Come join our team and make a positive difference for Washington’s veterans and their families!

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.

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

Serve as the principal authority for statewide program performance, compliance, and strategic alignment of Veterans workforce programs. This includes:

Serve as the Lead Program Manager for Veterans Programs. This includes:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.

• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

The required experience includes:

Desirable/Preferred Education, Experience or Certifications:

• System Design: 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).

• To receive selective veteran preference, please attach your U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs – ‘Civil Service Preference Letter’, DD214 or equivalent document along with your resume and cover letter.

Special Requirements/Conditions of Employment:

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) and Paid Family Medical and Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy. Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Cover Letter, Resume, and military documentation as outlined above (if applicable) with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Caleb Baldwin or at 253-306-2999 or the Talent Acquisition Team, prior to the position closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

This recruitment may be used to fill additional agency-wide positions in accordance with Article 4 of the WFSE Collective Bargaining Agreement.

**This Organization Participates in E-Verify**