Executive Director, Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE)

State of Washington • Thurston County – Olympia, WA

27d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE) leads Washington State’s Minority and Women’s Business Enterprise (M/WBE) Program and is the state’s sole agency responsible for certifying minority- and women-owned businesses for participation in public contracting. OMWBE supports small and diverse businesses through certification, technical assistance, and supplier diversity initiatives. The agency partners with the Governor’s Subcabinet on Business Diversity, state agencies, and higher education institutions to promote equitable and inclusive procurement practices across Washington State. Our mission is to create and implement programs that provide maximum opportunity for participation of businesses owned by minorities, women, and other under-represented communities in public contracting. We’re looking for a Director who believes government can open doors and expand opportunities in public contracting and procurement. You’ll provide vision and leadership, ensuring small businesses—especially those owned by women, people of color, veterans, and other historically underrepresented entrepreneurs—have fair access to government contracts. You’ll also set the strategic direction and oversee policy, staffing, and resource decisions that support our mission and statutory responsibilities. The role also represents the agency with state and local governments, tribes, community partners, and the private sector, and works with peers across the country advancing supplier diversity and certification programs. This is a highly visible leadership role that works at the intersection of policy, community partnership, and economic opportunity. You’ll lead the agency’s strategic planning, budget and legislative priorities, and statewide data reporting on contracting equity. Your collaboration across government and with community partners will be equally important to reduce barriers, expand access to opportunity, and strengthen accountability in public procurement. If you’re a collaborative, strategic leader who is committed to equity, public service, and building an economy where all Washington businesses can succeed, we encourage you to apply now!

Requirements

• Experience leading complex organizations by aligning staffing, resources, budgets and priorities with strategic goals.
• Understanding of legislative processes and policy development.
• Experience building strong relationships with other state agencies, government leaders, community organizations, and advocacy groups.
• Experience with reporting and analyzing data to measure performance, outcomes and guiding policy recommendations.
• Ability to build trust with historically underserved communities.
• Ensures equitable and inclusive policies and anti-racist frameworks when evaluating programs and procurement practices.
• Knowledge of state contracting, procurement, and certification laws and practices.
• Ability to guide statewide policy development related to certification and supplier diversity programs.
• Advocates for fair and inclusive procurement policies.
• Understanding of legal frameworks and constraints to develop solutions that advance equity initiatives.
• Ability to sustain a positive and collaborative organizational structure by building respectful partnerships with unions, leadership and employees.
• Fosters transparency, trust, and shared problem-solving to advance efficiency, innovation, and effective service delivery.
• Deep legal understanding of the Washington Law Against Discrimination, equal protection, and disparity studies.
• Tracks and is current on pertinent legal proceedings in Washington and other jurisdictions.
• Strong understanding of and experience with state personnel laws and labor relations.

Nice To Haves

• Must be able to prepare for legal challenges and impacts of I-200, Executive Orders, Washington State Case law, and current federal cases including those appearing in SCOTUS and district courts from across the country.

Responsibilities

• Plan, lead, organize, and direct the work performed by the agency while ensuring that the agency is fulfilling the full scope of duties outlined in RCW 39.19.
• Advocate for fair and equitable practices and the ability for small certified firms to have opportunities to engage in state contracting.
• Examine all procurement practices, evaluate legislation related to practices and procedures, and ensure that diverse firms are represented in the decisions that impact them.
• Implement barrier reduction strategies and practices for the enterprise.
• Activate leaders across the enterprise to align their departments to achieve greater equity in contracting and procurement efforts.

Benefits

• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed