Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist (Program Specialist 5)
Washington State ESD, Seattle, Washington, us, 98127
Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist (Program Specialist 5)
At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.
Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.
This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you.
Let’s build what’s next, together.
Commerce Community Engagement Unit The Commerce Community Engagement Unit is committed to identifying and supporting historically excluded communities across the state. By fostering long‑term relationships with Tribal leaders, community‑based organizations, elected officials, faith‑based groups, and informal community leaders, we ensure a no‑wrong‑door to access Commerce.
The Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist acts as Commerce’s expert community liaison for communities in the Upper Southwest Region (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pierce and Thurston Counties). The position proactively establishes and maintains positive ongoing relationships with community leaders of all types throughout the region to support the goal of strong, sustainable, equitable and vibrant communities. The position reports emerging and urgent community needs up to agency leadership and advises on program development and offerings that respond to local needs, including emphasizing equitable access and investment of funding.
This position helps strengthen organizational capacity to better access resources by prioritizing assistance to small, rural and historically excluded, marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities. It serves as a navigator for community leaders and groups to understand and access resources and funding. Engagement specialists collaborate with agency staff as requested. This position is often called upon to support community involvement in a facilitative role.
The position works collaboratively within the Community Engagement and Outreach Team, which includes Community Engagement Specialists that serve other regions of the state. Some projects are conducted together as a team, including developing approaches, processes, communications, tools, tracking and metrics, and managing special projects. This position reports to the Community Engagement Managing Director.
This position is based in Thurston County and offers a flexible/hybrid schedule. The duties of the job require the individual to reside in the area to support the Upper Southwest Region.
Managing Community Engagement Efforts in the Assigned Region
Serve as a regional expert and act as an agency representative, coordinator, and liaison to communities in the Upper Southwest Region. Provide connections to agency programs and funding resources as they are available. Stay up to date on current opportunities by tracking funding notices.
Provide highly professional community event and meeting planning, including on‑site staffing for the Commerce Director within the region. Responsible for making stakeholder engagement recommendations to the Director and executive leadership. Lead in the preparation for day‑long meetings.
Independently use Commerce funding data and other economic, public health or social justice indicators to research towns/cities and entities in the region. Conduct outreach, make introductions and maintain relationships with community leaders, elected officials, stakeholders, state agency partners, and potential customers, including but not limited to local governments, tribes, community‑based organizations, nonprofits, advocacy groups, other funders and businesses.
Prepare comprehensive community engagement plans with internal programs. Listen to understand Commerce program needs and staffing capacity and use a planning tool template that supports comprehensive engagement design across the continuum of practices. Identify effective community data collection methods based on knowledge of the region.
Follow‑up on requests for capacity building assistance. Appropriately assist the community to develop strategic action plans to access funding or programs.
Consult with organizations on their capacity.
Monitor local news and community meeting minutes or recordings to understand the unique needs of local areas, populations, communities and tribes no less than weekly. As indicated, reach out to local leaders and staff.
Independently organize, conduct, and facilitate large and small group workshops, meetings, training, and listening sessions in‑person and virtually as requested by executive Commerce leadership, or as needed.
Schedule monthly meetings with Governor’s Office Regional Outreach colleagues.
Manage multiple priorities and effectively manage time to ensure ability to meet commitments by using organizational tools.
Assist communities to navigate access to funding after disasters and emergency events by visiting the impacted area, serving as the point of contact with local leadership, coordinating with state leadership and resources to elevate awareness of local needs and provide community with funding or programmatic information that aligns with needs. As needed, support strategic planning, meetings facilitation, in‑person and virtual community engagement meetings or surveys to gather local input on needs in the long‑term recovery process.
Communications and Outreach
Maintain a list of contacts in the region.
Increase equitable access to resources by proactively engaging with diverse and historically marginalized and underserved entities to provide information on resource opportunities.
Collaborate with the Communications Division to develop and distribute clear and concise outreach materials, including summary information; online content; articles; reports; graphic representations of data; and other materials.
Support Special Projects
Provide planning consultation and day‑of staffing support in‑person and virtually for priority agency and divisional efforts to engage with community to gather feedback or input on agency program design.
Contribute assignments from the Community Engagement and Outreach Division’s special pilots or project‑based programs related to sharing community perspectives or needs in program design and planning, program development and contract management to ensure successful special project implementation. Lead any of these aspects of the project as requested by the supervisor.
Use experience and regional expertise to help units within the agency divisions to systemically address programmatic barriers and biases. This includes making presentations, sharing community feedback and reviewing and commenting on written plans, applications, or policy.
Offer assistance to local communities to review and assess the effectiveness of their community engagement and equity efforts using professional experience and understanding from community about equitable practices that could better meet needs, reduce barriers and improve access to funding by historically excluded groups.
Develop plans and recommendations for the most effective community engagement.
