Administrative Services Director (EMS Band 4)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Lacey, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Ecology is hiring an Administrative Services Director (EMS Band 4) within the Executive Leadership Team. This role is located at the Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA, with telework and flexible schedule options available, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office. The successful candidate will serve as the Director of Ecology’s Administrative Services Division, overseeing key cross-agency operations including information and real property management, facilities operations and sustainability, risk and emergency management, records management, public disclosure, fleet and transportation services, continuity of operations, and agency security. This position translates organizational vision into effective, efficient, and optimized enterprise services and provides strategic decision-making and policies with broad agency-wide impacts.

Requirements

Demonstrated expertise in business administration, workforce administration, facilities, records, security, risk and emergency readiness, natural science, environmental studies, engineering, public administration, planning public policy, political science, law, or other related qualifying discipline. This expertise can be demonstrated through professional degrees and/or professional and lived experience.
Demonstrated professional level management experience which includes: Strategic Planning and Direction Setting – Proven track record conceptualizing and articulating long-range organizational direction and developing and implementing annual and biennial strategic plans that strengthen agency operations and guide future administrative priorities.
Judgment and Decision Making – Demonstrated competence making high-impact operational and policy decisions to promote agency effectiveness, legal compliance, and operational continuity.
Communication and Collaboration –Proven experience conveying complex administrative, policy, or facilities matters to audiences from various backgrounds to ensure shared understanding and informed decisions.
Inter-Governmental and Legislative Engagement – Demonstrated ability to interpret and respond to legislative and inter-governmental processes to ensure administrative strategies align with external requirements and governmental expectations.
Negotiation and Consensus Building – Proven track record facilitating agreement among groups from various backgrounds, who may have differing or competing interests, to reach workable administrative, operational, or policy outcomes that support organizational goals.
Risk and Emergency Management – Demonstrated ability to develop and implement comprehensive risk management, emergency preparedness, and business continuity frameworks to safeguard agency operations and assets.
Administrative Policy and Program Oversight – Demonstrated proficiency in establishing, implementing, and evaluating administrative policies, procedures, and services to promote operational efficiency and organizational accountability.
Budget Development and Fiscal Administration – Proven track record with developing and administering complex budgets to support strategic priorities and ensure effective financial stewardship.
Records, Disclosure, and Content Management Systems – Demonstrated ability to oversee records governance and management, public disclosure processes, and enterprise electronic content management systems to ensure legal compliance, information integrity, and efficient enterprise-wide data practices to strengthen compliance and service delivery.
Fleet, Facilities, and Environmental Operations Management – Demonstrated proficiency with overseeing agency vehicle fleet operations, construction and facility maintenance activities, and environmental reporting systems to ensure safe, compliant, cost-effective facility performance and accurate documentation that supports responsible resource stewardship.

Nice To Haves

Involving a major study in public affairs or administration, business administration, environmental management, natural sciences, natural resources, environmental sciences, physical sciences, engineering, planning, or other related field.
Successful record of accomplishment working with state, city, county and federal government agencies.
Serving as a supervisor.
Leading or managing in a large organization or significant public resources.
Working in, or collaborating with, state government.
Managing high-risk or high-impact administrative functions.
Working with or applying policy decisions and advising senior leaders on resource allocation and operational issues.
Experience with regulatory or compliance issues such as torts or other legal frameworks.
Strategic Change Management – Ability to guide complex organizational change to improve systems, processes, and agency-wide operations.
Innovation and Process Improvement – Skilled with identifying opportunities to modernize administrative services and implement more efficient, cost-effective, or sustainable practices.
Complex Project and Program Management – Ability to oversee major, multi-phase administrative or facilities projects to ensure they are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
Data-Driven Management – Skilled with using operational data, metrics, and analytical tools to inform administrative decisions and resource planning.
Legislative and Regulatory Awareness – Skilled with interpreting evolving rules, legislation, and requirements to anticipate impacts on administrative services and adjust agency practices accordingly.

Responsibilities

Planning, leading, organizing, and directing Ecology’s statewide administrative services, including facilities and real property management, risk management, emergency management and business continuity, fleet operations, security, records management, public disclosure, and cross-organizational administrative support functions.
Developing long-term strategies and biennial facilities plans in coordination with the Office of Financial Management and the Department of Enterprise Services to ensure sustainable, compliant, and mission-aligned facility operations across all Ecology locations.
Establishing and updating policies, procedures, and standards for administrative and operational services, including serving as the signatory authority for Ecology’s Policy Manual Chapter 14, Facilities and Vehicles.
Managing and optimizing Ecology’s statewide real property portfolio, including approximately 500,000 square feet of owned and leased facilities and tenant services for state and federal entities.
Overseeing agency security policies, practices, monitoring, and preparedness while chairing Ecology’s Security Committee and ensuring physical safety across facilities.
Leading agency-wide emergency management and business continuity planning, including representing Ecology’s Director in statewide and enterprise-level emergency management, homeland security, continuity of operations, and disaster recovery efforts.
Implementing and overseeing enterprise Electronic Content Management systems in partnership with Ecology’s Information Technology and Services Office to strengthen information governance and records integrity.
Overseeing fleet operations as a shared service with the Department of Enterprise Services, ensuring vehicle safety, operational reliability, and accurate reporting of energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and zero-emission vehicle utilization.
Serving as Ecology’s Risk Manager, including developing and maintaining risk policies, conducting agency-wide compliance monitoring, guiding risk financing decisions, and ensuring alignment with statewide risk requirements.
Directing administrative services budgets, facility investments, procurement activities, and contracts—approving expenditures, leases, purchases, and personnel actions consistent with Ecology’s Signature and Authority Matrix.
Hiring, mentoring, and developing administrative services leaders and staff while fostering a collaborative, inclusive, accountable, and high-performing division.
Representing Ecology on statewide administrative, facility, fleet, emergency management, and risk management issues with OFM, DES, other state agencies, federal partners, and local jurisdictions.
Serving as Executive Sponsor for the Fleet Management Advisory Committee and the Modern Work Environment Steering Committee.
Serving as a key member of Ecology’s Executive Leadership Team and plays a critical role in advancing the agency’s mission.
Guiding agency-wide administrative policy, representing Ecology on issues related to facilities, real property, fleet, emergency management, security, records governance, and operational resilience, and supporting executive decision-making through forward-looking administrative leadership.
Balancing complex operational demands with long-term vision to build secure, resilient, efficient administrative systems that support staff and strengthen Ecology’s statewide mission.
Serving as a trusted leader and advisor on cross-agency management and operational strategy, including but not limited to asset and real property management, emergency preparedness, risk management practices, security policy, and records governance.
Advising the Director and Deputy Directors on administrative strategy and investments, policy development, enterprise risk, and operational readiness.
Collaborating across programs to align administrative priorities with Ecology’s environmental mission, scientific needs, regulatory responsibilities, and operational goals.
Representing the Director and agency on statewide administrative, facility, security, and risk management issues.
Fostering a diverse, equitable, inclusive, respectful, and high-performing workplace that supports learning, accountability, transparency, and staff engagement.