Salary: $5,928.00 - $7,973.00 Monthly
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number: 2026-WTB-002
Department: Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
Opening Date: 07/08/2026
Closing Date: 7/22/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionVocational Education Program Specialist Monday - Friday | 8AM - 5PM | HYBRID
NOTE:The hiring authority reserves the right to offer the position at any time after the required posting period, and during the recruitment process. It is to the applicant's advantage to apply as early as possible.
About the Opportunity:As a Vocational Education Program Specialist (VEPS), you will independently manage licensing and regulatory compliance for over 300 private career schools across Washington, directly protecting more than 35,000 students. Operating under the direction of the Consumer Protection Unit Director, you will handle administrative oversight, interpret regulations, and enforce the Private Vocational School Act (RCW 28C.10). Your day-to-day responsibilities will include conducting compliance monitoring and site inspections, leading complaint resolutions and investigations, and managing the Tuition Recovery Trust Fund (TRTF). Additionally, you will provide technical assistance to schools, safeguard confidential records, and coordinate with external agencies to ensure educational quality, accountability, and strong consumer protection.
Duties Some of What You'll Enjoy Doing Includes:- Review and approve private vocational school licensing applications by analyzing business plans, financial statements, and faculty qualifications.
- Evaluate instructional programs and facility resources to ensure schools can deliver advertised training.
- Assess institutional compliance using statutory and regulatory criteria under RCW 28C.10 and WAC 490-105.
- Determine overall institutional viability and identify operational deficiencies by applying established licensing standards.
- Review institutional documentation and practices to ensure the adequacy of program delivery.
- Protect students and ensure institutions achieve their stated educational objectives.
- Interpret and communicate licensing requirements, regulatory procedures, and compliance expectations to school representatives and stakeholders using RCW, WAC, and agency policies.
- Deliver information and guidance on application and renewal processes through verbal, written, in-person, or virtual presentations.
- Mediate student-institution disputes through informal conflict resolution and conduct formal complaint investigations by gathering evidence, interviewing parties, and applying regulatory standards to produce defensible findings.
- Other duties as needed.
Qualifications Required Qualifications:- Three (3) years of professional experience performing administrative and/or regulatory work involving the compilation, analysis, and evaluation of information, data, and facts to determine eligibility, compliance with laws or program requirements, or to make recommendations for management action.
- Proficiency with licensing and regulatory data management systems.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Adobe Acrobat
Preferred Qualifications:- Degree or certification in Public Administration, Business Administration, Education, or a closely related field.
- Experience licensing or regulating educational institutions or other regulated industries.
- Experience conducting administrative hearings, enforcement actions, or complaint investigations.
- Knowledge of higher education administration, workforce development programs, or veteran education benefits.
- Demonstrated commitment to customer service while maintaining regulatory integrity.
- Experience using licensing databases, case management systems, or document management software.
Supplemental Information How to Apply:Interested? We would love to hear from you! Click "Apply" at the top of this page to start your application. You can save the application and come back to it, if needed. Be sure to complete the application fully to include a full work history and responses to the supplemental questions.
Please provide the following documents in order to be considered; failure to do so may result in you not being considered for the position:- A letter of interest that shows your personality and voice to describe why you are the successful candidate and how you meet the specific qualifications for this position
- A current resume, detailing experience, and education
- A current list of at least three (3) professional references with current contact information
Do not attach any documents that include photos or private information (social security number, year of birth, etc.).
Please Note: By submitting these materials, you are indicating 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 be substitute for completing the "duties summary" section of the online application. Please do not refer to the resume for detail or your application may be disqualified.
