Description

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community".

Job Title: Professional Development Specialist - Program Specialist 4 (PS4) - Olympia

Location: Olympia, WA
Closes: Monday, June 29, 2026
Salary: $63,252 - 84,984 Yearly. The salary does not include the 2% general wage increase effective July 1, 2026.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is accepting applications for a Professional Development Specialist to serve as a member of a dynamic centralized training team providing new employee academy trainings and ongoing in-service trainings for existing employees in many different subjects, including but not limited to Trauma-Informed Care, Milieu Management, Suicide Prevention & Intervention, Incident Reporting, Verbal Deescalation, and others. This position is stationed at DCYF Headquarters in Olympia, with regular travel to Green Hill School and Western Washington Community Facilities and Regional Offices.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

As a Trainer and Training Coordinator, you will coordinate, schedule, and track compliance for training activities for all new and existing employees at the 3 Community Facilities and the Regional Offices for Regions 3, 4, 5, and 6. You will regularly deliver the New Employee Academy foundational trainings at Green Hill School. This position serves on a dynamic team that is dedicated to delivering trainings that prepare Juvenile Rehabilitation staff to be highly effective in their work with young people across the JR continuum. We are focused on Continuous Quality Improvement of the trainings we deliver, always working to improve what we offer.

This is a hybrid position, with some opportunity to work from home. This does not guarantee working from home every week. An average week will include 3-5 days training at Green Hill or other Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation facilities.

Some of what you'll do:

• Deliver professional-level instruction that is culturally responsive and trauma-informed, and that aligns with adult learning theory and best practices and principles to work effectively with residents of Washington State Juvenile Rehabilitation secure and community facilities.
• Deliver all Foundations curricula in the New Employee Academy (NEA) at Green Hill School and other locations to fulfill needs.
• Deliver in-service training for staff in assigned community facilities, regions, and at Green Hill School.
• Collaborate with fellow instructors and the Training Administrator to plan, adapt, and deliver instruction.
• Provide structured coaching, feedback, and mentoring during training to support staff.
• Manage the new employee onboarding program for the area of operations.
• Perform advanced data collection and tracking of training records and participant surveys and communicate timely updates to the training administrator.
• Problem solve issues with training quality and consistent completion and recommend and implement adjustments to improve training methods, learner engagement, and skill transfer.

Required Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree in social services or field related to personnel development, AND a minimum of two years of experience working in a juvenile justice-related field including working with youth in residential and/or community facilities and programs, with an understanding of pertinent RCW and WAC.

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience totaling six years, including a minimum of two years of professional experience applying adult learning principles.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• A Bachelor’s degree with focus on adult learning, human resources, business, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or related field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent.
• Additional demonstration of instructor development or certification as an instructor of job knowledge/skill training for adult learners.
• Previously demonstrated ability to work effectively with a staff team that values professionalism, diversity, collaboration, integrity and continuous quality improvement to instructional quality and customer service to students and stakeholders.
• Previously demonstrated competence to execute expert level organizational and facilitation skills.
• Previously demonstrated ability to work effectively within a team-oriented working environment with diverse staff.
• Previously demonstrated ability to work in a justice environment that includes respectful, humane and therapeutic intersections with individuals who have been committed or sentenced to serve time. Preferably two years of experience working with clients in a residential or community facility.
• Skill in oral and written communications to present training to a variety of audiences.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants selected for an interview are required to pass a national fingerprint background check and complete a questionnaire mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inquiring about any sexual misconduct. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but is considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

This position is included a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact the Talent Acquisition Specialist. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.