About the Department

This position is on a 260-day work year calendar. The posting will remain open until filled, with first consideration given to applications received on or before July 19, 2026.

The Special Education Contracts Specialist provides critical budget, cost analysis, and fiscal control functions for the Special Education Department, supporting a multimillion-dollar contracted services portfolio.

This position manages the full lifecycle of the department's contracted services, including personal service contracts, non-public agency (NPA) agreements, interagency agreements, and purchase orders — from initial procurement and contract development through execution, invoice reconciliation, amendment, and closeout. The Specialist monitors contract spending against budget, tracks encumbrances, identifies cost trends and variances, and prepares fiscal analyses and projections to inform departmental decision-making and annual budget development.

The Specialist balances daily operational demands — processing invoices, resolving vendor payment issues, tracking contract expiration and renewal timelines, and coordinating staffing-related expenditures — while maintaining accurate, audit-ready records. The position works closely with the Accounting, Budget, Purchasing, and Grants departments, as well as external vendors, service providers, and agency partners, serving as the department's primary point of contact for contract and vendor fiscal matters.

This role carries significant compliance responsibility: the Specialist ensures that all contracting and expenditure practices adhere to federal and state Special Education law and procedure, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and that expenditures charged to IDEA Part B and other Special Education grant funding meet allowability, allocability, and documentation requirements. The position supports grant reporting, audit preparation, and corrective action responses as needed.

Provides budget and cost analysis and controls for the Special Education Department. Balances daily operations, including invoices, personal service contracts, purchase orders and staffing. Works closely with Accounting, Budget and external vendors. Ensures the District is adhering to Special Education law and procedures related to IDEA and other Special Education grant funding.

The ideal candidate brings strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage a high-volume portfolio with competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Position Duties

30%

Provides budget and cost analysis and controls for the Special Education Department.
Coordinates and collaborates with Budget and Human Resources Department and staff in other departments and schools to identify budget problems, resolve issues, reconcile funding and positions with available resources, and provides accurate and understandable reports.
Provides instructional, informational documents used to develop or maintain Special Education budget.
Ensures the District is adhering to Special Education law and procedures related to IDEA and other special education grant funding.

20%

Prepares recurring fiscal control/cost reports.
Develops cash flow and expenditure forecasts.
Recommends budget adjustments and resolves problems/issues as program needs change, reviews options for using different fund sources.
Reconciles staffing with budget and Human Resources.

20%

Provides training, leadership and monitoring to other SPED Technicians and school based staff to ensure proper monitoring of school building expenditures.

10%

Responds to inquiries regarding assigned areas of responsibility as a representative of the Special Education Department.
Serves as a resource to outside representatives involved in department operations.

10%

Works collaboratively with department supervisors to establish and maintain data for key performance indicators as it pertains to the fiscal responsibilities for Special Education.

Attends and participates in regular meetings as related to area of assignment with budget staff, grants, accounting and Human Resource staff as well as Assistant and Deputy Superintendent as needed

Compiles statistical information and data for estimations and reports.

OTHER FUNCTIONS:

May perform related duties consistent with the scope and intent of the position.

RELEVANT COMPETENCIES:

Customer Focus
Commits to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external stakeholders; acts with stakeholders in mind; values importance of providing high-quality customer service.

Makes customers and their needs a primary focus of his/her actions.
Thinks ahead and considers the impact of actions both internally and externally.
Develops trust, credibility and maintains strong relationships with customers.
Goes the extra mile to satisfy customer needs and expectations.

Integrity
Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; presents truthful information in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn't misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.

Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
Represents information and data accurately and completely.
Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.

Managing & Measuring Work
Clearly assigns responsibility for tasks and decisions; sets clear objectives and measures; monitors process, progress and results; designs feedback loops into work.

Identifies people and resources necessary to accomplish tasks.
Develops success indicators and monitors and reports status based on those indicators.
Develops effective communication skills and tools to interact with team.

Managing Through Processes & Systems
Designs practices, processes, and procedures necessary to get things done; simplifies complex processes; gets more out of fewer resources; creates systems that manage themselves.

Sets clear, well-defined outcomes for desired results and tracks progress.
Breaks down objectives into actionable steps with targeted deadlines.
Leverages and uses resources efficiently and creatively to achieve desired outcomes.

Timely Decision Making
Makes decisions in a timely manner, sometimes with incomplete information and under tight deadlines and pressure; thinks well on his or her feet.

