Director, Special Services

Director Of Special Services

Join a passionate team dedicated to improving education, health, and community well‑being for students and families. As the Director of Special Services, you will play a key leadership role in advancing equitable and inclusive services for students with disabilities across school districts. This position leads the development, organization, and delivery of high‑quality support services, staff development, and system‑wide initiatives aligned with LEA, OSPI, and PSESD priorities.

PSESD is one of nine regional educational agencies serving school districts and state approved charter and private schools in Washington. Serving over 39% of Washington’s K‑12 public school students, our agency provides critical services designed to ensure that our students are ready to enter school, achieve at high levels in the K‑12 system, and succeed in postsecondary endeavors. We are committed to becoming an Antiracist Multicultural Organization driven by equity in education.

This job reports to Senior Director, Special Services.

• Collaborates with others for the purpose of implementing and maintaining services and/or programs.
• Compiles information and/or statistics for the purpose of ensuring timely proactive staff development for program development.
• Coordinates staff training and development for the purpose of providing technical assistance in areas of defined need and/or at staff request.
• Develops long‑ and short‑range plans, programs, and policies for the purpose of delivering services in conformance with PSESD objectives and OSPI deliverables.
• Evaluates assigned programs and services for the purpose of providing recommendations and/or ensuring services are delivered in compliance with PSESD, State, and Federal requirements.
• Identifies staff development needs of LEA staff in PSESD’s jurisdiction for the purpose of ensuring that outcomes are achieved within budget, department, and PSESD objectives and in compliance with established regulations.
• Monitors assigned activities and/or program components for the purpose of coordinating activities and ensuring compliance with established financial, legal, and/or administrative requirements.
• Participates in meetings, workshops and seminars for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform functions.
• Prepares a variety of written materials for the purpose of documenting activities, providing written reference, and/or conveying information.
• Provides direction, information, and interpretation concerning rules and regulations, instructional strategies, special education policy, and programs between LEAs and OSPI for the purpose of ensuring services are delivered in conformance with established guidelines.
• Provides leadership for LEA, OSPI, and PSESD staff for the purpose of designing and developing training standards, procedures, and programs to address the needs of the staff.
• Researches a variety of topics for the purpose of being knowledgeable on trends and changes and/or making recommendations.
• Responds to problems and inquiries from administrators, parents, and educators for the purpose of providing information related to technical, legal, and administrative challenges in special education for students with disabilities.
• Supervises personnel (e.g., provide coaching and consultation on technical issues, adaptive challenges, personnel matters, strategic opportunities, career goals, professional development, job performance, etc.) for the purpose of advancing the development of effective leaders and high performing teams and achieving agency and departmental objectives.

• Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.

Skills are required to perform multiple, technical tasks with a need to occasionally upgrade skills in order to meet changing job conditions. Specific skill based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
See competencies under Abilities below.

Knowledge is required to perform algebra and/or geometry; review and interpret highly technical…