Salary: $108,000.00 - $149,724.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Office of the Secretary
Opening Date: 07/08/2026
Closing Date: 7/27/2026 11:59 AM Pacific

Description
Job Title: Director of Government Affairs
Agency: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Location: Olympia, WA - Office of the Secretary. This position is headquartered at DCYF Headquarters in Olympia. Telework opportunities are available at the discretion of the Secretary; however, regular in-person work is required, particularly during the legislative session. Statewide travel is required, including overnight travel as necessary.
Reports To: DCYF Secretary Tana Senn

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Government Affairs. This executive leadership position serves as the agency's principal advisor on legislative affairs and government relations, leading DCYF's legislative strategy while building and maintaining strong partnerships with the Governor's Office, Washington State Legislature, Tribal governments, state agencies, providers, advocates, and community partners.

DCYF oversees a broad portfolio of programs and services that support children, youth, and families across Washington, including early learning, child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, licensing, and family support services. The Director of Government Affairs plays a vital role in advancing the agency's mission by shaping legislative priorities, coordinating Agency Request Legislation (ARL), supporting budget development, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration with policymakers throughout the legislative process.

If you are a strategic thinker who thrives on building relationships, navigating complex policy environments, leading high-performing teams, and advancing public policy that improves outcomes for children, youth, and families, we invite you to apply.

The Opportunity:
Reporting directly to the Secretary, the Director of Government Affairs provides executive leadership for DCYF's Office of Government Affairs and serves as the agency's primary liaison with the Governor's Policy Office, members of the Legislature, legislative staff, Tribal governments, and key external partners.

The Director leads the development, coordination, and execution of DCYF's legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation while partnering closely with executive leaders, including the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Budget Director, to advance budget priorities, decision packages, and fiscal policy initiatives. This position ensures DCYF is strategically positioned throughout the legislative process, from policy development and advocacy through implementation and evaluation.

As a member of the DCYF Leadership Table, the Director contributes to agency-wide strategic planning, executive decision making, and organizational priorities. The Director provides leadership and direction to the Office of Government Affairs team, including Policy Advisors and Senior Policy Advisors, while representing the agency before legislative committees, stakeholder organizations, community partners, and executive leaders.
Some of what you will do:

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop Government Affairs Policy Advisors and Senior Policy Advisors.
• Lead and execute DCYF's comprehensive legislative strategy and engagement efforts supporting the agency's mission across child care, child welfare, and juvenile justice programs and services.
• Develop, coordinate, and manage the agency's legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation, ensuring alignment with child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and broader child and family well-being priorities.
• Advise the Secretary and Executive Leadership Team on legislative priorities, emerging policy issues, and strategic opportunities impacting child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and the communities DCYF serves.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with legislators, legislative staff, the Governor's Office, Office of Financial Management, Tribal governments, advocacy organizations, providers, and community partners.
• Coordinate and oversee legislative testimony, reports, presentations, and communications with the Legislature on issues affecting child care access, child welfare systems, juvenile justice programs, and agency operations.
• Partner with the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Budget Director to develop and coordinate agency decision packages and budget proposals supporting critical child care, child welfare, and juvenile justice investments.
• Monitor legislation, budget proposals, provisos, and executive actions affecting DCYF programs and operations, including impacts to child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and related prevention and early intervention services.
• Coordinate legislative and policy activities with other state agencies throughout the legislative process.
  Track and ensure timely completion of legislatively directed reports, executive orders, and statutory reporting requirements.
• Collaborate with Communications staff to develop messaging, webinars, and materials related to legislative priorities and agency initiatives.
  Foster collaboration across agency divisions to ensure legislative priorities align with operational and program needs.
• Negotiate and resolve complex policy, organizational, and interagency issues while balancing competing priorities.
• Represent DCYF before legislative committees, stakeholder groups, statewide workgroups, Tribal governments, and public forums on issues impacting children, youth, families, and communities.
• Serve as a member of the DCYF Leadership Table, contributing to executive leadership and agency-wide strategic planning.

Required Qualifications:

• Five (5) years minimum experience working in legislative affairs, public policy, or government relations.
• Expert knowledge of the legislative process, how a bill becomes a law, and the budget development and proviso process.
• Demonstrated political acumen to interact with legislators, the Governor's Office, Secretary, etc.
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, presenting, and public speaking.
• Previously demonstrated ability to work well and deliver in a fast-paced, often-unpredictable environment.
• Commitment to equity and tribal sovereignty.
• Previously demonstrated work experience in Microsoft products, PPT, Teams, Zoom, etc.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's in public policy, public administration or related field, or law degree.
• Experience and familiarity working with the Washington State legislature, specifically.
• Expertise in child welfare or juvenile justice or early learning or related field or knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice, and early learning.
• Seven (7) years of experience working in legislative affairs, public policy or government relations.
• Understanding of agency budgeting.
• Experience drafting, analyzing or advocating for legislation.
• Familiarity or experience working with Tribes.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three professional references

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for les