Salary : $106,932.00 - $149,724.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment: Remote Optional
Job Number:
Department: Health Care Authority
Division: SPI
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/16/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Salary Information: The high end of the salary range, Step M is typically a longevity step

Description
Legislative Relations Manager (WMS3/SPI)

71049126
The Legislative Relations Manager represents the agency in external engagement on legislation, strategic initiatives, financial issues, and other health policy priorities. Working alongside Executive Leadership, this role helps build and maintain trusted relationships with the authorizing environment, develops proactive legislative engagement strategy and serves as a credible voice on behalf of the agency. Based in Olympia with telework flexibility outside of session, this role is a strong fit for a skilled communicator and strategic thinker with experience in government relations, health policy, or legislative affairs.
All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.
About the position:

The Legislative Relations Manager reports to the Special Assistant for Policy and Legislative Affairs and works directly with the Chief Policy Officer and other members of the executive leadership team (ELT) as appropriate. Alongside the Special Assistant for Policy and Legislative Affairs, the position represents the agency in external engagement on legislation, strategic initiatives, financial issues, and other activity.This position builds trust with the authorizing environment through clear, consistent communication on behalf of the agency and director, and will establish relationships with legislative staff, lobbyists, and government relations counterparts. The incumbent will establish and proactively pursue a strategic plan for legislative engagement during the legislative session and support outreach during interim, ensuring a constant and trusted voice on behalf of the HCA's priorities.
This position is eligible to telework but is frequently required to report onsite and to the capital during legislative session to meet business need. The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions - both on-site and telework eligible positions - is within the State of Washington. This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. All agency employees are required to report on-site in Olympia on their first and last days of employment to pick up and return state-issued equipment, regardless of telework status or location.
Duties
Some of what you will do:

• Responsible for developing and implementing agency legislative strategy, including policy and budget priorities.
• Responsible for legislative communications and advocacy on behalf of HCA.
• Leads legislative engagement activities for approximately half of HCA program areas, including strategic planning and responding to legislative requests.
• Drafts legislation and policy papers to assist HCA programs.
• Facilitates stakeholder outreach and engagement in HCA activities, proactively sharing information and responding to inquiries.
• Consults agency executive leadership and recommends actions to be taken on legislative and political issues.
• Consults with agency managers to coordinate the development of the agency's engagement with the Governor's Office, OFM, the legislature, other agencies, and external lobbyists.
• Develops subject matter knowledge on the breadth of the agency's program portfolio.
• Supports legislative affairs in training staff to support bill analysis and legislative report drafting.

Qualifications
Required qualifications:

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1:

Master's or Law degree with preference for competency in a health-related field and three (3) years of the required experience below

Option 2:

Bachelor's degree in a field identified above, and five (5) years of the required experience below

Option 3:

Associate degree in a related field and (7) years of the required experience below

Option 4:

Nine (9) years of the required experience below

The required experience includes:

• Experience in legislative or similar external relations, demonstrating in-depth knowledge and understanding of the state legislative process and experience with drafting legislation and amendments.
• Demonstrated experience in making presentations to external audiences on challenging policy or budget concepts.
• Broad knowledge of local health care industry; low-income populations; Medicaid/CHIP and other federal laws affecting low-income populations, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and mechanisms to waive federal rules.
• Group facilitation and negotiation.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and concisely.
• Demonstrated ability to promote teamwork and lead, coach, and mentor professional staff.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize measures and track success.

Required competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Strong collaboration and facilitation skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of state and federal health care laws.
• Understanding of state government systems and divisions of power.
• Flexible and open to change.

Preferred qualifications:

• Two years' experience and work with Medicaid or Behavioral health programs with additional experience in private health care coverage options and delivery systems in general.
• Experience in systems thinking and planning.
• Knowledge of historical context of Washington State Health policymaking and evolution of federal law impacting low-income populations, including Title XIX (Medicaid), Title XXI (CHIP), Title XVIII (Medicare), national health reform and Washington's tribes.
• Knowledge of federal rules, state regulations and state laws pertaining to health care reimbursement policies.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the minimum qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification. To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach in separate files:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

What we have to offer:

• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• And free parking!

Notes:

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

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