Program Specialist 2 - Washington State Penitentiary

Walla Walla Community College is accepting applications to fill the role of Program Specialist 2 position for the WWCC Correction Education program located at the Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) in Walla Walla, Washington.

This position is filled to fulfill a contract awarded to Walla Walla Community College (WWCC) by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (WSBCTC) to operate a correctional education program at WSP in accordance with an interagency agreement with the Department of Corrections. Walla Walla Community College and its employees working in a correctional education program are expected to follow all Department of Corrections (DOC) Policies, IT and other Security requirements, follow DOC Operational Memorandums, and comply with the Superintendent’s directions.

At Walla Walla Community College, we inspire all students to discover their potential and achieve their goals by providing relevant, equitable, and innovative learning opportunities and services. As an organization, we value learning opportunities, a sense of community, diversity, health and humor, excellence, integrity, teamwork, innovation, personal and professional growth, and sustainability.

This position is open until filled. First consideration will be given to applicants whose complete application has been received by 3/29/2026 @ 11:59pm PST.See Required Application Materials section

General Responsibilities:

This position prioritizes and performs administrative, staff, and faculty support duties. Supervision will be overseen by the Dean or in the Dean’s absence, by the on-site Director and Assistant Director.

The Program Specialist 2 for Business Services, performs a variety of complex clerical projects and assignments such as assistance in developing and maintaining the department budgets and resale accounts (including SCP, PELL, and other grants). This position is responsible for accurate accounting and recommendations to the Corrections Education leadership Team on updates or issues with both the corrections education contract budget and the Second Chance Pell and other financial aid funding.

This position prepares clearance forms and memos for visitors and new instructors, resolves problems and responds to inquiries requiring substantive knowledge of office/departmental procedures and policies. It functions as an education representative and resource for education staff, DOC staff and offenders.

Other responsibilities include determining the need for office equipment, furniture, and supplies; coordinate purchasing and maintenance; serve as department records management officer; install filing systems; arrange for records classification, retention, and disposition; supervise transportation requests including use of pool and department automobiles; arrange for maintenance contracts and emergency repairs; act as the ctcLink liaison with the WWCC Office of Admission and Office of Instruction.

The Program Specialist 2 serves as a liaison between the Corrections Education Leadership Team and other staff members, relaying assignments and requesting status information; providing secretarial support to the Dean and Corrections Education Leadership Team; coordinates office operations; makes travel arrangements; screens, prioritizes, and distributes mail; transcribes minutes, screens calls and visitors. This position is responsible for effective interactions with various Department of Corrections and WWCC Main Campus departments to complete required duties, including but not limited to DOC Business Office and WWCC Main Campus Offices: Business Office, Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s Office, Human Resources, etc.

Essential Functions:

Provide support to the Dean and Assistant Dean of Corrections Education and other department staff.

Tasks include:

• Assist Corrections Education Leadership Team where possible, ensuring the dean is kept apprised of any pertinent or significant issues.
• Interpret, follow and support the Department of Corrections and WWCC Education department related policies and procedures.
• Assist Corrections Education Leadership team in ensuring our department is in compliance with SBCTC/DOC contract.
• Represent the Corrections Education Leadership Team at various institution meetings, with incarcerated students and outside entities when assigned.
• Assist Corrections Education Leadership Team in communicating with other departments helping to build strong interdepartmental relationships and collaborate between departments.
• Distribute instructional calendar to WSP staff & faculty.
• Maintain and organize specified folders in the WSP Education Shared drive system.
• Assist with investigations and responses to offender grievances pertaining to the education program.
• Review department programs and recommend changes, modifications, and/or expansions while providing appropriate analysis and documentation.
• Communicate instructions and processes established by administration to department staff.
• Take and type-up meeting minutes when requested, especially for Place Safety Musters and staff meetings.

ctcLink Data and Student Records

Tasks include:

• Work in collaboration with CRCC and the college Office of Admission and Registration.
• Input registrations and admission forms for WSP as directed.
• Act as backup for weekly registration reports.

Assist with Personnel & Security Practices

Tasks include:

For new staff:

• Prepare clearance, personnel, and payroll documents.
• Establish DOC network account, prepare the schedule for WSP CORE training and/or security briefing and provide new staff with appropriate key chits and radio number along with key control and radio use training.
• Issue flash drives (request green cards, obtain wireless device form).
• Request reactivation of DOC accounts as needed.

