Washington State Labor Education and Research Center

Program Development Specialist

Based in Seattle, WA

 

South Seattle College’s Labor Education Research Center (LERC) is looking for a Program Development Specialist (Program Specialist 3).

The salary range for this position is $62,748 – $80,436 (Grade 53). Please note that initial salary placement is generally $67,740 – $74,688 (Steps E-H).

To Apply:
Application and required materials first review of materials will begin 8/28/2026. Interested applicants should view the official job posting on the Seattle Colleges’ jobs portal, accessible at https://tinyurl.com/lerc-pds-application, and click “Apply for the Job”. Applications must be submitted through the Seattle Colleges’ jobs portal; applications sent directly by email will not be considered.  

Job Summary
The Washington State Labor Education and Research Center serves Washington workers by helping them know, exercise, and expand their workplace rights. The Center’s programs build the skills and confidence needed for working people to become leaders in efforts to improve their work lives and promote a just economy through collective action. The LERC is the only organization of its kind providing this type of education to rural and urban communities across the entire state.

The Program Development Specialist position will be a 2-year project position that will help with additional fundraising and the creation and expansion of the Center’s projects. The position will contribute a great deal to strengthening the LERC’s financial standing, compliance, and sustainability.

The Program Development Specialist will assist the Director by:

• Developing Partnerships and Contract Trainings: write proposals, liaise with clients and partners, design and plan programs, write contracts, and streamline processes for new contracts
• Develop New Programs: Coordinate implementation of initiatives for new programs identified in LERC’s Strategic Plan, including seeking resources for programs, drafting detailed plans, agendas, and policies, and recruiting additional partners
• Fundraising and Grants: coordinate grant development activities and assist with development of major LERC fundraising program in coordination with the Seattle Colleges Foundation
• Develop the Workers’ Rights Policy Program: convene program partners and stakeholders for discussions; plan and scope changes to the next edition of the manual; lead the writing of new edition; plan and lead edition launch, make regular updates as needed

The LERC Program Development Specialist acts as a program liaison with LERC staff, the Seattle Colleges community, and the Washington State Labor Community. This position requires tasks and knowledge unique to Washington State Labor policies, practices, stakeholders and culture. The Coordinator must be well-versed in the practices and culture of labor organizing, workers’ rights, development and donor relations in a labor-focused context, and Washington’s labor community.

This position will be based out of the LERC’s office at South Seattle College’s Georgetown Campus and will work a regular schedule during the LERC’s regular working hours, which are 8:30 – 5:00 PM, Monday – Friday. The position follows the LERC’s hybrid schedule: on Mondays and Fridays, employees work remotely from home, while on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, employees work in-office on campus. This position may require attendance at evening and weekend events outside of the LERC’s regular working hours, all of which will be scheduled in advance and compensated through flex time or overtime. The position will also require travel, including day trips to local meetings and events, as well as occasional longer and overnight trips throughout the state or out of state. Travel expenses are compensated according to state guidelines. 

This position will end 2 years from the start date. It may be extended at the discretion of the Center only if funding is available.

About Us
We are a district of three distinct colleges—North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College—and five specialty training centers. Which makes us the largest and most diverse community college district in the state of Washington, we are leaders in change and innovation. 

Seattle Colleges is committed to recruiting dedicated faculty and employees who together create a welcoming academic climate that reflects the diverse backgrounds of our community, including ethnicity, national origin, religion, race, gender, gender identity, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, disability, political status, and sexual orientation.

As a Seattle Colleges employee, you will gain access to a great benefits package including: 

• Competitive Pay Rates 
• Promotional Opportunities 
• Great Medical, Dental, and Retirement plans 
• Paid Sick and Vacation Leave 
• Transportation benefits 
• Tuition Waivers
• PEBB Wellness Plan 
• Washington State Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

Seattle Colleges staff and faculty also enjoy professional development opportunities and enrichment experiences in areas of their choice, including committee, workgroup, and affinity group opportunities.

Application Procedures:

• Attached PDF of Current Résumé
• Attached PDF of Cover Letter addressing how your professional background intersects with the job
• Attached PDF listing 3 professional references, indicating the name of the individual, their position and organization, their email, and phone number. References will not be contacted unless a candidate progresses through the stages of the process and is selected as a finalist. Candidates will be informed before references are contacted.

Required application materials must be completed and submitted online as PDFs.

Notice to Applicants: 
Please note that Seattle Colleges has moved to holding interviews virtually using video conference options such as Zoom or Teams. As such, if you are selected for an interview, please be prepared to hold your interview virtually.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a regular basis. The employer will not sponsor applicants for work visas.

Seattle Colleges is unable to extend post-completion optional practical training (OPT) to F-1 students who receive STEM degrees. 

