Salary: $146,083.00 - $194,772.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: HCLA
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
DescriptionDSHS Assistant Secretary, Home and Community Living Administration Help Shape the Future of Home and Community Living in Washington State
What does it take to lead an organization that helps thousands of Washington residents live with greater independence, dignity, and choice?
It takes vision, sound judgment, and the ability to bring people together to accomplish meaningful work.
The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking an accomplished executive to lead the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA). Recognized nationally for its leadership and innovation in long-term care, HCLA supports more than 115,000 older adults and adults with disabilities across Washington State.
This is an opportunity to build on Washington's leadership in long-term services and supports while guiding an administration through growing service demands, evolving federal requirements, and complex organizational priorities.
About HCLAHCLA helps older adults and people with disabilities access essential services that support their safety, independence, and connection to their communities.
Through Home and Community Services, Adult Protective Services, Residential Care Services, Management Services Division, and the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, HCLA works with individuals, families, caregivers, Tribes, unions, service providers, and community organizations to strengthen Washington's long-term care system.
Organizational Scope- Workforce: Approximately 3,100 employees statewide.
- Budget: $13.4 billion for the 25-27 biennium.
- Executive leadership: Leads six direct reports responsible for HCLA's statewide divisions, programs, and operations.
- Service delivery: Statewide services supporting older adults, adults with disabilities, vulnerable adults, families, and caregivers.
The OpportunityAs Assistant Secretary, you'll join the DSHS executive leadership team and provide strategic direction for HCLA's statewide programs, operations, and services.
You'll lead and develop executive teams, establish priorities, and hold leaders accountable for delivering critical services that support the health, safety, and independence of Washington residents. You'll also build strong relationships and collaborate with community partners to strengthen service delivery.
You'll guide HCLA through major statewide initiatives, evolving state and federal requirements, fiscal challenges, and increasing demand for long-term services and supports while strengthening leadership capacity and advancing priorities across DSHS.
What You'll Lead- Strategic direction: Shape statewide priorities, guide major initiatives, and align HCLA's work with the Governor's and Secretary's goals.
- Executive leadership: Coach and develop senior leaders, delegate authority, establish accountability, and strengthen succession planning.
- Statewide service delivery: Oversee critical services, including case management, adult protective services, and program quality assurance, ensuring services are effective, accessible, and responsive.
- Financial stewardship: Provide oversight of significant operating budgets, establish spending priorities, and balance fiscal responsibility with service delivery needs.
- Policy and systems change: Guide statewide policy, legislative initiatives, evolving federal requirements, and improvements across complex service delivery systems.
- Government and community relationships: Collaborate with legislators, Tribal governments, federal agencies, unions, service providers, and external partners to advance shared priorities.
- Organizational performance: Strengthen accountability, address emerging challenges, and support collaboration and results across the Department.
Experience and LeadershipWe're seeking an accomplished executive with demonstrated success leading complex organizations, including:
- A bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, public health, social services, health and human services, or a related field. Relevant experience may substitute year for year for education.
- Demonstrated executive leadership experience overseeing large, complex organizations, multiple programs, and senior leadership teams.
- Experience leading complex community-based healthcare, long-term care, human services, or related service delivery systems.
- Demonstrated financial leadership, including managing multimillion-dollar budgets, allocating resources, and making fiscally responsible decisions.
- Ability to anticipate challenges, exercise sound executive judgment, and navigate complex government and political environments with diplomacy.
- Demonstrated success establishing strategic priorities, delegating responsibility, developing leaders, and delivering organizational results.
- Experience leading organizational change, strengthening performance, and overseeing complex initiatives.
- Knowledge of long-term services and supports, including relevant state and federal programs, policies, and regulatory requirements.
- Strong executive communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with legislators, community organizations, executive leaders, and external partners.
- A commitment to equity, access, inclusion, and belonging.
Why HCLA?Washington State has long pioneered long-term services and supports. At HCLA, you'll work alongside dedicated leaders and staff committed to meeting Washington residents' growing needs.
You'll help shape statewide policy, strengthen essential public services, develop future leaders, and advance the future of home and community living.
Application processWe anticipate appointing the assistant secretary as early as January 2027.
Applications received by November 13th will receive priority consideration.
We will begin confidential review of applications immediately and continue until an appointment is made.
Please submit a resume and letter of interest to:
Tracie.Kidd@dshs.wa.gov
Your letter of interest should highlight how your experience aligns with leadership competencies and capabilities outlined in this profile.
The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.
Supplemental InformationPrior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
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 BenefitsEmployees 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 CompensationState 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 SecurityAll 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 ForgivenessIf 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 less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
