Program Specialist 5: Veterans and Military Families Program Operator

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

14h•Hybrid

About The Position

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, regional, 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.

Requirements

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.
Associate’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.
Bachelor’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.
Master’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.
The ability to take action to learn and grow.
The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
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.
Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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