Program Specialist II

Title: Program Specialist 2 | Reentry

Job Description:

Salary

$4,421.00 - $5,892.00 Monthly

Location 

Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Job Number

2025-05485

Department

Dept. of Corrections

Division

Reentry

Salary Information

The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description

Program Specialist 2

Full Time | Permanent 

Location: Tumwater, WA

Salary Range: $4,421 - $5,892 Monthly

This position is represented by the Teamsters 117 bargaining unit and is open to current DOC employees only.

This position is telework eligible up to two days per week. The telework schedule will be determined by the hiring manager.

 

The Washington State Department of Corrections is seeking a talented team player to join the Reentry Housing Assistance Program as a Program Specialist 2! The goal of this position is to aid housing specialists by managing and documenting all approved applications, payment due dates for vendors, upcoming approved individuals, and communications with the business office regarding payments and refunds.

 

This position fulfills the Department’s mission to improve public safety by positively changing lives by helping support stable housing for individuals reintegrating into the community. The Program Specialist 2 supports the Reentry Division’s purpose of providing people with focused opportunities for success by working closely with the Department’s Regional Housing Specialists, ensuring housing assistance payments are made on time, making accurate updates to the Statewide Transitional Housing Directory, and assisting with housing eligibility determinations in accordance with state law(s) and agency policies.

 

This dynamic role assumes various tasks including the creation of organizational files, tracking cases via the Offender Release Plans, and corresponding with various case managers. You will also work with regional housing specialists and case managers to coordinate and initiate housing assistance, reviewing cases on pre-determined timeframes to ensure tasks are being completed. 

 

We are looking for a proactive individual who has excellent attention to detail, and possesses critical time management and organizational skills! 

 

A completed application packet will include:

• A cover letter regarding your interest in this position with our agency
• A detailed resume
• Three professional references

 

Duties

 

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.

 

As a Program Specialist 2, some of your duties will include: 

• Completing Reentry Housing Assistance Program payment requests in coordination with Regional Housing Specialists which could include:
  • Compiling information, calculate rental dates and fees, determination voucher type and budget codes, track vouchers, verifying account numbers, billing information, property address, county, and case manager, provide copies of payment form to the assigned regional housing specialist and case manager
  • Inputting recurring monthly payment details into SharePoint, documenting approved voucher type, vendor, and rental address, rental dates, rental amount, and case manager, calculate payment dates, update case notes, document all payments, cancellations and activities related to reentry housing assistance payments
  • Determining if an individual continues to require housing assistance and remains in compliance and eligible 
• Reviewing submitted Housing Assistance Program applications for accuracy
• Daily monitoring of the Reentry Housing Assistance Program mailbox
• Adding new housing vendors and/or addresses to the Statewide Transitional Housing Directory on the SharePoint Site

 

Qualifications

 

What we need (required qualifications):

• A High School Diploma or GED equivalent

AND

• Four (4) years full time experience in office/clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative work, two years which must be at the senior clerical level or higher.

OR

• Associates degree from a recognized accredited college and/or university whose accreditations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

AND

• Two (2) years full time experience in office/clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative work.

In addition to the above education and experience, the below knowledge, skills and/or abilities are required:

• Intermediate Proficiency in Microsoft Suite (SharePoint, Excel, WORD, Teams, and Outlook).
• Intermediate proficiency in Adobe
• Demonstrated ability to support multiple assignments, and produce work products that are accurate, thorough and on time
• Demonstrated ability to support multiple co-workers, by completing assigned administrative tasks within program Timeline

 

What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications): 

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognized accredited college and/or university whose accreditations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation
• Knowledge of DOC programs, policies and procedures including performance goals and objectives
• Intermediate proficiency with Offender Management Network Information (OMNI)

 

Supplemental Information

 

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

 

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position. 
• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.   If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
  **Please note:  Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply. 
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration. 
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position. 
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.  When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
• DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

 

Telework Details

This position may be allocated for telework. Work may be performed from your home or another offsite location within the state of Washington using a reliable internet or cellular hotspot service at that time.  Employees are expected to perform assigned duties in a safe manner, to take proper care all state-issued equipment, and maintain confidentiality of all information in possession while working offsite.  Employees will be required to commute to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business requires, to potentially include components of the onboarding process. Some offices will have a “drop in” area available, however, a dedicated workspace within a DOC facility will not be provided.

 

What We Offer: 

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation.   Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!

PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.