Program Assistant - Equity and Social Impact

General Position Summary

Job Number 2026-00063

King County Library System (KCLS) is seeking a highly organized, approachable, and communicative Program Assistant to provide administrative support within the Equity and Social Impact (ESI) Department.

Work Schedule

Monday-Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm

About The Opportunity

As the ESI Program Assistant, you will bring strong attention to detail and excellent customer service skills, asking thoughtful questions, taking initiative, and exploring creative solutions to support the department’s evolving strategic and administrative needs. You will also assist with preparing for events, projects, and programs—including assembling kits and organizing materials.

In this role, you will serve as the primary point of contact for the ESI Department and provide essential administrative support. Your responsibilities will include data processing, bookkeeping, records management, customer assistance, and communication with both library staff and patrons.

You will be an active member of the ESI team and participate in conversations that shape KCLS’s Equity and Social Impact work. In this role, experience working with and serving diverse communities is essential.

Applicants must attach a current resume and cover letter which addresses why they are interested in the position and how they meet the qualifications listed.

About King County Library System (KCLS)

KCLS has a vision of a world where knowledge allows diverse communities to prosper and grow. In order to support this vision, we create opportunities through meaningful connections by acting as the knowledge sharing center for over 1.5 million diverse patrons, providing an unparalleled collection of library materials, resources, technology, services, and programs.

Approximately 1,000 engaged and passionate staff provide service in 50 community library locations and patron engagement using direct outreach, programs, and virtual assistance. Our service area includes cities, towns, tribal lands, and unincorporated districts of King County, with the exception of the city of Seattle.

From a 2021-2022 comprehensive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Assessment Demographics and Language Report, of the more than 1.5 million residents who live within the KCLS service area, almost half identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC). Moreover, roughly one-third of the KCLS community speaks a language other than English as their first language.

The King County Library System values the diverse perspectives, lived experiences, and cultures of all qualified individuals. We seek applicants that reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other people of color), immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQIA , individuals with disabilities, veterans, etc.

KCLS welcomes reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities as an opportunity to assist qualified individuals to participate in the job application or interview process and/or perform the essential functions of the position upon hire.

Need an accommodation to apply or interview? Call (425) 369-3224 or email employment@kcls.org .

KCLS ensures equal opportunities and consideration for all job applicants, without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. KCLS does not tolerate discrimination or harassment during any stage of employment, including in recruiting, hiring, promotion, termination, leave of absence, compensation, or training.

Examples of Duties

The items listed in this section are the key duties and responsibilities for this job and do not represent an exhaustive list. Our organization is dynamic and therefore duties may change based on business necessity; however, any new duties will remain within the scope of the job.

• Responds to inquiries from library staff and resolves routine service issues related to ESI programs and services, escalating complext matters to the supervisor.
• Locates, orders and distributes materials and supplies to support ESI program delivery, ensuring timely preparation and shipment to library locations.
• Coordinates logistics and provides on-site support for ESI-sponsored events, projects, and programs.
• Prepares contracts and agreements for ESI-sponsored programs, services, and projects. Coordinates with contractors and presenters to ensure required documenation is complete and timely. Tracks timelines for partnership agreement renewals.
• Develops and maintains organizational systems for the department storage area to support efficient access to materials.
• Processes invoices through the payment system and coordinates with accounting staff to ensure accurate and timely payment of department expenses.
• Organizes and maintains records and information for department programs and services including patron and facilities information, vendor information, program attendance and scheduling.
• Prepares and maintains program statistics and reports related to materials, distribution, and service delivery to support department operations.
• Updates and maintains assigned department manuals and documentation.
• Monitors inventory, orders and maintains office materials and supplies.
• Communicates with KCLS staff, vendors, contractors, and patrons via email and phone to support program coordination and service delivery.
• Coordinates scheduling and communication for KCLs vehicle use and maintenance in support of ESI outreach activities.
  
  

Secondary Duties

• Works on special projects as assigned.
• Provides back up to others within the department.
• Participate in meetings, conferences, and committees.
• Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned.
  
  

Core Competencies

Each KCLS position has job-specific competencies. These competencies describe characteristics needed for optimum performance in the position. In addition, there are organizational competencies applicable to all positions at KCLS that encompass the culture and set expectations for how work is performed.

Organizational Competencies

• Valuing Diversity
  
  

Manages relationships with all kinds and classes of people inclusively and equitably. Respects, values, and encourages the unique dimension each employee adds to the organization and each member of the community brings to the whole. Seeks opportunities to learn about differences.

• Customer Focus
  
  

Primarily focused on customer needs. Able to deliver high-quality, value-added services. Constantly strives to find new ways to increase customer satisfaction and understanding, foster equitable services, and forge meaningful connections.

• Ethics, Values and Judgment
  
  

Exercises best judgment, trustworthiness, and professional standards of conduct. Consistently demonstrates organization’s values, moral principles, and accountability in behavior, character, and action. Defends intellectual freedom and confidentiality.

• Professional and Technical Knowledge
  
  

Demonstrates proficiency in professional and technical skills and/or knowledge in position-related areas. Purposely keeps up with current developments and trends in areas of expertise, in order to better foster personal success and connections for others.

Job-Specific Competencies

• Communicates Effectively
  
  

Conveys ideas and information in a way that is clear, engaging, and suitable to the audience. Main point of their message is apparent. Listens more than they speak and responds appropriately. Seeks influence.

• Teamwork/Collaboration
  
  

Works cooperatively and productively with others to achieve goals and deliverables. Is aware of, utilizes and celebrate their own and team member’s strengths and differences.

• Interpersonal Savvy
  
  

Relates well to all kinds of people at all levels, both internally and externally. Builds appropriate relationships. Interactions are often purposeful and constructive.

Desired Minimum Qualification

Education And Experience

The items listed below are the minimum requirements for the job and are relevant to this position. The organization values both work experience and education and realizes that individuals take different paths to acquire knowledge.

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent.
• Two years’ experience in an administrative or program support setting.
• Experience with office software programs, integrated library systems, or database software systems.
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the necessary qualifications to successfully perform the duties of the position will be considered.
  
  

Knowledge And Skills

• Working knowledge and experience serving diverse communities.
• Working knowledge of office software solutions including spreadsheets and other tracking tools
• Works independently and collaboratively.
• Flexible and adaptive to changing needs and priorities.
• Well-developed verbal, active listening, and written communication skills with various and diverse audiences.
• Highly organized and detail oriented.
  
  

Professional Licenses and Certifications

• A valid Washington State driver’s license and be an insurable driver by KCLS is required.
  
  

Physical Demands & Work Environment

Work Environment

Work is performed in a typical office environment and in the library or a shipping area depending on work tasks. Some travel within the service area is required.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will:

• Constantly sit, occasionally stand, and seldom will walk.
• Frequently reach out at chest level with hands and arms and occasionally will reach up or down.
• Constantly use hands in conjunction with frequent finger use. Keyboarding may be repetitive up to frequently.
• Rotate neck up to occasionally.
• Change tasks depending upon the shift.
• Require extensive close work, including use of a computer monitor.
• Occasionally operate foot controls.
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 20 lbs., and seldom lift up to 35 lbs.
• Occasionally push or pull carts and wheeled equipment using light force.