Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06224

Department: Dept. of Commerce

Division: Local Government Division

Job classification: COMMERCE SPECIALIST 1

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Community Services, Community Development, Project Management, Program Management

CERB Program Assistant (COM 1)
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 the lived experiences and perspectives employees bring to the work. We believe equity is not just a value but a practice, which is 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.

Let’s build what’s next, together.

The Local Government Division (LGD) partners with local governments, nonprofits, and others to strengthen the ability of all forms of local government and community-based organizations to fund and develop critical services to their citizens. The division provides leadership in local government finance and statewide infrastructure initiatives that help create and retain jobs. We also provide grants, loans, and planning and technical assistance to local governments for community development needs, infrastructure improvements, and economic development opportunities.

The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) is a policy board with rule-making authority, authority under RCW 43.160. CERB provides assistance statewide to local governments for public infrastructure to support job creation, private investment, broadband connectivity, and increase in tax revenues.

The position functions as the program assistant to the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) and provides program research and technical support to the CERB Executive Director & Tribal Liaison, CERB Contract Manager, CERB members, clients, and others as needed. This position works with local governments, economic development organizations, elected officials, private entities, citizenry, technical experts, federal and state governmental program staff on matters dealing with economic development-related infrastructure investments.

This is a hybrid position with an in-office requirement in our Olympia, WA office.

Examples of duties

Program assistance - policy and program development

Tasks include:

CERB contract assistance with execution, tracking, reporting and closeout

Tasks include:

• Maintain contracting documents and templates for the CERB Executive Director & Contract Manager.
• Create, compile and send CERB award and contract documents to CERB Contract Manager to ensure timely finalization of contract materials.
• Coordinate contract document routing and signatures with CERB Contract Manager, CERB Client, and the Board Chair.
• Provide contracting database support and maintain community files to ensure data integrity for CERB database.
• Assist in maintaining best practice in file management for contracting and archiving contracts to ensure program records meet record retention requirements.
• Assist in responding to public records requests.

Board Liaison to the Community Economic Revitalization Board

Tasks include:

• Maintain communications between the CERB, its partners, staff, and authorizing organizations ensuring purpose and logistics of board sponsored activities such as retreats, regional trainings, tours, workshops and other special event logistics are coordinated with clear communication of timing, locations, and any other details including accommodation and food needs.
• Monitor and direct emails to board members and association partners.
• Coordinate and administer details related to the Commerce documentation on CERB member appointments.
• Maintain and update New Member Orientation Handbook to ensuring information is up to date and that new members are properly onboarded and understand expectations. This includes scheduling orientation meetings with newly appointed members, train members on travel reimbursement procedures, ensure the completion of the Open Public Meeting Act online training and prepare new member memo(s) for CERB meeting agenda packet.
• Assist with the development of documents including but not limited to letters, acknowledgments, notifications, press releases, board minutes, confidential and sensitive materials, legislatively mandated reports, and other requests for information requiring accuracy and timeliness.
• Reimburse board member expenses monthly ensuring payments are processed timely and accurately.
• In coordination with other CERB Executive Director, schedules legislative meetings and ensures the CERB Executive Director are aware of upcoming meetings and/or scheduling changes.
• Gather Quarterly Public Disclosure Commission reports from Board members and submit reports to the Public Disclosure Commission to maintain compliance.
• Schedule and Coordinate CERB Business Meetings, including: notify code reviser, post meeting agenda packet on website, book conference rooms, setup Zoom/Teams or other communications tools, ensure security protocols are followed during meetings and query Board members for quorum.

Community outreach support

Tasks include:

• Assist CERB Executive Director with updating CERB applications, program handbook and materials ensuring information is accurate as program priorities evolve.
• Assist development and implementation of workshop/regional trainings and other technical assistance events, including registrations, presentations and handouts.
• Assist with CERB program communication, marketing and website maintenance.
• Provide general technical assistance by responding to initial inquiries and questions, providing assistance on where to find specific information and documents for any potential applicants and stakeholders.
• Assist with implementing stakeholder input and applicant feedback activities.
• Participate in the Community Builders Collective (CBC), CERB’s community of practice, to include but not limited to attend monthly zoom calls, share infrastructure program information to the distribution list.
• Coordinate outreach needs with CERB Contract Manager.

Research & Data Support

Tasks include:

• Assist the CERB Executive Director in researching nominated candidates for CERB membership and prepare nomination packages.
• Assist the CERB Executive Director in the data collection for the CERB biennial report to meet the statutory requirements of RCW 43.160.900.
• Assist the CERB Executive Director with fiscal note tracking related to CERB, as needed.

Qualifications

Five (5) years of combined experience and/or education as described below

Examples of how to qualify:

• 5 years of experience
• 4 years of experience and one year of education
• 3 years of experience and two years of education
• 2 years of experience and three years of education
• 1 years of experience and four years of education

Lived Experience:

• Up to two (2) years of lived experience can potentially substitute for professional experience. Relevant expertise derived from the accumulated personal life and professional experiences of an individual. Experience can be gained through life events, volunteer role/capacity, any experience gained outside of professional paid and unpaid experiences, academic or a combination of experiences.
• Lived experience navigating systemic barriers (e.g., economic instability, housing insecurity, underemployment) will substitute for two (2) years of professional experience.

Required Position Competencies:

• Problem solving skills
• Intermediate skill level in the Microsoft Office suite products including Access, OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to understand and appropriately respond to community, partner and stakeholder interests and needs
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and discernment, and the ability to understand the “big picture”
• Strong anticipatory skills to see opportunities and needs
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to travel

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Knowledge of local governments and economic development organizations
• Knowledge of other state and federal infrastructure funding programs
• Experience working with state, federal or local policy boards.
• Experience with databases, for example, Access, Contract Management System (CMS), Mercury, and Travel and Expense Management System (TEMS), Airtable.

To be considered for this position, the following are needed:

• A complete and detailed online application.
• A cover letter (enter online).
• At least three professional references (enter online).

For questions about this recruitment, please contact our recruitment team via email: comrecruitment@commerce.wa.gov - please reference the job number in your message.

Supplemental information

This is a hybrid position with an in-office requirement in our Olympia, WA office.

This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies over the next 60 days.

Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can't log in, password or email issues, error messages). DES job seeker support may answer general questions regarding the recruiting system at careershelp@des.wa.gov

Our Commitment to Equal Opportunity
The Washington State Department of Commerce is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons needing accommodation in the application, testing, or interview process or this job announcement in an alternative format may email Human Resources at Human.Resources@commerce.wa.gov. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through the Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Department of Commerce also offers a competitive benefits package including: medical and dental insurance benefits, retirement and deferred compensation plans, 11 paid holidays each year, 14-25 vacation days per year (depending on length of employment), 8 hours of sick leave per month (if full time employed), bereavement leave, an employee assistance program, as well as other benefits. Please see the Benefits Tab for more details.