Salary: $110,048.00 - $149,724.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: OOS
Opening Date: 09/22/2026
Closing Date: 10/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

The law behind a decision matters.

As Chief Review Judge (CRJ), you'll lead two teams whose work affects how the Department makes, reviews, and applies administrative decisions, regulations, and policies: the Board of Appeals (BOA) and the Rules and Policies Assistance Unit (RPAU).

BOA Review Judges review the record and initial orders from administrative law judges, and apply state and federal law in upholding, modifying, or reversing those orders in Adult Protective Services findings and public benefits decisions. RPAU guides the Department's rulemaking process and the development and publication of administrative policies.

Your role is to lead both while protecting the Board of Appeals' independence in deciding individual cases. You'll represent the BOA with Department leadership and help ensure the legal and policy framework-including the Administrative Procedure Act-remains central to the work.

We encourage you to apply if you're an attorney who values careful legal analysis and knows how to lead experienced professionals. The people you'll manage know this work well. Your job isn't to arrive with every answer. It's to learn how the work gets done, ask good questions, and know when to provide guidance, make a decision, and trust your staff's expertise.

You should also enjoy solving problems without assuming every problem needs your solution. On any given day, you may navigate a legal question, personnel matter, rulemaking issue, or competing priorities. You'll need to understand different perspectives, identify risks, and make sound decisions while maintaining productive working relationships.

Your first 90 days are about listening, learning, and building trust. You'll get to know your staff, the work of BOA and RPAU, and the legal and policy framework behind final orders, rulemaking, and administrative policies. The work is currently performed primarily remotely, with staff communicating through Teams, email, and other electronic channels. Future expectations may include more in-office work based on Department direction, operational needs, or the approach of the incoming Chief Review Judge.

Within your first year, success means your staff trust your understanding of their work, Department partners can rely on your guidance, and final orders, regulations, and policies continue to be completed professionally, on a strong legal foundation, accurately, and on time.

Still reading? Here's what you'll do.
Some of What You'll Do

• Lead the Board of Appeals and Rules and Policies Assistance Unit while respecting the expertise and independence of experienced staff.
• Direct the work of Review Judges who review Administrative Law Judge decisions and issue legally binding final orders.
• Protect BOA's independent decision-making role while serving as a connection between Review Judges and Department leadership.
• Review draft orders, procedural motions, and requests for extensions.
• Guide and review Department rulemaking and administrative policy work, including proposed regulations, emergency rules, and policies.
• Monitor BOA caseloads and the timely completion of final orders, regulations, and policies.
• Oversee the Department's agreement with the Office of Administrative Hearings, including reports, compliance, and invoices.
• Work with Department leadership, agency partners, and members of the public on appeals, public benefits, rulemaking, and administrative policy.
• Lead staff through regular meetings, coaching, performance feedback, evaluations, and training.
• Review proposed legislation during legislative sessions as needed.

Who Should Apply
Required:

• A law degree.
• Knowledge of developing, interpreting, and applying laws, rules, and policies in an administrative environment.
• Strong legal and analytical judgment, including the ability to identify issues, assess risk, and reach well-supported decisions.
• Experience leading experienced professionals, managing competing priorities, and maintaining accountability for high-quality, timely work.
• Ability to communicate complex legal and policy issues clearly and work effectively across teams, leadership, and external partners.

How to Apply
Hit the green APPLY button and submit:

• Your resume.
• Your cover letter.
• Three professional references.

Questions
Email recruiter Kris George at and reference job number 07605.

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 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.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with (1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual 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.

As provided in , an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-