What you will be working on: 
The Program Development Specialist will play a leading role in a number of areas:

• Developing Partnerships
  • Assist the Director with designing new partnerships and contract trainings: write proposals for review; meet with clients and assess needs; design and implement program policies and procedures; write contracts
  • Standardize and streamline the LERC’s processes for developing new partnerships; improve the Center’s standard proposal materials; improve the Center’s standard contracts in close collaboration with Purchasing and Compliance offices at the College
  • Collaborate closely with LERC staff to ensure that new partnerships reflect the capacity and resources the LERC is able to offer
• Developing New Programs
  • Work closely with the Director and entire LERC team to develop new program procedures and operational guidelines that align with the LERC’s Strategic Plan; this may include collaborating with multiple stakeholders on major aspects of program design; seeking resources for those programs; drafting detailed plans, agendas, and policies for those programs; and identifying and recruiting consultants, guest lecturers, and other partners to participate in programs
  • Develop materials and processes to support events such as program agendas, guides for participants, applications, and follow up materials
• Fundraising and Grants
  • Contribute to the Center’s work applying for grants: create high quality external communications materials for grant applications; conduct in-depth research identifying funders, write high-quality grant applications; and assist with managing grant-funded projects
  • Coordinate implementation of fundraising activities identified by the Director of LERC and Seattle Colleges foundation; draft policies and procedures for fundraising program, help ensure legal and policy compliance; participate in identifying potential donors; work closely with Director to conduct professional outreach and and coordinate donor cultivation
• Developing the Workers’ Rights Policy Program
  • Lead the Center’s work developing the Workers’ Rights Manual Program: convene program partners and stakeholders for discussions; plan and scope changes to the next edition of the manual; lead the writing of new edition; plan and lead edition launch
  • Keep the WRM up to date through a planned calendar of updates
  • Design and lead related policy tracking projects, including potential events with stakeholders and creation of standalone policy briefs
  • Administer the WRM site and its translation pipeline; work closely with vendors and LERC’s finance staff to ensure that the site adheres to accessibility standards 

What you bring as a candidate:

• At least 5 years’ experience required (in professional, paid, non-internship roles) leading fundraising, program development, and/or program coordination in nonprofits, higher education, or labor organizations, focusing on workers’ rights and organized labor.
• At least 3 years’ experience developing and designing programs, including tasks such as writing proposals, setting up new programs, writing project plans, holding design meetings with stakeholders, writing budgets, developing guidelines and policies, and building teams.
• At least 3 years’ experience required working directly with unions and other workers’ organizations in the labor community on project planning, fundraising, or strategic planning. 
• Experience with a labor organization as a member-leader, organizer, support staff, or other professional role preferred, along with a demonstrated familiarity with the history, politics, culture, and customs of the U.S. labor movement.
• Demonstrated commitment to working against racism, exploitation, and all forms of oppression required, including a deep understanding of issues concerning race, gender, equity and inclusion, and willingness to engage directly in challenging conversations on these topics. 
• Demonstrated experience required leading organizational applications for medium or large grants (>$25,000), with a demonstrated history of success.
• Demonstrated experience liaising with organizational donors preferred, including outreach, donor cultivation, with a demonstrated history of success.
• Experience preferred conducting or being closely involved with workshops, classes, and other training and education programming using participatory or popular education methodologies. This position is not an education position, but will work closely with the education team, so experience-based knowledge of training and education work is strongly preferred.
• A strong familiarity with workers’ rights laws and policies at multiple levels (municipal, state, federal) required, including demonstrated experience researching, analyzing, or utilizing in-depth knowledge of these policies.
• Strong writing skills required with a demonstrated record of producing reports or other long-form written work used in publications or other professional contexts. Applicants may attach a sample of their writing that was used in a professional context. 
• Excellent skills with office software and technology required, including fluency in multiple electronic office platforms (including both Microsoft Office Suite / Office 365 and Google Workspace), as well as a demonstrated ability to quickly and independently familiarize oneself with multiple new software, platform, user interfaces, and technology-based office processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and time management skills required, including proven experience leading, coordinating, or managing multiple complex projects at once.
• A Valid Washington State Driver’s License is required. 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team.
• Willingness and ability to work non-standard hours, including some evenings and weekends, to meet public/client needs (hours outside of 8:30 - 5:00, Monday - Friday are scheduled in advance). This job is overtime eligible.

Physical Demands and Disability Accommodation
Persons with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation in all aspects of employment with Seattle Colleges. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, application, interviewing, hiring, training, termination, conditions of employment, and any other employer-supported activities. Applicants requesting accommodation should contact Human Resources.

Office Setting
Seattle Colleges follows the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and provides the following information as a guideline for applicants: 

• Ability to operate office equipment, receive and interpret data, and prepare various materials
• Ability to exchange information with supervisor, lead, co-workers, and students
• Ability to provide 1:1 support, present to small groups, and work at a computer exercising repetitive hand motion
• Work is performed primarily in office settings with frequent interruptions and encounters noises typical of these settings 

Notice of Non-Discrimination Statement 
Seattle Colleges is committed to the concept and practice of equal opportunity for all its students, employees, and applicants in education, employment, services and contracts, and does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, color, age, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, status as an honorably discharged veteran or disabled veteran or military status, political affiliation or belief, citizenship/status as a lawfully admitted immigrant authorized to work in the United States, or presence of any physical, sensory, or mental disability. In addition, reasonable accommodation will be made for known physical or mental limitations for all otherwise qualified persons with disabilities. Further, the Seattle Colleges is committed to ensure that all employees and students work and learn in an environment that fosters mutual respect and professionalism, free from all forms of “bullying” behaviors, including “cyberbullying.”

Students, employees, and applicants at Seattle Colleges can reach the Title IX Coordinator or ADA/Section 504 Coordinator for questions about discrimination, harassment or grievance procedures. 

Background Check Statement 
Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. 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. In addition to the background check, candidates will complete Sexual Misconduct Disclosure Form WA HB 2327 as required.