is seeking two (2) Program Specialist 3's (PS3) to play key roles within our Programs and Services Division. In this dynamic position, you will work closely with higher-level staff to manage specialized components of state and federal grant programs, oversee special projects, and lead the planning and coordination for statewide advisory boards and committees. Additionally, you will drive operational success by providing critical administrative, logistical, and technical support to our Program Managers and assisting with agency-wide meetings and events. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to impactful statewide traffic safety initiatives while ensuring the smooth execution of vital agency programs.

Requirements

Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to multi-task.
Excellent interpersonal skills.
Experience with meeting coordination and preparation of minutes.
Ability to travel to meeting and event locations in-state and out-of-state, internal, and external venues, transporting meeting materials, setting up meeting rooms, etc.
Experience with Microsoft 365.
Attention to detail and extensive editing and proofreading skills are essential.
Six (6) years of combined education and/or experience in program or project coordination or management, contract or grant administration, community or stakeholder engagement, policy or systems analysis, process improvement or organizational development. strategic planning or program evaluation, operations, logistics, service delivery management, budgeting, procurement, or financial tracking, facilitation or interagency collaboration, transportation planning.
Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science, Public Health, Social Science, Communications, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, Business, Business Administration / Management, Human Services, Education, Criminal Justice, or related field AND Two years of experience in program or project coordination or management, contract or grant administration, community or stakeholder engagement, policy or systems analysis, process improvement or organizational development. strategic planning or program evaluation, operations, logistics, service delivery management, budgeting, procurement, or financial tracking, facilitation or interagency collaboration, transportation planning. NOTE: Years of relevant work experience may substitute year-for-year for the required education.

Nice To Haves

Experience in public health, with particular value placed on expertise in injury prevention. This includes knowledge of evidence-based strategies to reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, and the ability to apply public health approaches to program development, implementation, and evaluation.
Knowledge of state government organization, legislature, legislative process, procurement procedures, and administrative procedures.
Knowledge and experience with archival procedures and the State Records Center.
Experience with conference planning from securing the hotel through final billing of the event.
Negotiation skills with respect to hotel contracts.
Familiarity and/or experience with federal grants.
Knowledge of state policies and guidelines, particularly state travel regulations (SAMM).
Familiarity with Travel Expense Management System (TEMS).
Experience with legislative bill tracking.

Responsibilities

Assist higher-level staff by managing discrete components of state and federal grant programs, advisory boards, and special projects.
Operate independently on day-to-day activities, utilizing professional judgment to manage specific programs like the BrainCert LMS and School Zone Mini-Grants.
Prepare comprehensive project reports for Program Managers, including quarterly progress, spending assessments, and end-of-year summaries.
Review and approve grant invoices against scopes of work, resolving discrepancies and ensuring compliance with state and federal guidelines.
Coordinate contract amendments and routing in the WEMS system, ensuring applications meet regulations and overseeing agreements from creation to signature.
Manage funding requests, anticipate program conflicts, and consult with partners and grantees to recommend solutions and alternatives.
Support high-visibility and traffic safety enforcement programs by organizing meetings, documenting decisions, and updating interagency contract templates.
Coordinate administrative, technical, and logistical needs for agency boards and committees, such as the Tribal Traffic Safety Council and Target Zero project.
Provide administrative support to Program Managers by organizing digital records, implementing state retention schedules, and establishing file-naming guidelines to improve data management.
Conduct compliance reviews and audit preparations for project files, manage the public records request process, and coordinate planning and logistics for agency meetings and events.