Salary: $89,975.00 - $122,492.00 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: 07/13/2026
Closing Date: 7/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
DescriptionThe is seeking a WA Cares Business Operations Project Manager to join our growing team. Join the WA Cares Fund team within the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) to help develop the nation's first social insurance program for long-term care. This is a unique opportunity to be part of the reason Washington State continues to lead nationally in long-term care policy and insurance coverage for all working Washingtonians.
Our team is responsible for designing and implementing this groundbreaking program and helping Washingtonians understand their new benefit. Your experience will support the Department of Social and Health Services' mission to partner with people in accessing support, care, and resources.
The official workstation for this position is in Olympia and offers flexible hybrid remote work. You can be based anywhere in Washington State. However, occasional travel may be required based on business needs. This is a WMS 2 (Washington Management Service) position.
As the Business Operations Project Manager, you will direct and manage projects that support divisional operations, including policy development, training, implementation, and operational support. Serving as the project manager and subject matter expert for strategic business and operational initiatives, you will lead cross-functional projects from planning through execution, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities.
You will coordinate project activities, oversee workflow, and apply project management best practices to deliver successful outcomes. In addition, you will contribute to division-wide continuous improvement, operational excellence, and organizational change management efforts by identifying opportunities to enhance processes, improve efficiency, and support the successful adoption of new business practices.
Some of what you will be doing:- Lead business project initiatives from project charter development through design, policy development, implementation, and closeout.
- Identify and prioritize projects requiring project management support, coordinating efforts across staff, leadership, and external partners.
- Develop, monitor, and evaluate project plans, recommending solutions and corrective actions to the Operations & Strategy Manager, and Deputy Director.
- Plan and manage process improvement initiatives by developing tools, templates, and standardized practices that improve efficiency, quality, and operational performance.
- Ensure project documentation, decisions, and records are accurate, organized, and readily accessible.
- Prepare concise, actionable reports and executive briefings that support informed decision-making by senior leadership.
- Apply industry best practices in project management, process improvement, and change management to support successful implementation of new technologies and business processes.
- Oversee the completion of division assignments and efforts that are required by DSHS/HCLA and assigned to WCF Operations. These include reports, projects, and high priority tasks on a wide variety of topics, many of which are undefined until requested.
- Analyze, synthesize, and present complex operational and strategic information to senior leadership to support business planning and organizational decision-making.
- Build and maintain knowledge of current and future operational priorities, strategic initiatives, and business plans.
- Research, prepare, and deliver briefing materials that equip executive leadership for meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
- Lead assessments and information-gathering efforts to identify current and future operational and business needs.
- Ensure projects are completed on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with applicable statutes, policies, and organizational standards.
- Translate business requirements into effective implementation strategies, project plans, and measurable deliverables.
- Track project milestones, monitor progress, and document outcomes to ensure project objectives are achieved.
Who should apply?Master's degree in business administration, Public Administration, Public Health, Health Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field.
- Successful completion of formal project management training or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
- Two years of demonstrated experience applying project management principles and tools, process improvement methodologies, and Lean practices.
- Three years of progressively responsible qualifying project management experience mentioned below **.
ORBachelor's degree in business administration, Public Administration, Public Health, Health Administration, or a related field.
- Successful completion of formal project management training or Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
- Two years of demonstrated experience applying project management principles and tools, process improvement methodologies, and Lean practices.
- Five years of progressively responsible qualifying project management experience mentioned below**.
**Qualifying project management experience includes:
- Knowledge of program and project management tools, as well as continuous improvement, change management, and evaluation tools and methods.
- Coordinating executive-level work without direct supervisory authority to do so, and evaluating the impact of changes in procedures, policies, and legislation on the division strategic plan and current service delivery programs.
- Experience managing program projects from conception through implementation, including scheduling, task delegation and management, risk, and issue management, and facilitating sponsor and partner engagement and communication.
- Experience researching, evaluating, assessing, and making informed recommendations to leadership regarding significant, critical, and often highly confidential issues and initiatives.
- Working knowledge of Process Improvement and Project Management concepts and terminology, and ability to apply PI and PM frameworks to work.
OR Years of experience as stated above may substitute for year per year of educational requirements.
Skills, behaviors, and competencies required:
- Creative thinking: ability to integrate abstract concepts and present complex ideas effectively with diverse audiences.
- Develop positive working relationships with internal and external partners including legislators, providers, advocates, consumers, professional educators, managers, and staff.
- Ability to draft correspondence and have excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a broad spectrum of internal and external partners, other state agencies, departments, and advocates.
- Positively represent the department and communicate effectively both orally and in writing to staff, management, and during public meetings, forums, and community presentations.
- Demonstrate ability to think clearly, prioritize tasks, spot quality issues, and handle complex work independently while meeting attendance and punctuality expectations.
- Collaborate and work well with others by building consensus, listening actively, resolving conflicts, and facilitating meetings to deliver accurate, thorough, and timely results with minimal supervision.
- Working knowledge of statistics and ability to independently utilize computer programs including Word, Smartsheet, and Excel, word processing, spreadsheets, database software, analysis, email, and remote meeting programs.
- Effective report writing, including complex, clinical, or technical documents.
Preferred / desired education, experience, and competencies: - Knowledge of organizational change management principles
- Knowledge of quality improvement practice and procedures.
Interested? Please list 3 professional references' contact information on your application and include your current resume and a cover letter explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role.
Questions? Please contact reference job number 05475
