DSHS ESA Enterprise Administration and Risk Management Chief

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

9d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Enterprise Administration and Risk Management Chief joins the Economic Services Administration’s Executive Leadership Team and leads a new enterprise function serving ESA divisions across Washington. The Chief brings administrative functions together to improve consistency, coordination, accountability, and efficiency while supporting services to Washington residents. The role includes establishing ESA’s centralized Enterprise Contracts Office and integrating previously separate teams under shared processes, expectations, and goals. As a trusted advisor to executive leadership, the Chief provides decision support on complex operational, fiscal, legal, compliance, governance, and risk matters, translating strategic priorities into practical action. The Chief leads managers and a multidisciplinary team, guides organizational change, and oversees enterprise risk management, public disclosure, privacy and confidentiality, discovery coordination, and audit activity. The position is classified as Washington Management Services 3 (WMS3) and has a hybrid telework schedule, with one day each week in Olympia and a second day at the DSHS office closest to the employee’s home. Occasional travel may be expected.

Requirements

Substantial leadership experience in a headquarters-based organization with statewide impact.
Executive responsibility for enterprise governance, risk management, internal controls, audit practices, compliance, public-sector administration, or other regulated administrative functions.
Advanced experience leading multiple organizational functions through direct reports and connecting people, functions, and priorities across organizational boundaries.
Experience leading complex administrative, operational, governance, compliance, or risk-related functions, particularly across multiple organizational units or business areas.
Ability to bring separate teams or functions together and establish shared roles, processes, expectations, and service goals while maintaining continuity of critical work.
Ability to build or shape an organization or function, including establishing an operating structure, developing processes, clarifying accountability, and creating a cohesive team culture.
Ability to guide significant organizational change, build trust, foster understanding, navigate ambiguity, and work effectively with people affected by change.
Ability to provide confidential, executive-level advice and recommendations on complex operational, fiscal, legal, compliance, governance, or risk matters.
Ability to establish policies, governance practices, internal controls, and processes that improve consistency, accountability, efficiency, and stewardship of public resources.
Sound judgment in sensitive risk matters, including public disclosure, privacy, discovery, and audit responses, and ability to translate findings into practical improvements.
Ability to build trusted working relationships and communicate clearly with executive leaders, employees, division partners, Tribal governments, federal partners, state agencies, contractors, and community organizations.
Contract management expertise is not required; executive direction and oversight of contract subject-matter experts is important.
Applicants should provide current contact information for three professional references, a current resume, and a letter of interest of up to two pages addressing relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.
Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver’s license. Employees using a privately owned vehicle on state business must carry liability insurance.

Responsibilities

Build and shape ESA’s centralized Enterprise Contracts Office, establishing clear roles, service expectations, and consistent processes while maintaining critical work during organizational change.
Bring multiple administrative functions together under a cohesive enterprise model with clear accountability, shared practices, and improved coordination across divisions.
Lead and develop managers and a multidisciplinary team by establishing priorities, supporting leadership development, building a collaborative culture, and connecting the team’s work to ESA’s goals.
Oversee enterprise risk management, identify and evaluate organizational risks, advise executive leadership on mitigation strategies, and develop enterprise operational policies and procedures.
Oversee public disclosure, privacy and confidentiality, and discovery coordination, supporting timely and consistent responses while protecting confidential information.
Direct internal and external audits, oversee responses to audit findings and corrective actions, and strengthen internal controls and compliance practices across ESA.
Assess current operations and identify practical improvements that reduce duplication, increase efficiency, and create greater consistency across ESA.
Guide significant organizational change and build trust and collaboration among employees, leaders, division partners, and contractors as functions move into a centralized structure.
Provide executive advice and decision support on complex operational, fiscal, legal, compliance, governance, and risk matters.
Build relationships with ESA divisions, DSHS leadership, Tribal governments, federal partners, state agencies, community organizations, contractors, and other partners.