CERB Program Assistant (COM 1)

About the Department

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.

Position 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.

Minimum 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: [email protected] - please reference the job number in your message.

Other Qualifications

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 [email protected].
 
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 [email protected].  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.

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

Required Question

Agency Information

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View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov