The External Civil Rights Specialist is a professional series with work involving the advocacy, outreach, consultation and/or compliance of external civil rights and other external equity-related programs, laws, rules, statutes.

Positions serve a dual role by monitoring and measuring activities for regulatory compliance while advocating for community interests for equal access to, and the delivery of, public services and publicly funded projects. These programs, services and projects are provided by, or through, Washington State agencies/institutions to residents, customers, contractors, employers, and other entity.

This series helps to mitigate and reduce risk of non-compliance for federally or state funded projects and programs, and promotes equity in public spending creating diverse, innovative, and efficient business solutions for agencies. Many serve as strategic business liaisons between internal agency programs and external parties or contractors in support of state business initiatives and projects from a regulatory perspective.

Examples of federal and state external civil rights and external equity-related program areas may include but not limited to: Titles of the Civil Rights Act; Americans with Disabilities Act; Disadvantaged Business Enterprise; Equal Employment Opportunity contract compliance; Federal Small Business Enterprise; Minority, Small, Veteran and Women’s Business Enterprise; Pre-Apprenticeship & Supportive Services Grant Program; On-the-Job-Training Support Services; Language Access; Environmental Justice; Healthy Environment for All Act; Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Tribal Employment Rights Ordinance; Priority Hire Program.

Internal Civil Rights programs and related work are typically found in other class series such as but not limited to the Human Resource Consultant series.

This is the entry level of the series performing first level professional work involving the advocacy, outreach, consultation and/or compliance in one or more areas of external civil rights and other external equity-related programs.

Positions work under general supervision and performs first level professional assignments. Works under the regular guidance of a higher-level professional or manager.

Incumbents work independently in making decisions regarding work processes or methods which will be used. Assignments are typically reoccurring, of limited scope, and involve a portion of a program. Assignments require analysis of a variety of policies and rules and assisting with development of strategies to resolve problems consistent with established standards. Unusual problems, probable outcomes and solutions are presented to others for resolution. Incumbents may be delegated limited authority to approve expenditures and may assist with developing and coordinating statewide program activities.

Assists in the development, implementation, promotion, and monitoring of external civil rights and other external equity-related programs for regulatory compliance in publicly funded contracts and projects;

Provides information and technical assistance to program participants, staff, contractors, and outside entities regarding program content, policies, and activities;

Recommends alternative courses of action to supervisor; promotes the program with outside organizations and resources;

May oversee day-to-day activities of a program; plans, organizes, and coordinates program functions as the program representative and resource; has extensive contact with program participants and outside entities and resolve problems;

Tracks and monitors program budgets, expenditures, invoices; develops and monitors payment tracking systems, reviews invoices in comparison to contractual requirements and makes determinations regarding payment within established parameters;

Assists in developing and establishing procedures and policies to implement new programs and/or activities and in formulating new program policies, procedures and standards;

Composes correspondence; responds to inquiries; maintains records, analyzes, and compiles data and information for reports, prepares narrative or statistical reports;

Performs related duties as required.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

One year of experience with Civil Rights Programs, using an equity lens in analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations.


Bachelor’s degree in business, political science, social science, law, or related field.


Equivalent experience/education.

Establishment; adopted June 22, 2023, effective July 1, 2023.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.