Required Position Qualifications Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience in community or economic development, ideally with local, state, or tribal governments, nonprofits and community‑based organizations. This includes working with diverse and multicultural communities and organizations in at least two or more of the following relevant areas:
Implementing capacity building efforts that support operational development and growth within an entity.
Presenting and facilitating large and small community groups.
Providing coordination and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies.
Implementing community engagement principles and practices.
Working with non‑profit sector; business sector; philanthropy; community‑based organizations including inter‑cultural organizations; and legislative processes, including successful experience navigating in a political environment.
Developing outreach materials, external communication pieces such as short and long reports, proposals, summaries, project plans, and newsletters.
Integrating equity, environmental and/or racial justice into organizational practices and policies.
Education involves community development, economic development, public administration, communications or related field. Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.
Examples of How to Qualify
8 years of experience
7 years of experience and one year of education
6 years of experience and two years of education
5 years of experience and three years of education
4 years of experience and four years of education
3 years of experience and five years of education
2 years of experience and six years of education
1 year of experience and seven years of education
Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Advanced facilitative skills, including planning, convening and facilitating meetings and events to successful outcomes.
Working knowledge of the Upper Southwest region in Washington, including the economy, communities, demographics, and culture.
Knowledge of state, federal, local and other funding programs and mechanisms that can help meet community needs.
Knowledge of grant, loan and assistance programs managed by the Department of Commerce.
Required Position Competencies
Effectively facilitates group interactions.
Provides clear, easy to comprehend messages and demonstrates excellent public speaking skills.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to conduct outreach and invite engagement, initiate and maintain positive and effective relationships, and work collaboratively and effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals and groups internally and outside the agency.
Ability to communicate persuasively at all levels of the agency and externally.
Understanding of local, state level government, and tribal governments, organizations, and communities.
Effective listening, verbal, written and digital communication skills that are appropriate for a variety of audiences.
Highly developed anticipatory and creative thinking and problem‑solving abilities, including ability to exercise sound judgment and discernment.
Ability to plan and coordinate successful completion of complex projects.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to develop and achieve agency goals.
Application Requirements
A complete and detailed online application.
A cover letter (enter online).
At least three professional references (enter online).
For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov – please reference the job number in your message.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.
Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855‑524‑5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.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.
Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14‑25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.
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Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is reflected in how we design programs, engage communities, and deliver outcomes. We foster a workplace culture where curiosity is encouraged, bold thinking is welcomed, and collaboration drives our impact.
This job is a commitment to reshape systems so they work better for everyone. If you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you.
Let’s build what’s next, together.
Commerce Community Engagement Unit The Commerce Community Engagement Unit is committed to identifying and supporting historically excluded communities across the state. By fostering long‑term relationships with Tribal leaders, community‑based organizations, elected officials, faith‑based groups, and informal community leaders, we ensure a no‑wrong‑door to access Commerce.
The Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist acts as Commerce’s expert community liaison for communities in the Upper Southwest Region (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pierce and Thurston Counties). The position proactively establishes and maintains positive ongoing relationships with community leaders of all types throughout the region to support the goal of strong, sustainable, equitable and vibrant communities. The position reports emerging and urgent community needs up to agency leadership and advises on program development and offerings that respond to local needs, including emphasizing equitable access and investment of funding.
This position helps strengthen organizational capacity to better access resources by prioritizing assistance to small, rural and historically excluded, marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities. It serves as a navigator for community leaders and groups to understand and access resources and funding. Engagement specialists collaborate with agency staff as requested. This position is often called upon to support community involvement in a facilitative role.
The position works collaboratively within the Community Engagement and Outreach Team, which includes Community Engagement Specialists that serve other regions of the state. Some projects are conducted together as a team, including developing approaches, processes, communications, tools, tracking and metrics, and managing special projects. This position reports to the Community Engagement Managing Director.
This position is based in Thurston County and offers a flexible/hybrid schedule. The duties of the job require the individual to reside in the area to support the Upper Southwest Region.
Managing Community Engagement Efforts in the Assigned Region
Serve as a regional expert and act as an agency representative, coordinator, and liaison to communities in the Upper Southwest Region. Provide connections to agency programs and funding resources as they are available. Stay up to date on current opportunities by tracking funding notices.
Provide highly professional community event and meeting planning, including on‑site staffing for the Commerce Director within the region. Responsible for making stakeholder engagement recommendations to the Director and executive leadership. Lead in the preparation for day‑long meetings.
Independently use Commerce funding data and other economic, public health or social justice indicators to research towns/cities and entities in the region. Conduct outreach, make introductions and maintain relationships with community leaders, elected officials, stakeholders, state agency partners, and potential customers, including but not limited to local governments, tribes, community‑based organizations, nonprofits, advocacy groups, other funders and businesses.
