Deputy Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare (Exempt) Olympia

Job Title: Deputy Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare (Exempt) Olympia
Agency: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Location: Olympia, Washington - Hybrid position - some work can be accomplished remotely, but travel to in-person meetings and facilities is required.
Reports To: Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare

Salary: $151,200-$170,000 Annually

Closes: November 30^th, 2025, with a first review of applications taking place on November 20^th. 

Reporting directly to the Assistant Secretary of Child Welfare, this position provides visionary executive leadership and strategic direction for the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare plays a pivotal role in shaping the agency’s statewide child welfare operations, ensuring every program and service supports DCYF’s mission to protect children, strengthen families, and build resilient communities.

This leader oversees critical statewide functions, including Centralized Services and Central Intake, the 24/7 End Harm Line, after-hours intake, and Region 4 daytime intake operations. These services handle child abuse and neglect reports received from law enforcement, hospitals, families, and community members across Washington State.

As a key member of the agency’s executive team, the Deputy Assistant Secretary serves as a trusted advisor and decision-maker for the Assistant Secretary, ensuring programs are strategically aligned with DCYF’s mission, vision, and values while advancing a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation in service delivery.

This position is responsible for providing overall responsibility for the development, management and implementation of the following child- and family-centric programs: Child Welfare Operations which include program development, oversight and monitoring the delivery of child welfare services and supports provided statewide by all field and regional offices. Specific services and supports include provision of services to children and families involving Child Protective Service Investigations, Child Protective Service Family Assessment Response, Family Voluntary Services, Child and Family Welfare Services, Family Reconciliation Services, and Adoption Services. This position effectively manages the operational activities of the agency’s Child Welfare Division, using delegated authority to ensure efficient financial, budget, and contracting processes. 

This position has delegated authority to manage, plan, organize, coordinate and/or monitor specific plans, programs, and projects in child welfare operations essential to carry out the goals, mission and values of the Department. These tasks include but are not limited to: 

• Support the Assistant Secretary, including attending meetings on behalf of the Assistant Secretary and making decisions on behalf of the Assistant Secretary.
• Identify the internal and external needs and gaps in existing resources and procedures that require intervention of executive management through mitigation or correction.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance regarding child safety and risk assessment, provides critical statewide executive leadership and serves as an “expert” on child protection issues.
• Executive sponsorship of ad hoc statewide projects, including presentations to Executive Leadership Team on behalf of projects in its purview. 

• Provide daily leadership and support for a talented and experienced team of professionals and is accountable for goals and deliverables within Child Welfare statewide, Central Intake and Centralized Services. Leads, coaches and mentors' managers and supervisors; authorizes child welfare, Central Intake and Centralized Services activities; approves budgets, allocations, and spending plans and expenditures; translates leadership team goals into actions within Child Welfare.
• Negotiate resolution of personnel, institutional, and interagency conflicts.
• Design, supervise, direct, and engage team members in short- and long-term planning in complex, adaptive situations.
• Develop leased facility 24/7 programs in order to provide supervision for behaviorally challenged youth who require a high level of supervision and care while awaiting other longer-term placement options in a manner that maximizes safety for both the youth and staff. Oversee these program operations statewide. 
• Serve as the representative for child welfare for purposes of labor negotiations involving the statewide labor contract, as well as various Demands to Bargain or other labor actions.
• Develop responses to inquiries from legislative staff, the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds, or the Office of the Governor. Coordinates media responses with Communications concerning specific cases or general practice. 
• Provide information, advice and analysis to Risk Management staff related to torts involving child welfare programs, including providing testimony in tort actions, on behalf of the Department.
  

• A Master’s degree in social work, human services, education, behavioral sciences, organizational development, public 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 Five (5) years of progressively responsible and multi-dimensional experience in managing people and programs; Five (5) years of paid social service experience providing direct services to children and families; Demonstrated working understanding of safety and risk assessment, and child focused practice and strategies along with expertise in building relationships with clients, staff, and community leaders.

• A Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, education, behavioral sciences, organizational development, public 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 Seven (7) years of progressively responsible and multi-dimensional experience in managing people and programs; Seven (7) years of paid social service experience providing direct services to children and families; Demonstrated working understanding of safety and risk assessment, and child focused practice and strategies along with expertise in building relationships with clients, staff, and community leaders.

• Eleven (11) years of progressively responsible and multi-dimensional experience in managing people and programs; Eleven (11) years of paid social service experience providing direct services to children and families; Demonstrated working understanding of safety and risk assessment, and child focused practice and strategies along with expertise in building relationships with clients, staff, and community leaders.

• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and respectful workplace principles.

• Lead teams through organizational change, program planning and quality improvement.
• Hire and supervise, build a cohesive work team, delegate duties and support staff in achieving program goals. Ability to develop staff and help individuals reach their highest potential. 
• Administer and manage statewide programs in alignment with agency mission. 
• Research and apply best practice models, return-on-investment models, and information from other states’ pre-kindergarten models and national pre-kindergarten initiatives. 
• Communicate with internal and external early learning partners to achieve the DCYF mission. 
• 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 use data, technology and research effectively and strategically to assess service needs, evaluate service/program effectiveness and client outcomes, and identify service delivery approaches and business strategies that will add value and improve performance.
• Skills to strategically plan and develop measurable goals and targets, and to monitor organizational performance and progress. 
• Ability to work in a political environment collaboratively with a broad spectrum of stakeholder; 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. 
• Understanding of human service systems at the state and local community level in Washington State.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Cover Letter 
• Resume