Director of Programs

Full Job Description

Note: Don't wait, applications are reviewed daily! We reserve the right to close this job posting at any time once a sufficient number of qualified candidates are identified, so we encourage you to apply early.

Hybrid: Our physical office is in Olympia, WA. We offer flexible work schedules and locations. This is a hybrid position where most of the work allows teleworking. However, you must reside in the state of Washington and travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events as needed for business purposes.

Why work for OFM
The Office of Financial Management OFM) serves as the backbone of Washington state government. Our mission is to make our state a better place by connecting people, budgets, policies, data, and systems for state agencies and the Legislature. Our team includes budget advisors, researchers, and other experts, all dedicated public servants working towards an equitable future for every Washingtonian. If you want to play a key role in enhancing how state government serves its citizens, you’ve found the right place. Join us in making a meaningful difference for every Washingtonian!

The job opportunity
We are seeking a collaborative and mission-driven Director of Programs to oversee key service and community preparedness programs at Serve Washington. Serve Washington is dedicated to strengthening communities across Washington State through initiatives that expand civic engagement and service opportunities, including AmeriCorps, the Washington Climate Corps Network, and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. The organization also recognizes and promotes volunteer service while supporting initiatives that expand access to community engagement opportunities across diverse communities throughout the state.

As the Director of Programs, you will provide leadership and oversight of Serve Washington’s AmeriCorps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs.

Your responsibilities will include supervising and supporting program staff, overseeing grantmaking and program administration, managing program risk, and guiding program development and implementation.

You will direct and support the team responsible for administering these programs to ensure effective planning, compliance, and successful outcomes.

Working closely with the Executive Director and serving as a member of the management team, this role performs complex work with a high degree of independence, initiative, and sound judgment to strengthen service programs that benefit communities across Washington State.

What you’ll work on
Leadership/supervisory:

• Manage and provide strategic direction for the Serve Washington AmeriCorps and CERT teams; determine current and future needs; identify potential risks and issues.
• Directs and regularly reviews the work of the AmeriCorps and CERT team members; develops goals for each team member; establishes measures to ensure goals are executed efficiently and with a high level of quality; evaluates performance of direct reports.
• Encourages decision making at the lowest appropriate level; equips team members with knowledge and information; empowers team members to effectively define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions and provide appropriate courses of action and recommendations.
• Ensures systems, policies, and/or procedures are in place to produce excellence in the management of AmeriCorps and CERT resources, including compliance with applicable regulations and grant requirements, provides highest level of accountability for the use of public funds.
• Serves as a member of Serve Washington’s leadership team; attends regular meetings during which managers keep each other updated on their work, discuss coordination of work between areas and address cross-functional issues affecting multiple work areas.
• Supports Serve Washington events (such as commission meetings); works closely with leadership to develop and support stakeholder engagements.
• Works directly with the Serve Washington Budget and Grants Specialist and Grants Officer to ensure budget compliance and tracking of expenditures.

Grant Management:

• Develops, performs annual reviews, and evaluates program and fiscal policies and procedures; standardizes and provides training to ensure successful accomplishment of activities, goals and objectives.
• Manages a portfolio of complex grants; oversees and manages the programmatic, technical and administrative components of grants management and program development throughout the grant life cycle.
• Oversees the Request for Grants Applications process to include the overall process, timeline, revisions to application materials and feedback tools, peer review logistics and facilitation, concept paper review, full application review, ranking and recommendation submission, submission of all competitive and formula grants.
• Assists new grantees and projects through planning grants and directs technical assistance.
• Provides input into the annual training & technical assistance plan to fulfill program development needs and comply with federal and state guidelines.
• Supports grantees in the development and continuous improvement of program policies and implementation systems.
• Maintains grant oversight by ensuring timely, accurate, and complete submission of all reporting requirements; ensures grantees' compliance with applicable federal and state laws, rules and regulations.

AmeriCorps Portfolio:

• Serves as the primary contact for the Corporation for National Service.
• Plans, assigns, and evaluates the work of the Program Officers to maintain a practical and equitable balance in workload and adjusts priorities as required.
• Develops yearly program handbook; ensures all subgrantees have the information needed to successfully meet their federal obligations and provide strong member experiences.
• Responds to AmeriCorps and Office of Inspector General information and monitoring requests as needed in conjunction with the Executive and Deputy Director.
• Participates in AmeriCorps calls and state commission grantee calls, conferences, and committees, as needed
• Creates yearly monitoring plan for both program and fiscal requirements.
• Finalizes semi-annual program progress reports; ensures accuracy and compliance.
• Convenes regular national service engagements; provides program training; ensures a culture of sharing among programs; builds a supportive network for the delivery of national service programming.
• Reviews and provides recommendations on individual grantees Program operating procedures and conducts technical assistance visits.
• Conducts comprehensive monitoring activities including desk audits and site visits; provides constructive feedback and corrective action to grantees to encourage innovation.
• In collaboration with the QA Specialist develops and implements Serve Washington program operating procedures and policies; assists with annual reviews of documents to ensure meeting federal and state compliance rules.
• Holds meetings with subgrantees as needed to ensure information is provided, build and maintain relationships, and ensure compliance as needed.

CERT Portfolio:

• Supports the creation of statewide CERT policy and procedures; ensures annual reviews of documents; provides guidance as needed.
• Supports the submission of grant applications; ensures meeting standards and requesting of right funding base.
• Attends meetings with the Emergency Management Division to ensure compliance with CERT training and needs.
• Ensures compliance with FEMA regulations regarding the CERT program.
• Reviews CERT program evaluations to ensure training team is working effectively.
• When able attends CERT courses to ensure proper representation of Serve Washington staff.

What we need you to bring
Required Qualifications:

• Demonstrated knowledge of public-sector program administration, including oversight of complex, multi-stakeholder portfolios funded by federal and state grants.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership and direction to multidisciplinary teams, including setting priorities, managing risk, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated skills in supervising and developing staff, including performance management, goal setting, coaching, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Knowledge of federal and state grant requirements, compliance standards, and monitoring practices, including programmatic, fiscal, and reporting obligations.
• Ability to manage and oversee grant life cycles, including application development, peer review processes, award recommendations, implementation, monitoring, and closeout.
• Demonstrated understanding of public funds stewardship, including internal controls, budget oversight, expenditure tracking, and coordination with fiscal and grants staff.
• Ability to analyze complex information, identify risks or compliance issues, and develop corrective actions or process improvements.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, and systems required to ensure regulatory compliance, operational consistency, and program quality.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences, including federal partners, grantees, internal leadership, and community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated skill in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with external partners, oversight entities, and interagency stakeholders.
• Ability to plan, facilitate, and support training, technical assistance, and statewide convenings to strengthen program effectiveness and consistency.
• Knowledge of national service and emergency management program environments, including AmeriCorps and FEMA-aligned programs, and their governance structures.
• Ability to represent the organization professionally in meetings, committees, and external engagements, including responding to audits, monitoring inquiries, and information requests.
• The ability to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.
  

Desired Qualifications:

• Seven years of professional-level governmental or nonprofit work experience in grants planning and administration, which includes writing, reviewing, holding, and maintaining accountability to federal and state standards.
• Two years of demonstrated skills in management, planning, staff supervision, and development.
• Direct experience managing AmeriCorps State or AmeriCorps National Direct grant programs.
• Experience in developing and monitoring program budgets.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please share it with us or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience aligns with them.

Additional Information

What we offer

At OFM, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• A culture that values and strives to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person will read it. We do not use AI or other technology to screen your application. Please ensure you provide clear, detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their current contact information.

Questions: OFM's Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

The Office of Financial Management 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 with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.