Prepare comprehensive community engagement plans with internal programs. Listen to understand Commerce program needs and staffing capacity and use a planning tool template that supports comprehensive engagement design across the continuum of practices. Identify effective community data collection methods based on knowledge of the region.
Follow‑up on requests for capacity building assistance. Appropriately assist the community to develop strategic action plans to access funding or programs.
Consult with organizations on their capacity.
Monitor local news and community meeting minutes or recordings to understand the unique needs of local areas, populations, communities and tribes no less than weekly. As indicated, reach out to local leaders and staff.
Independently organize, conduct, and facilitate large and small group workshops, meetings, training, and listening sessions in‑person and virtually as requested by executive Commerce leadership, or as needed.
Schedule monthly meetings with Governor’s Office Regional Outreach colleagues.
Manage multiple priorities and effectively manage time to ensure ability to meet commitments by using organizational tools.
Assist communities to navigate access to funding after disasters and emergency events by visiting the impacted area, serving as the point of contact with local leadership, coordinating with state leadership and resources to elevate awareness of local needs and provide community with funding or programmatic information that aligns with needs. As needed, support strategic planning, meetings facilitation, in‑person and virtual community engagement meetings or surveys to gather local input on needs in the long‑term recovery process.
Communications and Outreach
Maintain a list of contacts in the region.
Increase equitable access to resources by proactively engaging with diverse and historically marginalized and underserved entities to provide information on resource opportunities.
Collaborate with the Communications Division to develop and distribute clear and concise outreach materials, including summary information; online content; articles; reports; graphic representations of data; and other materials.
Support Special Projects
Provide planning consultation and day‑of staffing support in‑person and virtually for priority agency and divisional efforts to engage with community to gather feedback or input on agency program design.
Contribute assignments from the Community Engagement and Outreach Division’s special pilots or project‑based programs related to sharing community perspectives or needs in program design and planning, program development and contract management to ensure successful special project implementation. Lead any of these aspects of the project as requested by the supervisor.
Use experience and regional expertise to help units within the agency divisions to systemically address programmatic barriers and biases. This includes making presentations, sharing community feedback and reviewing and commenting on written plans, applications, or policy.
Offer assistance to local communities to review and assess the effectiveness of their community engagement and equity efforts using professional experience and understanding from community about equitable practices that could better meet needs, reduce barriers and improve access to funding by historically excluded groups.
Develop plans and recommendations for the most effective community engagement.
Required Position Qualifications Eight (8) years of combined experience and/or education as described below:
Experience in community or economic development, ideally with local, state, or tribal governments, nonprofits and community‑based organizations. This includes working with diverse and multicultural communities and organizations in at least two or more of the following relevant areas:
Implementing capacity building efforts that support operational development and growth within an entity.
Presenting and facilitating large and small community groups.
Providing coordination and consultation with a variety of public and private agencies.
Implementing community engagement principles and practices.
Working with non‑profit sector; business sector; philanthropy; community‑based organizations including inter‑cultural organizations; and legislative processes, including successful experience navigating in a political environment.
Developing outreach materials, external communication pieces such as short and long reports, proposals, summaries, project plans, and newsletters.
Integrating equity, environmental and/or racial justice into organizational practices and policies.
Education involves community development, economic development, public administration, communications or related field. Qualifying education post High School or equivalent may be substituted year for year for experience.
Examples of How to Qualify
8 years of experience
7 years of experience and one year of education
6 years of experience and two years of education
5 years of experience and three years of education
4 years of experience and four years of education
3 years of experience and five years of education
2 years of experience and six years of education
1 year of experience and seven years of education
Preferred/Desired Qualifications
Advanced facilitative skills, including planning, convening and facilitating meetings and events to successful outcomes.
Working knowledge of the Upper Southwest region in Washington, including the economy, communities, demographics, and culture.
Knowledge of state, federal, local and other funding programs and mechanisms that can help meet community needs.
Knowledge of grant, loan and assistance programs managed by the Department of Commerce.
Required Position Competencies
Effectively facilitates group interactions.
Provides clear, easy to comprehend messages and demonstrates excellent public speaking skills.
Exceptional interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to conduct outreach and invite engagement, initiate and maintain positive and effective relationships, and work collaboratively and effectively with a broad spectrum of individuals and groups internally and outside the agency.
Ability to communicate persuasively at all levels of the agency and externally.
Understanding of local, state level government, and tribal governments, organizations, and communities.
Effective listening, verbal, written and digital communication skills that are appropriate for a variety of audiences.
Highly developed anticipatory and creative thinking and problem‑solving abilities, including ability to exercise sound judgment and discernment.
Ability to plan and coordinate successful completion of complex projects.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team to develop and achieve agency goals.
Application Requirements
A complete and detailed online application.
A cover letter (enter online).
At least three professional references (enter online).
For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov – please reference the job number in your message.
This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.
Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855‑524‑5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov.
Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.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.
Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14‑25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.
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