Makes timely and sound decisions based on analysis, wisdom, experience and judgment.
Takes appropriate action that is consistent with available facts, time constraints and possible outcomes.
Takes calculated risks.
Takes responsibility for decisions.

DISTRICT-WIDE CORE COMPETENCIES:

Collaboration
Develops cooperation and teamwork while participating in a group, working toward solutions which generally benefit all involved parties.

Is seen as a team player who encourages efficient and effective collaborations.
Works skillfully in difficult situations with both internal and external groups.
Represents his/her own interests while being open-minded to other groups.
Builds respectful and productive relationships internally and externally.

Getting Results (Action Oriented)
Performs work with energy and drive; values planning, but will take quick, decisive action when an opportunity presents itself.

Demonstrates a strong sense of urgency about solving problems and getting work done.
Focuses on achieving the goal even in the face of obstacles.
Assumes responsibility for starting and finishing work with minimal supervision.
Strives for new levels of performance.

Decision Quality & Problem Solving
Uses analysis, wisdom, experience and logical methods to make good decisions and solve difficult problems with effective solutions; appropriately incorporates multiple inputs to establish shared ownership and effective action.

Weighs the consequences of options before making a decision.
Applies appropriate criteria to situations for the purpose of making decisions.
Displays self-confidence in own judgment.
Focuses in the facts and solutions instead of opinions and problems.

Deals with people and situations in an honest and forthright manner.
Represents information and data accurately and completely.
Represents the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others.
Takes ownership if a mistake is their own and does not blame others.

Accountability
Holds self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely and cost-effective results; determines objectives, sets priorities and delegates work; accepts responsibility for mistakes; complies with established control systems and rules.

Takes responsibility and action as if the risks (financial or otherwise) are his or her own.
Holds individuals and team accountable for their actions and results.
Initiates action even if outcome is uncertain and is willing to accept the consequences of failure.
Aligns own activities and priorities to meet broader organizational needs.
Demonstrates courage and confidence in his or her own ability.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

Special Education law and procedures related to IDEA.
Principles and practices of budget management.
Methods employed to collect, analyze and interpret data.
SAP, MS Word, Access and Excel.

Skilled in:

Customer service.
Excellent oral and written communications.
Planning, organizing and prioritizing work.
Writing procedures.

Ability to:

Interpret and apply laws, rules and regulations.
Collect, analyze and interpret data.
Complete projects independently.
Provide guidance and train others.
Maintain records and prepare reports and correspondence.
Communicate effectively with others.

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION:

A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Three (3) years of professional budget experience in budget development, cost analysis, interpretation and application of complex fiscal control procedures, reconciliation, auditing and correcting fiscal control data; Bachelor's degree in Financial Management, Public or Business Administration or closely related field; Master's degree preferred; additional qualifying work experience may substitute for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the relevant knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the work will be considered.

CLEARANCES:
Criminal Justice Fingerprint and Background Check

CONDITIONS/DISCLAIMERS:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position and are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills. Employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time as needed. District employees are not authorized to make promises of employment for a particular period of time, or promises of a particular level of compensation or benefits to job applicants for certified or classified positions, and that any such agreement must be in writing and signed by the Superintendent. Any verbal or written statements to that effect by District employees other than the Superintendent are null and void. Additionally, nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Benefits

Seattle Public Schools benefits are administered by the Washington State Healthcare Authority (HCA) under the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB). Click HERE for an overview of available benefit options.

Eligibility for benefits is determined by the number of hours employees are anticipated to work during the school year (September 1 through August 31). Any employee who is scheduled to work 630 hours or more in a year is eligible for benefits.

Salary Schedule
Please find the salary schedule associated with this role and others like it HERE.

Supplemental Questions

Are you a current Seattle Public Schools employee in a permanent FTE position?

If you are a current employee, what is your current job title? (Please type "N/A" if this question does not apply to you).

Do you have a Bachelor's degree in Financial Management, Public or Business Administration or closely related field?

Do you have three (3) or more years of professional budget experience?

In a short response, please describe your budget experience in budget development, cost analysis, interpretation and application of complex fiscal control procedures, reconciliation, auditing and correcting fiscal control data.

Do you have experience working for a school district?

Required Question

Agency Information

Employer: Seattle Public Schools
Address: 2445 3rd Ave South

Seattle, Washington, 98124-1165
Phone: 206-252-0215
Website: http://www.seattleschools.org/careers