Job Description

Initial Posting Date:

06/24/2026

Application Deadline:

07/01/2026

Agency:

Department of Early Learning and Care

Salary Range:

$4,023 - $5,371

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Executive Support to the Deputy Director of Operations (Executive Support Specialist 1)

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is excited to announce a permanent opening for an Executive Support to the Deputy Director of Operations (Executive Support Specialist 1). We are seeking an experienced and highly organized professional to support senior leadership, coordinate critical operational initiatives, and help make a meaningful difference for Oregon's children and families.

This position will work a hybrid schedule of working both in the office (Salem) and an alternate location (home). In office work is anticipated once per month, or as needed.

About the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC):

At DELC, we are dedicated to helping Oregon’s young children and families learn and thrive. As the state agency responsible for early learning programs, child care licensing, and family support services, we play a crucial role in shaping the future of Oregon’s children from birth to kindergarten.

We administer state-funded early learning programs, including home visiting and site-based infant, toddler, and preschool services. We also develop coordinated systems through Early Learning Hubs and collaborate with Child Care Resource and Referral organizations to provide training, coaching, and quality improvement opportunities for early learning providers.

With over 275,000 young children in Oregon, we have a unique opportunity to transform early childhood support systems, creating a brighter future for families across the state. Research shows that investing in early childhood has lifelong benefits, and now is your chance to be part of an agency making a lasting impact for generations to come.

Why Join Our Team? We are passionate about equity in early childhood education. At DELC, we value dedication, integrity, and collective wisdom, fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace where all employees can thrive. We challenge ourselves to lead with courage, refine practices, and drive meaningful change for children and families statewide.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Benefits: Low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family, plus optional benefits like life and disability insurance, deferred compensation, and flexible spending accounts.

• Work-Life Balance: 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 1 special day, monthly sick leave, and vacation accruals that increase every 5 years.

• Student Loan Forgiveness: Potential federal loan forgiveness after 120 qualifying payments.

• Inclusive Culture: A diverse, welcoming workplace committed to equity and continuous improvement. Click on the following link to learn more about what it’s like to work at DELC.

Our Commitment to Equity: Equity is at the heart of our mission. We strive to remove barriers, foster inclusiveness, and create meaningful change for underrepresented communities. Our goal is to ensure all DELC employees, child care providers and the children and families we support thrive. If you are ready to make a difference and help shape Oregon’s future, we would love to have you on our team!

What you will do:

The primary purpose of this role is to provide confidential executive-level administrative support to the Deputy Director of Operations and manages day-to-day office operations, policies, procedures, programs and project coordination.

To view a complete job description, click here

What we are looking for (minimum qualifications):

The minimum qualifications for an Executive Support Specialist 1 are: three years of clerical/secretarial experience which included: one year at a full performance level performing typing, word processing, or other generating of documents; and lead work responsibility or coordination of office procedures.

Courses or training in Office Occupations or Office Technology may be substituted for up to one year of the clerical/secretarial experience. No substitution will be made for the one year at the full performance level

In addition, we are looking for applicants that have the following Desired Attributes (requested skills):

• Demonstrated experience providing direct support to manager(s) or executive(s), exercising sound judgement, maintaining discretion, and applying exceptional attention to detail, organization, and accuracy.

• Proficiency using a variety of technology platforms and office applications, including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, online database programs, and virtual meeting platforms.

• Demonstrated experience managing calendars and coordinating scheduling logistics, including arranging meetings with multiple internal and external stakeholders, prioritizing time‑sensitive tasks, and ensuring accurate scheduling in a fast‑paced environment

• Commitment to continuous learning and professional growth, including the ability to incorporate feedback, identify opportunities for improvement, establish best practices, and adapt to evolving priorities and organizational needs.

• Experience researching and synthesizing information, preparing correspondence, reports, presentations, and compiling and summarizing sensitive or confidential information in a clear and professional manner.

• Experience producing clear, written communication and representing managers in a positive and professional manner, including drafting correspondence, coordinating information across teams, and proactively supporting manager needs.

• Demonstrated initiative and resourcefulness, including the ability to independently gather or create information to support meetings, projects, tasks, or programs with minimal guidance or oversight.

• Proven success exercising sound judgment and identifying issues requiring escalation, while proactively resolving routine matters and maintaining a high degree of professionalism, confidentiality, and timely follow-through.

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care strives to create an inclusive environment that welcomes and values the diversity of the people we serve. We foster fairness, equity, and inclusion to create a workplace environment where everyone is treated with respect and dignity. Candidates of all racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as bilingual/multicultural individuals, are encouraged to apply.

To Apply:

The screening of candidates will be based on a review of an attached resume ( limit to two pages). While a cover letter is not required, it is highly encouraged. If you submit a cover letter, please tailor it to the position and address your experience with the desired attributes listed above. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely match the desired attributes and experience section as outlined in this announcement will be invited to interview. For helpful tips on putting together your application materials and interviewing, visit our Resources for Job Seekers page. Please do not attach transcripts or letters of recommendation to your application, only a resume and cover letter will be reviewed. If additional information is needed, we will follow up.

Additional Information:

This recruitment announcement will be used to establish a list of qualified candidates to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.

This position is subject to both a Child Protective Services and Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) check, including FBI fingerprinting, and will be required to enroll in the Central Background Registry. Both of these checks must be completed and approved prior to starting with the agency. The results can take 1-3 weeks to get back. Adverse background data will be grounds for immediate disqualification. This position will require occasional travel to field offices and for meetings, therefore, a valid driver license and acceptable driving record is required, unless the successful applicant can provide a satisfactory alternate mode of transportation.

Eligible Veterans and Oregon National Guard Servicemembers who meet the qualifications will be given Veterans' preference. For further information, please see the following website: Veterans Resources

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care does not offer visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, all applicants will be required to complete the US Department of Homeland Security's Form I-9, confirming authorization to work in the United States. The Department is an E-Verify employer.

The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to the two questionnaires relating to public records requests and veterans’ preference immediately following your submittal. These questions are necessary to complete the application process.

External Applicants (non-state of Oregon employees): If you would like to retain a copy of this job posting, please print a copy before submitting your application. Once the job posting has closed, you will not be able to access the posting.

This is a management service position and is not represented by a union.

Want to be notified of our latest openings, subscribe here

Not from Oregon? Learn more about our beautiful state here

Applicants with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process. For assistance regarding reasonable accommodation requests, please contact the agency recruitment team at DELC.Jobs@delc.oregon.gov

The Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer committed to a diverse workforce. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don't meet every one of our desired attributes listed. If you are unsure whether you meet the qualifications of this position, please feel free to contact us to discuss your application.