Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist (Program Specialist 5)

Our agencys 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 youre ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections we want to meet you.

Manage community engagement efforts in the assigned region
Tasks include:
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 Governors 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
Tasks include:
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
Tasks include:
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 Divisions 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 non-
profits 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 anentity.
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.

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least threeprofessional references(enter online).

This position is based in Thurston County. Many Commerce employees work remotely or have a hybrid schedule.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV (cant log in password or email issues error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at.

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 Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-.

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.