For exiting staff:

• Collect staff/faculty ID badges, chits, and green cards at separation to be returned to their respective DOC departments.
• Collect P-cards, flash drives, and any other WWCC items to be returned or destroyed.
• Request deactivation or suspension of DOC accounts as necessary.

For existing staff:

• Track annual clearance documents and submit to WSP Records department when necessary.
• Maintain quarterly list of WSP campus employees, work location & hours, phone extensions, and emergency contact information.
• Monitor staff/faculty training progress in the DOC Learning Management System.
• Distribute WSP campus employee information to DOC and WWCC departments when requested.
• Coordinate with custody staff logistics of bringing in vendors, tools and guests into the facility.
• Maintain adjunct evaluation tracker in compliance with the adjunct instructor CBA and collaborate with Assistant Director to complete quarterly evaluation processes.
• Conduct all student evaluations for faculty.
• Coordinate appropriate clearances for faculty peer evaluators without a WSP badge.
• Maintain and print staff sign in sheet for EC.
• Collect and report any accident reports to WWCC and WSP. 

Funds Management

Tasks include:

• Collaborate and assist in finalizing annual budget development for all funding sources with the Dean.
• Discuss budget needs with administrators, reviewing department needs against budget limitations and recommend appropriate action.
• Prepare, review and submit staff budget requests/needs for their related program areas.
• Provide cost estimates/projections for WSP Education departments.
• Review expense and budget status reports; analyze problem areas and advise WWCC Leadership Team of possible corrective action.
• Prepare cost estimates and projections of future needs for proposed action.
• Prepare NISA contracts, review faculty payroll and assist with quarterly contracts.
• Resale Accounts:
• Create work orders from scanned or mailed authorizations from vocational instructors.
• Track receipts, and input onto work orders in a timely manner.
• Close out work orders and submit to DOC Banking when complete – submit payments when received.
• Notify vocational instructors when work orders are ready for payment.

P-Cards:

• Reconcile purchases for all WSP P-cards through ctcLink.
• Track receipts and retain according to WWCC guidelines.

• Enter purchases onto WSP Budget spreadsheet according to department and purchase type.
• Manage year end projections and spend down plans.
• Track and inventory department receivables, use and purchase department supplies.
• Purchase all WSP Education classroom and office supplies.
• Ensure DES contract compliance for all purchases of office and classroom supplies.
• Process and track all department expenditure requests, purchase requisitions, check requests, honorariums, invoices, and reimbursements.
• Enter all purchase requisitions, honorariums, invoices, and reimbursements onto budget spreadsheet to track departmental spending.

Travel arrangements for staff/Faculty:

• Ensure DES contract compliance for travel bookings.
• Estimate or assist in estimation of travel costs for staff and faculty.
• Complete or assist in completion of travel requests for staff and faculty, request approval on travel requests from the Dean on behalf of staff/faculty.
• Create travel authorizations and expense reports on behalf of staff and faculty.
• Manage blanket travel authorizations.

Contract Administration

Tasks include:

• Maintain department records as outlined by State records retention guidelines.
• Scan and save student registrations and admission forms in accordance with state, federal, and WWCC retention policies.
• Gather and/or supervise compilation of information from a number of sources and refer pertinent information to the Dean of Corrections Education.
• Forward quarterly instructional schedules to SBCTC corrections education administrator.

Space, equipment, supplies and property management

Tasks include:

• Submit facility requests for areas that need maintenance or repair.
• Supervise incarcerated student custodian on Education floor.
• Contact vendors to coordinate maintenance and repair of equipment.
• Maintain inventory of equipment.
• Determine need for general supplies, office supplies, equipment and furniture.
• Retrieve packages, unbox, sort, and distribute to other education areas of the facility.
• Coordinate with main campus purchasing representative surplus of non-essential equipment.
• Checkout WSP campus agency vehicles.
• Track receipts, expenses, and mileage logs of WSP campus agency vehicles.
• Delegate and assign servicing and recall work for WSP campus agency vehicles.

Public Information

Tasks include:

• Notify institution counselors of planned changes to programs and course entry requirements, as directed by the Leadership Team.
• Promote programs throughout the facility through a variety of means.
• Coordinate program functions with appropriate agencies and departments to accomplish program activities; promote the programs at WSP and with other organizations (i.e., graduations, advisory board meetings, student voice council meetings, or forums as assigned by the Dean or Director.)
• Share quarterly class schedule with Lieutenants, Movement Corrections Officers, and any others who use the education floor and classroom space.

Student Services

Tasks include:

• Provide backup for weekly education orientation to newly arrived incarcerated individuals in the East Complex regarding offered services. 
• Advise and assist students in selecting applied instruction or business courses each quarter.

• Assist in supervising teaching assistants and assign special projects to be completed over school breaks.
• Provide back-up for the weekly Program Review Committee.
• Administer student evaluations each quarter. Send student evaluations to WWCC main campus for recording.
• Support Program Coordinators as needed at the direction of the leadership team.

Competencies:

• Ability to interact with those in custody and/or the public according to expected guidelines; treat people with dignity and respect.
• Ability to work with students (offenders) in a correctional setting and understand goals and objectives of the community college program at the correctional center.
• Ability to recognize the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other individual differences in people.
• Ability to build constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual respect.
• Ability to understand and apply security requirements and State and department policies.
• Microsoft Office aptitude, including Excel, Word, and Outlook skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to learn and work with new software programs.
• Demonstrate productive conflict management strategies.
• Effective multitasking and optimal task prioritization abilities.

Required Qualifications:

Any combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the applicant with the knowledge and skills to perform the job may be considered by the college.

• Associate’s Degree or above and eighteen months of responsible office experience at an advanced level.
• Knowledge of basic administrative procedures, office practices, budget management and tracking, and department policies.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Associate’s Degree and four (4) years of responsible office experience at the senior clerical level or higher, preferably in an educational or correctional setting.
• Bilingual - English/Spanish

You don’t check every qualification listed? Please apply anyway! Studies have shown that traditionally marginalized communities - such as women, LGBTQ+ and people of color - are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification - even if they might be a great fit for the role! If you’re excited about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every single qualification in the job description, we encourage you to still consider applying. 

Terms and Conditions of Employment

This classified position is in a bargaining unit for which WPEA Higher Ed is the exclusive representative. 

Standard business hours are 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday from 7:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with a half-hour lunch break. Incumbent may be expected to occasionally adjust the work schedule to meet business needs. Minimal travel may be required for occasional training.

This position is located inside the Washington State Penitentiary, an adult male prison. Interacts daily with students (incarcerated individuals), instructors, counselors, DOC, and WWCC staff. Successful candidate must have the ability to travel between on-site testing sessions with or without accommodations, approx. 2-3 miles per day. Washington State Penitentiary is fully ADA compliant. This position requires frequent walking and standing, often on concrete surfaces to deliver supplies with the use of manual carts to move supplies across the facility. Must be able to lift items weighing up to 30 pounds. This position also requires the use of standard office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, filing cabinet, computer, printer, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, etc.).

The college has an excellent benefit program including medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance; paid sick leave; paid vacation leave; and retirement plan.  All full-time employees will automatically have 3% of taxable income deferred into the State of Washington Deferred Compensation Program (DCP) unless declined at time of hire. WWCC requires all employees to participate in direct deposit for payment of salary. The College is a tobacco-free campus.

Persons hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of lawful authorization to work in the United States within three (3) days of employment and official college transcripts. WWCC participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. All Walla Walla Community College staff members employed at one of the Correction Education facilities must be cleared by an FBI background check before being hired into such positions and successfully complete a 3-week corrections training program. Information from the background check may not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. 

Department of Correction positions are grant funded and funding is not guaranteed. Upon loss of grant funding, the position will end. WWCC does not absorb the cost to fund DOC grant positions. 

 Required Application Materials

This position is open until filled with priority consideration given to those applicants who submit a complete application by March 29, 2026 at 11:50 PM PST. To qualify for priority consideration, applicants must submit a complete application packet, which includes the following: 

• Online application
• Cover letter (Provide a cover letter detailing your interest in this position. Please describe any professional experience, training, or educational background that makes you an ideal candidate).
• Resume
• List of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three (3) professional references.
• Unofficial transcripts for application purposes (if applicable); official transcripts are required prior to an official start date.

WWCC reserves the right to not fill this position, reject all applicants, or reopen the position. Applications received during this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies at the College's discretion.

Please ensure you have attached all required application materials as you will not be able to attach any documents after you have submitted your application. If you have difficulty logging into your account, attaching documents, submitting your application, etc., please call NEOGOV Applicant Support at 1-855-524-5627 or email them directly at support@governmentjobs.com.