DSHS ESA Enterprise Administration and Risk Management Chief

Salary: $110,408.00 - $147,210.00 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: ESA
Opening Date: 10/21/2026
Closing Date: 11/4/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Enterprise Administration & Risk Management Chief

Help shape how one of Washington's largest human services administrations works across the state. As Chief of Enterprise Administration & Risk Management, you will join the (ESA) Executive Leadership Team at an important point of organizational change. You will bring together administrative functions that serve all of ESA, helping create greater consistency, coordination, accountability, and efficiency across divisions while supporting the delivery of services to Washington residents.

This is more than an oversight role. You will build and shape a new enterprise function, including establishing ESA's centralized Enterprise Contracts Office and bringing previously separate teams together around shared processes, expectations, and goals. You will work closely with executive leaders, employees, division leaders, and partners to create an organization that is responsive to the needs of the people it serves while strengthening risk management, compliance, internal controls, and stewardship of public resources.

As a trusted advisor to ESA executive leadership, you will bring perspective to complex issues that cross organizational boundaries and help turn strategic priorities into practical action. You will lead managers and guide a team that is growing and evolving. Your ability to build trust, bring people together, navigate ambiguity, and guide meaningful change will be central to establishing this new enterprise model. Your portfolio also includes public disclosure, privacy, discovery, and audit coordination, helping ESA respond to sensitive matters and reduce organizational risk.

Some of what you will do

• Build and shape ESA's centralized Enterprise Contracts Office, bringing previously separate contracts functions together, establishing clear roles and service expectations, and creating consistent processes that maintain critical work while the organization changes.
• Bring multiple administrative functions together under a cohesive enterprise model, creating clear accountability, shared practices, and better coordination across divisions rather than allowing functions to operate separately.
• Lead and develop managers and a multidisciplinary team, establishing priorities, supporting leadership development, building a collaborative team culture, and connecting their work to ESA's broader goals.
• Oversee enterprise risk management, identifying and evaluating organizational risks, advising executive leadership on mitigation strategies, and developing enterprise operational policies and procedures.
• Oversee public disclosure, privacy and confidentiality, and discovery coordination, supporting timely, consistent responses to records requests and litigation-related information needs while protecting confidential information.
• Direct internal and external audits, oversee responses to audit findings and corrective actions, and strengthen internal controls and compliance practices across ESA.
• Assess current operations and shape practical ways of working for the future, identifying opportunities to improve processes, reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and create greater consistency across ESA.
• Guide significant organizational change, building trust and collaboration with employees, leaders, division partners, and contractors as previously separate functions move into a centralized enterprise structure.
• Provide executive advice and decision support on complex operational, fiscal, legal, compliance, governance, and risk matters, bringing together information from across ESA to help executive leaders make informed decisions.
• Build relationships across organizational boundaries, working with ESA divisions, DSHS leadership, Tribal governments, federal partners, state agencies, community organizations, contractors, and other partners to support shared goals and responsive service.

Who should apply

An experienced executive leader who can see the big picture while understanding operational realities and translating broad organizational priorities into practical approaches.

You may meet the requirements through several experience and education pathways, but the core requirement is substantial leadership experience in a headquarters-based organization with statewide impact, including executive responsibility for enterprise governance, risk management, internal controls, audit practices, compliance, public-sector administration, or other regulated administrative functions.

Contract management expertise is not required, although the ability to provide executive direction and oversight of contract subject-matter experts is important.

In addition, you will bring advanced experience leading multiple organizational functions through direct reports, connecting people, functions, and priorities across organizational boundaries to create greater consistency, coordination, accountability, and efficiency.

Knowledge, skills, & abilities you bring should include:

• Leading complex administrative, operational, governance, compliance, or risk-related functions, particularly across multiple organizational units or business areas.
• Bringing separate teams or functions together, establishing shared roles, processes, expectations, and service goals while maintaining continuity of critical work.
• Building or shaping an organization or function, including establishing an operating structure, developing processes, clarifying accountability, and creating a cohesive team culture.
• Guiding significant organizational change, with the ability to build trust, foster understanding, navigate ambiguity, and work effectively with people affected by the change.
• Providing confidential, executive-level advice and recommendations on complex operational, fiscal, legal, compliance, governance, or risk matters.
• Establishing policies, governance practices, internal controls, and processes that improve consistency, accountability, efficiency, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Exercising sound judgment in sensitive risk matters, including public disclosure, privacy, discovery, and audit responses, and translating findings into practical improvements.
• Building trusted working relationships across organizational boundaries and communicating clearly with executive leaders, employees, division partners, Tribal governments, federal partners, state agencies, contractors, and community organizations.

DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources.
This job is classified as Washington Management Services 3 (WMS3) and offers a hybrid telework schedule, with one day each week in Olympia and a second day at the DSHS office closest to your home. Occasional travel may be expected.

Interested? Please list 3 professional references' current contact information on your application and include your current resume and a letter of interest (up to two pages) specifically addressing the knowledge, skills and experience you have related to this job and responsibilities.
Questions? Please contact the Recruiter, Reema, at or 360-725-5810 and reference #08006.

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.

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 du