Salary: $105,000.00 - $126,000.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Steilacoom, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division: BHHA
Opening Date: 05/27/2026
Closing Date: 6/9/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

The Special Commitment Center (SCC) - part of Washington State Department of Social & Health Services (DSHS) Behavioral Health Administration (BHHA) - is hiring a Social Work Manager to lead psychiatric social workers across both Total Confinement Facility and Community Operations.

This is a new role. You'll be building something, not just maintaining it.

We encourage you to apply if: You're an experienced clinical social work leader who thrives in complex, high-stakes environments. You know how to earn trust with frontline staff, navigate multi-disciplinary teams, and hold the line on clinical standards - all at once. You're ready to step into a role where your oversight directly shapes how patients move through discharge planning and into less restrictive care.

Your first priority will be to get grounded in operations and build genuine supervisory relationships with your social work team.

Still reading?

Take the next step and apply today!
Some of What You Will Do:

• Provide unified oversight of psychiatric social workers across Total Confinement and Community Operations
• Lead discharge planning - including treatment planning, risk management, and coordination with community partners such as Managed Care Organizations, Community Sex Offense Treatment Providers, and more
• Supervise, coach, hire, and evaluate social work staff; provide both clinical and administrative supervision
• Serve as liaison between patients, families/support systems, and external partners
• Facilitate discharge-related treatment groups and social work meetings
• Ensure compliance with clinical standards, policy/procedure, and state/federal regulatory requirements
• Monitor quality management functions and audit work performance
• Collaborate with the financial department on eligibility matters for each resident
• Participate in legal proceedings and facility case consults as appropriate

Who Should Apply:

• A graduate degree in Clinical Social Work or the equivalent from a nationally accredited institution as well as be a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in the state of Washington (preferred). 5 years of paid experience in counseling mentally or emotionally disturbed individuals and 3 years of supervisory experience. Relevant paid experience can be considered as substitution for supervisory experience; under discretion of hiring authority.
• At least two years of supervisory experience providing clinical and/or administrative supervision to professional staff and/or internship students, including the state required appropriate training as a clinical supervisor.
• Experience in providing clinical leadership and direction to a multi-disciplinary team and or treatment programs in a residential setting.
• Communicates clearly and effectively in oral presentations and writing.
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational and clinical observation skills demonstrated interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with a wide range of personalities.
• At least two years of supervisory experience providing clinical and/or administrative supervision to professional staff and/or internship students, including the state required appropriate training as a clinical supervisor.

Interested?
Submit your application with a resume and cover letter. We're moving quickly - qualified professionals are encouraged to apply now.

Questions?
Email recruiter Kris George at and reference job number 04162.

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 01-07-2026