Salary : $80,496.00 - $108,228.00 Annually
Location : Pierce County - Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number:
Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families
Division: Licensing
Opening Date: 09/01/2026
Closing Date: 9/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
Job Title: Kinship Care Licensing Supervisor | Social Service Supervisor 5 (SSS5)
Location: Tacoma, WA. Region 5. (). This is a hybrid position and requires reporting to the Tacoma office at least once per week.
Closes: Friday, September 11th, 2026
Salary: $80,496 - $108,228 Annually

This position supports the mission of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) by helping protect children and strengthen families through the work of the Licensing Division's Kinship Care Licensing program. Kinship Care Licensing focuses on assessing and licensing relatives and other individuals with a significant relationship to a child who may provide care when the child cannot safely remain in their own home. In this role, you will supervise a team of Social Service Specialists who provide professional licensing services to kinship caregivers, including home studies and updates, licensing and renewal assessments, amendments, facility complaints, and health and safety monitoring visits. You will also provide advanced consultation and support on complex or high-profile cases involving children or vulnerable adults.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

As a first-line supervisor, you will provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and on-the-job training to Social Service Specialists while supporting their transition from formal training to independent fieldwork. You will conduct case reviews, facilitate meetings and case staffings, establish procedures that support efficient workflow, and provide final approval of staff work products.

You will also use planning, accountability, and tracking processes to ensure casework is completed in accordance with law, policy, and other requirements while supporting staff performance and development. A key part of this role is fostering a kin-first and culturally responsive approach, helping staff recognize and respect the strengths, heritage, values, and cultural identities of families while supporting children in maintaining meaningful connections to their families, cultures, and communities.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Perform supervisory personnel functions, including setting performance goals, performance evaluation, and scheduling staff for five (5) SSS3s.
• Prioritize and assigns work to a unit of Kinship Care Licensing staff who conduct kinship home studies, licenses, updates, renewals, amendments, licensing complaints and health and safety monitoring visits.
• Provide informal training regarding licensing functions and home study assessment requirements, licensing, maintenance and relicensing of kinship caregivers for staff, divisions, programs, the community or others, and arranges for formal agency training for staff.
• Develop onboarding training plans for incoming staff and assists the Social Service Specialist 4 with the delivery of onboarding training.
• Provide case consultation and reviews of home study assessments and reassessments.
• Conduct monthly reviews, case staffing, unit meetings, and other meetings as needed.
• Provide ongoing guidance to Kinship Care Licensors regarding home study/licensing process, policy, and procedure.
• Provide direct technical assistance to Social Service Specialists regarding the licensing and maintenance, support, retention and recruitment of kinship homes.
• Assist Kinship Care Licensors by providing training and technical assistance.
• Collaborate with the community, including the provider community, law enforcement, medical personnel and families of children in out-of-home care.
• Perform quality assurance on staff documentation, assessments, reports, case management and payment initiation.
• Provide the Area Administrator monthly statistical information for work pending and completed by staff.

Required Qualifications:

• Eight (8) years of paid social service experience* AND30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline.

OR

• A master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any master's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Three (3) years of paid Social Service experience*.

OR

• A bachelor's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences or any bachelor's degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) years of paid Social Service experience*.

OR

• One (1) year of experience as a Social Service Specialist 4 (SSS4).

OR

• Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 3 (SSS3).

AND

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

NOTE: A two-year master's degree in one of the above fields that included a practicum may be substituted for one (1) year of paid social service experience.

*Paid Social Service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.
In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have previously demonstrated experience with:

• Supervise, teach and train staff.
• Manage a large volume of work.
• Communicate with other agencies and community groups.
• Communicate up and down the chain of command and develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range and level of staff.
• Evaluate job performance.
• Interview job applicants.
• Make professional judgments.
• Ability to work cooperatively with diverse populations.
• Working understanding of agency policies, WAC and RCW related to licensed facilities.
• Must be able to effectively, clearly and concisely communicate verbally and in writing with management, peers, clients, and the public as required to carry out the assigned duties of the position.
• Be skilled in the use of MS Office- Word, Outlook and Excel, FAMLINK and other databases used.

How do I apply?
In addition to completing the online application, please attach the following:

• College/University Transcripts - an unofficial copy is acceptable for application purposes.
• Cover Letter
• Resume

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.

Must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within twelve months of initial appointment.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will 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 position.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver's license.

This position is included in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information:

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible,

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

2026-07160
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