Director, Special Services at Puget Sound Educational Service District (PSESD) – Renton, Washington
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About This Position
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. To learn more about PSESD, visit www.psesd.org/about-psesd.
This job reports to Senior Director, Special Services
Open until filled, for best consideration, please submit complete application by May 11th, 2026.Interviews are tentatively scheduled on May 18th,2026.
Essential Functions
- 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.
Other Functions
- Assist other personnel as may be required for the purpose of ensuring an efficient and effective work environment.
Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities
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 information, write technical materials, and/or speak persuasively to implement desired actions; and analyze situations to define issues and draw conclusions.. Specific knowledge based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include: See competencies under Abilities below.
ABILITY is required to schedule a number of activities, meetings, and/or events; often gather, collate, and/or classify data; and use job-related equipment. Flexibility is required to work with others in a wide variety of circumstances; analyze data utilizing defined but different processes; and operate equipment using standardized methods. Ability is also required to work with a diversity of individuals and/or groups; work with data of varied types and/or purposes; and utilize job-related equipment. Problem solving is required to analyze issues and create action plans. Problem solving with data frequently requires independent interpretation of guidelines; and problem solving with equipment is limited to moderate. Specific ability based competencies required to satisfactorily perform the functions of the job include:
JOB-SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: Demonstrates knowledge and expertise related to State and Federal learning standards and curriculum adaptation and implementation. Utilizes evidence-based research regarding teaching strategies to advance practices that meet the needs of all students.
FUNCTIONAL/TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT: Possesses required functional/technical knowledge and skills to perform job responsibilities. Demonstrates active interest and ability to maintain level of knowledge and enhance and apply new functional skills.
INSPIRING OTHERS AND BUILDING COMMITMENT: Inspires excitement for mission and vision and builds stakeholder commitment toward common goals.
- Bachelor’s degree in a job-related field (e.g., Special Education, Education Administration, Educational Leadership, or a closely related area).
- Progressive related professional experience within a specialized field, with demonstrated responsibility for program implementation and improvement.
- Demonstrated knowledge of Federal and State special education laws and requirements, including compliance, monitoring, and technical assistance to LEAs.
- Experience developing and delivering professional learning and technical assistance for educators, administrators, or district staff.
- Proven ability to analyze and use data to evaluate programs, inform recommendations, and support continuous improvement efforts.
- Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, and developing staff, supporting high-performing teams, and addressing performance and professional growth.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports, convey complex regulatory information, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently under broad organizational guidelines while coordinating across departments and partners.
- Experience working in or directly supporting LEAs, ESDs, or state education agencies, particularly in special education systems improvement.
- Demonstrated experience leading multi-district or regional initiatives, including coordination with OSPI and cross-agency partners.
- Advanced experience with program monitoring, fiscal oversight, and compliance related to special education services.
- Strong background in curriculum, instructional support, and evidence-based practices to serve students with disabilities across varied educational settings.
- Demonstrated ability to build stakeholder commitment and inspire others toward shared goals and continuous improvement.
- Experience responding to and resolving complex technical, legal, and administrative challenges in special education environments.