What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Specialist 5 position at State of Washington Traffic Safety Commission?
Description
~The hiring manager reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time. It will be in your best interest to apply as soon as possible. ~
First reviews of applications will begin on 12/1/25.
Schedule: The Washington Traffic Safety Commission (WTSC) offers flexible schedules and telework options for most positions. Employees who have been with the agency for less than six months are eligible to telework for up to four days over a two-week period for a minimum of six months. Flex schedules may be available. Regular office hours are 8 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday. The office is located in Olympia, Washington.First reviews of applications will begin on 12/1/25.
Want to join a great team and do work that saves lives?
Who We Are:
Our small agency of just 30 employees manages Washington’s behavioral traffic safety programs, having a direct impact on preventing impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding, and other high-risk behaviors that lead to traffic deaths and injuries. The WTSC also maintains the official database of Washington’s fatal traffic crashes.
OUR VISION: A Washington where we all work together to travel safely on our roadways.
OUR MISSION: We empower and equip people and communities with knowledge, tools, and resources to build a positive traffic safety culture.
TARGET ZERO: WTSC collaborates with communities, partners, and other state agencies to achieve Target Zero – Washington State’s Strategic Highway Safety Plan for zero deaths and zero serious injuries by 2030.
Join our team today to help make Washington’s roadways the safest in the nation!
What makes WTSC a great place to work?
We save lives! Washington is a national leader in traffic safety.
- We create a positive organizational culture focused on inclusion and diversity.
- We use data-informed decision making to identify disparities, reduce barriers, and promote equitable opportunities and outcomes, internally and externally.
- We are committed to the health, safety, and wellness of our staff.
- Our leadership empowers and supports employees.
- We offer and support family-friendly mobile and flexible work schedule opportunities for most positions, as well as an infant at work program.
- We value and offer mentorship and training opportunities to develop your professional skills.
- Our office is located just minutes from the Capital campus.
Highlights of What You'll Do:
As the Program Specialist 5, working in the Impaired Driving Team, you will manage a portfolio of state and federal grant funded projects. Oversee a portfolio of traffic safety grant projects from start to finish, review applications, monitor progress, support grantees, and make sure public funds are well spent and well documented. You will work hand-in-hand with local agencies, nonprofits, and community groups to implement strategies that reduce traffic crashes and save lives across Washington. You will serve as the go-to contact for your assigned grantees. Help them navigate project goals, budgets, and timelines with clarity and confidence. You will collaborate with the Impaired Driving team that values communication, innovation, and public service. You won’t be on your own, we’ve got your back. You will also help track deliverables, review invoices and reports, and troubleshoot hiccups before they become headaches.
Duties
Some of What You Will Enjoy Doing:
- Manage the full lifecycle of all state and federally funded impaired driving grant-funded projects, including planning, execution, invoicing, monitoring, closure, and evaluation.
- Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, as well as agency policies, throughout all phases of the grant process.
- Track and assess project performance metrics for grant-funded initiatives, ensuring alignment with program goals as defined by the Impaired Driving Team Program Manager Lead.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive records of project activities, outcomes, and compliance documentation.
- Serve as the primary liaison for grantees, coordinating all project-related communications and agreements.
- Provide guidance and oversight to grantees, ensuring adherence to project requirements, deliverables, and timelines.
- Conduct site visits and evaluations to verify project progress, compliance, and performance outcomes.
- Facilitate communication between grantees and WTSC internal teams to maintain alignment with overall program objectives.
- Prepare and present reports to legislators, legislative committees, the Washington Impaired Driving Advisory Council, and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission as requested or required by legislative requirements.
- Support program area assessments by gathering data on grant-funded project impacts to inform the agency’s annual reporting to the legislature and other stakeholders.
- Prepare legislative reports and coordinate responses to information requests in partnership with the External Relations Director.
- Keep current with grant-related policies, best practices, and traffic safety research, sharing relevant updates with the Program Manager and team.
- Attend required training in grant management and compliance to support ongoing professional growth.
Qualifications
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Strong ability to interpret and analyze information.
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
- Training in meeting facilitation
- Knowledge of state government organization, legislative processes, procurement procedures and administrative protocols.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint and SharePoint).
- Familiarity with federal grant processes and regulations.
- Understanding of state policies and guidelines, particularly state travel regulations (SAAM).
In addition to the above required qualifications, a candidate must possess one (1) of the following education and/or experience options:
OPTION 1:
- Eight (8) years of combined education and/or experience in planning, policy analysis, coordination and consultation with various public and private agencies, organizations, or other relevant experience.
- Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science, Public Health, Social Science, Communications, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, Business, Human Services, Education or Criminal Justice, or related field; AND
- Four (4) years of experience in planning, policy analysis, coordination, and consultation with various public and private agencies, organizations, or other relevant experience.
- Master’s degree in Behavioral Science, Public Health, Social Science, Communications, Organizational Leadership, Public Administration, Business, Human Services, Education or Criminal Justice, or related field; AND
- Two (2) years of experience in planning, policy analysis, coordination, and consultation with various public and private agencies, organizations, or other relevant experience.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Federal grant management
- 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.
COMPETENCIES:
- Critical Thinking: Analyze information objectively, identify what matters, and synthesize insights to form smart, reasoned conclusions.
- Teamwork & Collaboration: Build strong working relationships, communicate openly, and work cooperatively to reach shared goals, owning mistakes and giving credit along the way.
- Professionalism: Consistently demonstrate respect, integrity, and ethical behavior in every interaction and task.
- Writing: Write clearly, concisely, and effectively, using the right format and tone to communicate complex ideas in a reader-friendly way.
- Innovation: Bring creative energy to problem-solving by connecting ideas in new ways and welcoming fresh approaches.
- Servant Leadership: Support others’ growth by fostering a positive, service-minded work environment where everyone can thrive.
- Learning: Pursue continuous improvement through feedback, evaluation, and a curiosity-driven mindset that fuels better outcomes.
- Attention to Detail: Deliver high-quality work by being careful, thorough, and committed to accuracy.
- Decision Making / Judgment: Make thoughtful, timely decisions that balance available data, context, and consequences—even when answers aren’t crystal clear.
- Equity: The ability to take action to learn and grow.
- Equity: The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
Supplemental Information
Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:
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A letter of interest describing how you meet the qualifications for this position as outlined in the job posting.
- A current resume detailing experience and education.
NOTE: By submitting these materials, you indicate that all information is true and correct. The state may verify information. Any untruthful or misleading information is cause for removal from the applicant pool or dismissal if employed. A resume will not substitute for completing the “duties summary” section or supplemental questions of the application. Please do not “refer to resume” for detail, or your application may be disqualified.
Opportunity for All: The Washington Traffic Safety Commission celebrates our differences and we are committed to a workplace that supports equal opportunity employment and inclusion regardless of race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, marital status, families with children (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sex, sexual orientation, gender identity diversity, age, status as a protected veteran, honorably discharged veteran or military status, status as an individual with the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with disabilities or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We will also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws.
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials and we will honor this as you interact with our organization.
Contact Information:For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact George Deguzman at george.deguzman@des.wa.gov or email jobs@des.wa.gov.
Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
Salary : $5,812 - $7,817