IDEA Programs Project Strategist

Idea Programs Project StrategistWe are seeking an IDEA Programs Project Strategist to join our Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities at the Oregon Department of Education. This is a permanent position represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).This position follows a hybrid work model. Onsite presence will be required when business or operational needs are best supported in person, such as collaboration, training, or work that requires access to onsite resources. Employees approved to work remotely must have a reliable and secure internet connection and maintain a professional work environment that supports productivity. While working remotely, employees are expected to maintain the same level of performance, responsiveness, communication, and availability as they would in the office.About Us: The Oregon Department of Education's (ODE's) mission is to foster equity and excellence for every learner through collaboration with educators, partners, and communities. In fulfilling its mission, ODE has the vision to ensure all students have access to and benefit from a world-class, well-rounded, and equitable education system.The Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities (OESO) contributes to ODE's mission of fostering equity and excellence for every learner through collaborations with educators, partners, and communities by providing support in overall school improvement efforts to Oregon's school districts and programs. The work of this office includes helping districts and programs meet the obligations of state and federal laws, especially those related to the education of students experiencing disability and disabled students and overseeing and supporting the Oregon School for the Deaf (OSD). The work of this office impacts local school districts, education service districts, professional associations, and other agencies involved in education programs including early intervention/early childhood special education (EI/ECSE), special education, secondary transition programs, and education programs within Oregon correctional facilities, hospitals, and treatment centers. This office also oversees implementation of Abbreviated School Day Programs (ASDP) consistent with ORS 343.321-343.333.What You Will Do This position provides key administrative, logistical, and project support to the IDEA Programs team housed in the Office of Enhancing Student Opportunities (OESO). The role focuses on coordinating and supporting activities that improve educational outcomes for students with disabilities by facilitating high-quality technical assistance, professional development, and compliance-related improvement work with local education agencies and partners across Oregon.Typical duties include: tracking district inquiries and support requests via shared inboxes, inquiry systems, and call logs; coordinating logistics for virtual and in-person events, including scheduling, registration, materials preparation, communications, and facilitation support; managing calendars, scheduling meetings, and coordinating logistics for internal and external engagements; performing other administrative and project coordination tasks as directed by the Director of IDEA Programs, including support for cross-office initiatives or short-term assignments.Minimum qualifications (need to have): two years of secretarial or basic administrative support experience that includes records processing, generating documents, and gathering and sorting data; or an associate degree in general office occupations and one year of experience with records processing, generating documents, and gathering and sorting data; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum qualifications must be met to qualify for this position.Desired attributes (nice to have): advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) to support scheduling, communication, and document management across IDEA Programs; demonstrated experience using Smartsheet for tracking workflows, organizing complex project timelines, and maintaining real-time data dashboards; strong project management skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks, maintain progress across multiple workstreams, and follow through with precision; exceptional organizational skills, with a high level of attention to detail, reliability, and the ability to keep compliance-related materials, calendars, and files structured and accessible; basic graphic design skills (e.g., Canva or Adobe Suite) to create clear, polished visuals, one-pagers, and presentations for internal and external stakeholders; background or experience in special education, IDEA programs, or state/local education agency work (preferred).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 the attributes listed.Why Us? At ODE, we pride ourselves on creating an inclusive, collaborative, and innovative atmosphere. Autonomy is supported while also being offered opportunities to work in dedicated teams or partnerships across the agency. Our office supports a healthy work/life balance and shows genuine care for team members, students, partners, and school leaders. Our team members share and educate with passion for equitable practices and sustainable development for leaders across Oregon. We maintain a constant learning and growing mentality to strive for optimum innovation and consistently applied equity practices.Our Amazing Benefits Include: excellent medical, vision and dental benefit package for the employee and qualified family members with very low monthly out-of-pocket cost; paid days off; 11 paid holidays per year; 3 additional paid "Personal Business Days" per year; 8 hours of sick leave accumulated every month; progressive vacation leave accrual and increases every 5 years; additional optional benefits, such as basic life insurance, short-term disability, Paid Leave Oregon, long-term disability, deferred compensation savings program, and flexible spending accounts for health care and child care expenses; Student Loan Forgiveness Program: if you have federal student loan debt or are thinking of going back to school, then you will want to look into this program. If you make 120 qualifying payments on your student loan while working full time for a qualifying employer, your student loan debt may be forgiven; if you currently work at an Oregon school district or education service district, we may be able to transfer in your sick leave balanceIf you have a desire to make a difference in the lives of Oregonians, apply today To Apply: Your cover letter and resume are the perfect opportunity to highlight your interest in the position and showcase your skills and experience that make you the best candidate for the position. Upload a resume and cover letter. In your cover letter, please include your qualifications relating to any of the desired attributes mentioned for this position (limit to no more than 2 pages). Your resume and cover letter may be uploaded in the Resume/Cover Letter field on the online application. Failure to attach a cover letter and resume may result in the disqualification of your application. Important: Please monitor both your email and Workday account for updates regarding this recruitment. You may be asked to submit additional information after initial application.