Salary: $99,418.00 - $124,272.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: CW Field Operations - Region 5
Opening Date: 08/06/2026
Closing Date: 8/20/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Job Title: Intake, CHET, and Discovery Area Administrator (WMS2).

Location:Tacoma, WA - Region 5. Pierce and Kitsap Counties. Travel within the Region and State is required. Occasional National travel may be required.
Closes: 08/20/2026
Salary: $99,418 - $124,272 Annually.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is looking for an Intake, CHET, and Discovery Area Administrator who provides administrative leadership over Placement, Intake, and Rate Assessors. This Area Administrator reports directly to the Regional Administrator and is a member of the Region 5 leadership team. This position provides primary and secondary supervision for 36 incumbents to ensure effective management and adherence to DCYF program mandates to deliver services in Pierce and Kitsap Counties.

The Opportunity:
The primary objective of this position is to provide leadership to Intake, Discovery, and CHET. The effective measure of this position is the effective implementation of Child Welfare policies; a responsive and timely placement and intake program that utilizes DCYF policy and procedures in decisions with children and families served in Region 5. The Area Administrator for these programs is visible in both Pierce and Kitsap counties and effectively collaborates with three federally recognized Tribes, the courts, HQ Child Welfare programs, data/OIAA, local, state, and national recruitment agencies, and child placing agencies. This position works closely with regional management and quality assurance staff, supervisors, and social services specialists across the region. This position ensures the placement and intake division is efficient, collaborative, and responsive to the needs of all parties; ensures clarity of roles/responsibilities and proper coordination of the program. As the regional lead, this position collaborates with other regional and headquarters leads to review Intake and placement policy mandates. This position collaborates to ensure compliance with Federal and State mandates. Direct accountability includes disposition and management of staff resources, including hiring decisions for secondary reports, fiscal accountability for client services, sustaining performance standards within the office, developing and implementing corrective action plans, shaping staff performance and holding staff accountable for performance, including issuing oral and written reprimands, resolution of case services decisions, constituent concerns, and client, caregivers, and providers' complaints/concerns. This position has shared accountability with other Area Administrators for the implementation and accomplishments of state and regional goals and objectives; problem analysis and recommendations on course of action to executive leadership; policy development; implementation of state and regional training plans and achieving fiscal targets.

Some of what you will do:

• Manage, direct, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of timely intakes, discovery, and CHET program.
• Lead supervisors, social services specialists, and administrative staff in accomplishing the department's purpose, which is to keep children and adolescents safe, safely reduce the number of children in need of out-of-home care, and strengthen and preserve family connections and their community ties so they can achieve safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Establish goals and objectives, develop performance standards, equip staff, develop section expectations, procedures and protocols, resolve problems and evaluate programs, supervisors and staff in the following: Child abuse and neglect intakes. Coordination and cooperation with law enforcement per regional protocols for complex investigations. Mentor/coach direct reports as well as other staff in human-centered practice and development of cultural awareness and humility in all interactions.
• Develop processes and structures to ensure intake calls are processed promptly.
• Ensure supervisors complete required quality assurance reviews. Ensure active efforts on seeking placement resources, and ensure those efforts are timely.
• Ensure Quality Assurance plans improve services in areas indicated through routine data review, feedback, and as recommended in case reviews.
• Ensure collaborative work between DCYF and all tribes to ensure services and support are delivered. Work in partnership with tribes to develop oversight and quality assurance procedures that ensure compliance with state and federal Indian Child Welfare statutes.
• Provide clinical guidance and consultation for complex screening decisions.
• Manage units and budget and manage program responsibilities within FTE allocation.
• Manage and maintain quality relationships with law enforcement, medical providers, schools, contracted providers, child advocates, courts, attorneys, and other community entities in Region 5.
• Implement effective processes that ensure timely, accurate, and complete delivery of Discovery services through the life of a case.
• Maintain close collaboration and partnership with DCYF HQ lead for statewide Discovery in the assessment of effectiveness and efficiency of Regional Discovery; provide training to staff and ongoing consultation to promote effectiveness and efficiency of regional Discovery staff.

Required Qualifications:

• Nine (9) years of paid social service experience* AND 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.

OR

• A Master's degree in social work, health or social science, public administration, or a related field and five years of professional experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs

OR

• A Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration, or a related field and seven years of professional experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivery of social and/or child welfare services programs

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 5 (SSS5).

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

NOTE: *Paid social service experience must include at least one (1) year assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
NOTE: One (1) year of experience must also include supervision of professional staff in social service delivery.
Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:
Utilizes cultural competency to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with clients, subordinate staff, and other individuals across cultures, focusing on understanding and respecting the strengths of the clients, including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication and learning styles.
• Builds and maintains collaborative working relationships with law enforcement, courts, providers/vendors, community stakeholders, and with internal/external statewide professionals.
• Evaluates, compiles, and organizes data into reports and policies.
• Directs and evaluates the work of others.
• Understands, conceptualizes, structures, and administers quality assurance programs.
• Applies principles of child protection to a variety of complex family situations to lead staff in making decisions that keep children safe.
• Proven leadership skills in public speaking, mediation, negotiation, and planning.
• Advanced supervisory and managerial skills.
• Advanced knowledge of the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the WA state Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Working understanding of state and federal law and agency policies and regulations concerning public child protective services, Indian child welfare services, risk assessment, safety planning, and permanency and well-being services as delivered in a public child welfare setting.
• Budget analysis, allotments, and fiscal accountability applications.
• Assessing and understanding complex casework options.
• Use of business applications and Child Welfare information computer systems.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Cover letter
• Resume
• College Transcripts (if applicable). - Unofficial copy of transcripts is acceptable for applying.

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington's children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

2026-06387
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 ou