Salary : $120,000.00 - $135,000.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHHA
Opening Date: 07/20/2026
Closing Date: 8/3/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The DSHS is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Government & Community Affairs. This executive leadership position serves as the administration's principal advisor on legislative affairs and government relations, leading BHHA'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.

The cares for people receiving behavioral health services in state-operated facilities throughout Washington. These facilities provide round-the-clock care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our facilities include inpatient behavioral health care for adults in psychiatric hospitals, behavioral health and treatment centers, and centers for civilly committed sex offenders. We also operate a psychiatric hospital for youth with behavioral health needs. Additionally, the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) manages the state's adult forensic mental health care programs, providing competency evaluation and restoration services. The Director of Government & Community Affairs plays a vital role in advancing the administration's mission by shaping legislative priorities, coordinating Administration 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 those who interact with the state's behavioral health system, we invite you to apply.

The Opportunity:

Reporting to the Deputy Assistant Secretary, the Director of Government & Community Affairs provides executive leadership for the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) Office of Government Affairs and serves as the administration's liaison with the Governor's Policy Office, members of the Legislature, legislative and committee staff, tribal governments, and key external partners.

The director leads the development, coordination, and execution of the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration's (BHHA) legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation while partnering closely with executive leaders, including the Budget & Finance Director, to advance budget priorities, decision packages, and fiscal policy initiatives. This position ensures the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) is strategically positioned throughout the legislative process, from policy development and advocacy through implementation and evaluation.

As a member of the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) executive leadership team, the director contributes to administration-wide strategic planning, executive decision-making, and organizational priorities. The director provides leadership and direction to the Government & Community Affairs team, including a legislative analyst and tribal affairs administrator, while representing the administration with legislative committees, stakeholder organizations, community partners, and executive leaders.

Some of what you will do:

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop legislative analyst and tribal affairs administrator.
• Lead and execute the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) comprehensive legislative strategy and engagement efforts supporting the administration's mission across behavioral health programs and services.
• Develop, coordinate, and manage the administration's legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation, ensuring alignment with adult and youth behavioral health treatment and system priorities.
• Advise the Assistant Secretary and Executive Leadership Team on legislative priorities, emerging policy issues, and strategic opportunities impacting the behavioral health system, and the communities BHHA 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.
• Develop, coordinate and oversee legislative testimony, reports, presentations, and communications with the Legislature on issues affecting behavioral health programs and services, and administration operations.
• Partner with the Budget & Finance Director and other executive leaders to develop and coordinate administration decision packages and budget proposals supporting critical behavioral health system investments.
• Monitor legislation, budget proposals, provisos, and executive actions affecting programs and operations, including impacts to behavioral health, 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 administration initiatives.
• Foster collaboration across administration facilities and programs to ensure legislative priorities align with operational and program needs.
• Negotiate and resolve complex policy, organizational, and cross-administration issues while balancing competing priorities.
• Represent the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA) before legislative committees, stakeholder groups, statewide workgroups, tribal governments, and public forums on issues impacting the behavioral health system, and communities.
• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, contributing to executive leadership and administration-wide strategic planning.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's in political science, behavioral health, public administration, business administration or closely allied field.

And,

• Twelve years of progressively responsible management experience in a legislative environment, agency, or large organization, specifically in strategic policy development, rule development and legislative affairs.

And,

• At least four years of direct legislative and program or policy analysis experience. Experience may run concurrently.

Equivalent education or experience may substitute for the above qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in political science, behavioral health, public administration, business and administration or closely allied field.

Completed applications should include:

• A letter of interest with a detailed description of how your experience relates to this opportunity
• A current resume
• A minimum of three professional references

Questions? Contact the recruiter, Chris Pulley at and reference the project number 05828 in the subject line.
Supplemental Information
Prior 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.