Deputy Assistant Secretary, Partnership Prevention & Services

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Partnership Prevention & Services (WMS03)

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington state's children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Location: Olympia, WA | This hybrid role allows for a combination of in-office and remote work; regular in-office presence is required.

Closes: Sunday, May 31st, 2026

Salary: 114,154.00 - 139,000.00 Annually

This recruitment has been reposted for additional applications. If you have already applied there is no need to reapply—your application status remains unchanged.

The Division of Partnership, Prevention, and Services (PPS) leads the planning, oversight, and delivery of a continuum of services and supports for children, youth, and families across Washington—from prevention and early intervention to intensive supports. Reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary, the Deputy Assistant Secretary provides executive leadership, strategic oversight, and operational guidance across PPS and at the agency level.

This position leads division-wide efforts to strengthen program quality, performance, and outcomes through strategic systems such as data and performance reporting, quality assurance and continuous improvement, performance-based contracting, and leadership development. The role also advances operational excellence by improving contract processes, strengthening cross-agency operational partnerships, and supporting systems that improve outcomes for children, youth, and families statewide.

As a key member of the PPS leadership team, the Deputy Assistant Secretary serves as a strategic advisor to the Assistant Secretary and provides executive leadership across PPS and in partnership with other agency divisions to advance organizational priorities. This position leads high-impact initiatives within the division that strengthen program performance, operational effectiveness, and service outcomes across statewide programs.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary has primary responsibility for leading cross-PPS strategic systems that support program quality and accountability, including data collection and reporting, quality assurance and continuous quality improvement (QA/CQI), performance-based contracting, and leadership development for program managers. This role also oversees the development and improvement of standardized processes for client service contracting, builds strong partnerships with operational divisions, and helps drive cross-agency improvements in contracting, workforce processes, and other operational systems.

Through systems leadership, cross-division collaboration, and data-informed decision-making, this position advances equitable service delivery, strengthens accountability for state and federal resources, and improves outcomes for children, youth, and families across Washington.

Some of what you will do:

• Administer division operations by establishing goals, policies, budgets, systems, work processes, project management, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Ensure coordination across division operations, agency programs, and external system implementation efforts.
• Lead on strategic vision and lead efforts to ensure services effectively meet the needs of children and families served.
• Support the Assistant Secretary by representing leadership in meetings and exercising delegated authority for program, operational, and resource decisions.
• Lead implementation of division-wide programs, policies, initiatives, and operational improvements to strengthen service delivery and program outcomes.
• Provide leadership and oversight of cross-divisional projects involving directors, administrators, and program leadership.
• Evaluate the impact of legislative, regulatory, contractual, and policy changes, and makes recommendations based on research, data, and best practices.
• Develop program policies and ensures compliance with federal, state, and legislative requirements.
• Oversee state and federal funding, fiscal analysis, and budget recommendations to support division priorities and executive decision-making.
• Represent the division with agency leadership, government officials, tribes, community partners, and other stakeholders on policy, funding, and systems improvement efforts.
• Oversee compliance, contract administration, staff support, and technical assistance to ensure quality and timely service delivery.

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible, high-level and multi-dimensional experience in managing human service programs.
• OR
• A Bachelor's degree in social work, public health, health or human services, behavioral sciences, administration or an allied field 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).
• AND
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible, high-level, and multi-dimensional experience in managing human service programs.
• OR
• A Master's degree in social work, public health, health or human services, behavioral sciences, administration or an allied field 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).
• AND
• Six (6) years of progressively responsible, high-level, and multi-dimensional experience in managing human service programs.
• AND
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Previously demonstrated ability to operationalize program objectives.
• Project management certificate or experience in managing complex projects.
• Experience managing division, subdivision or organizational finances in the context of comparably sized divisions (200+ staff/$500m in contracted client services).
• Knowledge of state and federal laws as well as rules and policies that govern the programs within the Department of Children, Youth and Families.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Models Cultural Principles and Values: Demonstrated abilities to earn the trust, respect and confidence of colleagues, employees, partners, and customers through honesty, integrity, and professionalism in all interactions.
• Cultivates a Shared Strategic Vision: Describes an inspiring, long-term vision with deep meaning for the organization or team.
• Develops People: Brings great people with the right skills and the right motivation into the organization and enables them to do their best work every day.
• Drives Results: Creates and nurtures a performance-based culture of continuous improvement. Is passionate about data informed decision-making, scientific problem solving, customer responsiveness and satisfaction, and maximizing resources across the organization.
• Fosters Learning: Fosters a climate that supports creativity, innovation, and hypothesis testing. Supports and invests in employee learning and development.
• Builds Relationships: Builds and maintains internal and external relationships that create positive customer satisfaction with the services offered by the Department.
• Communicates Effectively: Conveys clear, timely and persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others.
• Embraces inclusivity and transparency in decision making. Actively contributes to a work environment that embraces building and sustaining relationships and partnerships with key community partners and groups, recognizing the value of culture, ethnic, gender and other individual differences, to enhance the attainment of department goals.
• Leads and Navigates Change: Navigates the organization through complex and changing environments and engages staff to seek creative solutions and drive change. Attend to the human side of change.
• Embraces and Embeds Inclusion in Decision-making: Reaches out to leverage diverse points of view, talents. and capabilities. Is accountable for the impacts of their approach, decisions and actions on themselves, coworkers, community partners and those we serve.
• Fosters Teamwork and Collaboration: Fosters teamwork and collaboration while developing people. Understands/builds networks and collaboration.
• Skills to strategically plan and develop measurable goals and targets, and to monitor organizational performance and progress.
• Understanding of the government-to-government relationship between the state and federally recognized Tribes of Washington State, as affirmed by the Centennial Accord.
• Ability to work in a political environment collaboratively with a broad spectrum of community partners; including local and state elected officials, other state agencies, local governments, tribal leaders, community-based organizations, and advocacy groups.
• Ability to manage large, complex budgets with multiple funding streams.
• Ability to plan and manage multiple and complex projects and initiatives in collaboration with communities, other agencies, and tribal organizations.
• Align program management decisions with agency mission.
• Understand and navigate the legislative process in the State of Washington
• Ability to recognize and address childcare and foster care racial equity and social justice issues, the role they play in the services DCYF/PPS provides.
• Ability to lead and promote DCYF and PPS