Executive Director, Washington State Board of Health (DOH8970)

State of Washington•Thurston County – Tumwater, WA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our facility in Tumwater and meetings with partners throughout the state. The Executive Director is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board (RCW 43.20.030). The Executive Director serves as the agency head. The Washington State Board of Health provides statewide leadership on policies that protect and improve public health. It fulfills this mission by monitoring public health trends to understand and prevent disease, serving as a public forum for policy development, and adopting foundational public health rules that keep communities safe. The Board makes recommendations directly to the Governor, Legislature, and Secretary of Health, and in collaboration with the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, completes health impact reviews: evidence-based, non-partisan analyses of how proposed legislative or budgetary changes may affect health and equity. The Board doesn't do this work alone. It's joined by the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, a distinct entity staffed by the Board, whose mission is to develop statewide policy recommendations to eliminate health disparities by race, ethnicity, and gender. Together, the Board and Council take on high-profile policy issues of statewide significance. As part of this mission-driven team, you will work alongside dedicated public servants, agency leaders, policymakers, and community partners to address some of the state's most complex and important public health challenges. This is an opportunity to influence statewide priorities, drive meaningful change, and help create innovative solutions that strengthen the public health system for everyone in Washington State. If you are passionate about public service, systems transformation, and making a measurable difference, the Washington State Board of Health provides an unparalleled platform to lead change at the highest levels of public health in state government. As Executive Director, you will be the Board's voice in high-stakes, politically significant, and sensitive settings, negotiating and building relationships with the Governor's Office, State Legislature, governmental public health system partners, other state and local government agencies, professional associations, regulated entities, and community groups. While the Board sets the overall vision for state public health policy, you carry it out. You administer, manage, and control all aspects of the Board's operations, and you're accountable for ensuring the Board's statutory responsibilities related to critical statewide public health and safety policy and rules are executed. Day to day, you advance the Board and Council's interests through regulatory and policy research and development activities, exercising strategic and tactical discretion as you negotiate the Board's responsibilities with key interested parties and influence state government health policy at the legislative, budgetary, and administrative levels.

Requirements

Seven years of experience serving in a senior or executive leadership role within a public-sector organization, such as a government or non-profit organization, with responsibility for program management and oversight, budget and policy analysis and development, and program evaluation.
A master's degree in public administration, public health, business administration, or a related field; and five years serving in a senior or executive leadership role within a public-sector organization, such as government or non-profit organization, with responsibility for program management and oversight, budget and policy analysis and development, and program evaluation.
Demonstrated ability to provide executive-level strategic direction and oversight for a public sector organization or major program, including policy development, budget, personnel, and operational management.
Skilled in developing and directing administrative rulemaking, legislative and fiscal analysis, and regulatory or policy processes.
Demonstrated experience leading policy and/or system changes to advance public health, safety, environmental justice or equity initiatives.
Demonstrated ability to represent an organization in high-stakes negotiations with elected officials, legislative staff, or senior government leadership.
Knowledge of public health principles and programs, administrative rule development and legislative processes.
Demonstrated human-centered leadership through building inclusive teams, fostering equity and belonging, and coaching and developing staff toward shared goals.
Skilled communicator able to translate complex policy issues for diverse audiences, including policymakers, government partners, and community members.
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound, independent judgment in a fast-changing environment with competing interests and significant public impact.
Demonstrated experience applying evidence-based decision-making.
Demonstrated experience in the review of scientific literature and health policy.
Experience applying an understanding of political and social determinants of health to program or policy decisions.

Nice To Haves

Working in or collaborating with state or local government.
Working in or collaborating with a public health agency.
Demonstrated experience managing projects and maintaining strong working relationships with diverse organizations.
Understanding of Tribal sovereignty, particularly Washington’s government-to-government obligations and statutory requirements.
Working knowledge of state administrative or transparency laws (e.g., Administrative Procedures Act, Open Public Meetings Act, Public Records Act).
Experience serving as a public-facing spokesperson or media representative for an organization.
Experience directly and indirectly supervising executive, management, or professional staff across multiple teams.

Responsibilities

Anticipate and identify emerging, complex issues with statewide policy impacts, and work with Board members, staff, and system partners to develop policy approaches and solutions.
Represent the Board and engage with state policymakers and staff, governmental system partners, state and local agency heads, Tribes and tribal health organizations, industry representatives and organizations, and other interested parties to identify and develop policy options for the Board's consideration.
Initiate and manage comprehensive evaluations of state laws and rules, and direct the development of proposed legislation and rules as directed by the Board.
Oversee and advise the Board on the adoption of statewide, critical public health and safety rules intended to identify and prevent the spread of disease, keep food and water supplies safe for public consumption, screen infants and children for heritable and other disorders, and help communities thrive.
Assist the Board in making decisions that are consistent with state and federal law and can be implemented and enforced equitably across the state by other state and local governmental agencies.
Interpret state law, actively participate in and advise the Board's discussions on policy approaches and solutions, and assure implementation of Board policies.
Assure that the Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health is implemented and maintained.
Guide the Board in developing creative, strategic, long-term policy solutions with statewide impact on the people of Washington State.
Serve as co-lead of the Foundational Public Health Services Steering Committee and represent the Board on the Public Health Advisory Board.