The Washington State Senate Republican Caucus is hiring a Program Manager to play a critical role in expanding equitable access to higher education across Washington State. Reporting to the Assistant Director of Need-Based Programs, this position leads the daily operations, innovation, and continuous improvement of the Early Path to WA Grant program.
What You'll Do
- Oversee day-to-day operations of the Early Path to WA Grant program, including application processing, technical support, and system functionality.
- Interpret, implement, and provide guidance on Early Path to WA Grant program policies and procedures.
- Support administration of the Washington College Grant (WCG) and College Bound Scholarship (CBS) programs by assisting students, families, and college guidance staff.
- Assist with developing and delivering training, presentations, and technical assistance to financial aid administrators.
- Monitor student accounts to identify potential fraudulent applications and collaborate with institutions to investigate and resolve concerns.
- Identify and resolve duplicate student records.
- Contribute to annual updates of the WCG and CBS Program Manual.
- Collaborate regularly with Strategy & Partnerships, IT, College Access Initiatives, and community partners to support program implementation.
- Develop and distribute guidance and instructional materials to financial aid administrators.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for students, families, and community partners regarding the Early Path to WA Grant platform process, including technical support.
- Provide exceptional customer service to both internal and external stakeholders.
- Support equitable access by coordinating translation services and communication tools for non-English-speaking applicants.
- Partner with the Washington College Grant team to review, test, and implement annual system updates.
- Identify system enhancement needs; test new releases and ensure successful implementation.
- Train institutions and external stakeholders on the Early Path to WA Grant program systems and processes.
- Maintain data integrity and ensure proper record retention and archiving.
- Work with the Customer Interface Manager and IT staff to clarify business rules and program requirements, and remain available to troubleshoot issues.
- Submit and monitor IT tickets to address system improvements and technical issues.
- Support monitoring of the Early Path to WA Grant Program budget, including proviso funding.
- Assist with the development of biennial allotment plans, expenditure review, and monitoring of application-related costs.
- Collaborate with accounting staff and SFA division colleagues to ensure fiscal accuracy.
- Maintain current program information on the WSAC website and in publications.
- Support quarterly and annual reconciliation and interim reporting processes.
- Assist in analyzing institutional reporting for accuracy and trends; resolve discrepancies with institutions.
- Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing financial aid programs.
- Monitor legislation affecting the Early Path to WA Grant program and provide analysis on potential impacts.
- Develop management reports and provide basic data analysis.
What We're Looking For
- Three years of experience in program or grant management, OR an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience.
- Ability to interpret rules, policies, and procedures and communicate the same in a concise, comprehensive manner to diverse groups of people.
- Proficiency in working with administrative procedures and record-keeping systems.
- Ability to prioritize workloads and meet deadlines.
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and technology platforms used for remote work and/or meetings.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with external agencies and the public in a professional manner.
- Demonstrated commitment and/or experience honoring equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Broad understanding of financial aid rules and regulations.
- Ability to work in a remote environment with limited direct supervision.
Nice to Have
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a variety of individuals, institutional and sector representatives, and students.
- Experience supervising or leading teams.
- Experience in administering financial aid programs.
- Experience managing administrative or program budgets, including grant-funded programs.
- Experience providing technical support to partners and clients.
- Ability to interpret governmental writings - Legislature, IRS, US Dept. of Education.
- Bilingual, Spanish.
Technical Stack
- Microsoft Office Suite
Team & Environment
Reports to the Assistant Director of Need-Based Programs.
Benefits & Compensation
- Flexible/alternative work schedules.
- Wellness activities.
- Teleworking opportunities.
- Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work.
- Employees have access to tuition assistance and tuition waiver programs.
Work Mode
This is a remote position.
We are committed to increasing educational opportunities and attainment in Washington and believe every person should have access to pursue education beyond high school. We strive to hire, cultivate, and retain a competitive workforce that reflects the communities we serve and strongly encourage applicants with experience advocating for communities of color or others experiencing educational inequities.
