Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist; Program Specialist

Overview

Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist (Program Specialist
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At the Department of Commerce, we’re reimagining what’s possible in government. We’re builders, thinkers, and change-makers, working at the intersection of innovation, community, and impact. From unlocking critical funding to fueling inclusive economic growth, we’re turning big ideas into real-world solutions that uplift people and places.

Our agency’s strength lies in the diversity of our workforce and the breadth of lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, 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 you’re ready to challenge the status quo and build meaningful connections, we want to meet you. Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Commerce Community Engagement Unit is committed to identifying and supporting historically excluded communities across the state. By fostering long-term relationships with Tribal leaders, community-based organizations, elected officials, faith-based groups, and informal community leaders, we ensure a no-wrong-door to access Commerce.

The Upper Southwest Regional Community Engagement Specialist acts as Commerce’s expert community liaison for communities in the Upper Southwest Region (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Pierce and Thurston Counties). The position proactively establishes and maintains positive ongoing relationships with community leaders of all types throughout the region to support the goal of strong, sustainable, equitable and vibrant communities. The position reports emerging and urgent community needs up to agency leadership and advises on program development and offerings that respond to local needs, including emphasizing equitable access and investment of funding.

This position helps strengthen organizational capacity to better access resources by prioritizing assistance to small, rural and historically excluded, marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities. It serves as a navigator for community leaders and groups to understand and access resources and funding. Engagement specialists collaborate with agency staff as requested. This position is often called upon to support community involvement in a facilitative role.

The position works collaboratively within the Community Engagement and Outreach Team, which includes Community Engagement Specialists that serve other regions of the state. Some projects are conducted together as a team, including developing approaches, processes, communications, tools, tracking and metrics, and managing special projects. This position reports to the Community Engagement Managing Director.

This position is based in Thurston County and offers a flexible/hybrid schedule. The duties of the job require the individual to reside in the area to support the Upper Southwest Region.

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,…