Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

State of Washington • Thurston County – Olympia, WA

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a cabinet-level state agency responsible for expanding access to postsecondary education opportunities, advancing educational attainment, and increasing student success for all Washingtonians. WSAC actively supports all pathways to postsecondary education, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs. Through strategic planning, policy leadership, research, advocacy, and program administration, WSAC serves as Washington's catalyst for educational attainment and workforce success. The Council is committed to advancing equitable pathways to education, training, and career advancement for all Washingtonians while fostering a shared statewide commitment to opportunity and economic mobility. By convening leaders across education, workforce, business, philanthropy, government, and community sectors, WSAC builds consensus, aligns strategy, and drives collective action to ensure that every learner has access to high-quality pathways beyond high school and the support needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy. WSAC administers and oversees a broad portfolio of programs and initiatives, including the Washington College Grant, State Work Study, College Bound Scholarship, GEAR UP, Washington's 529 college savings programs (GET and DreamAhead), Career Connect Washington, and a variety of college access and support programs. The agency also serves as a leading source of education research, data analysis, and policy recommendations that help shape the future of Washington's postsecondary education system. In addition, WSAC provides policy, research, and administrative support to several statewide statutory initiatives, including the independent Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board (WEIAOB). Through this partnership, the agency helps advance statewide workforce education priorities while supporting legislative accountability and cross-sector collaboration. With over 150 employees and responsibility for approximately $590M in financial aid and education investments, WSAC plays a critical role in helping Washington meet its long-term educational attainment and workforce development goals. The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Student Achievement Council and is responsible for leading the agency's strategic vision, policy agenda, operations, partnerships, and statewide impact. This role represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Washington State. The Executive Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Governor, the Council, legislators, educational leaders, and community partners while advancing policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment, improve affordability and access, strengthen workforce readiness, and create greater economic opportunity for Washingtonians. The Executive Director leads one of Washington's most influential education agencies in an environment where collaboration is essential and formal authority is intentionally distributed. Because the state's K–12, higher education, and workforce systems are governed by multiple independent entities, success depends on the ability to build trust, align diverse stakeholders, shape policy through influence, and inspire collective action in pursuit of Washington's educational attainment and workforce goals. Building upon a strong organizational foundation, this leader will guide the next chapter of WSAC's evolution as Washington’s leading voice for educational attainment, student success, and systems innovation. The Executive Director will bring together leaders from education, workforce, business, government, philanthropy, and community organizations to develop shared strategies, navigate complex policy challenges, and advance durable solutions that expand opportunity for all Washingtonians. Through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to equity, the Executive Director will ensure that WSAC's priorities reflect broad stakeholder engagement and are recognized as statewide commitments rather than the positions of any single agency or institution. In doing so, this leader will help shape a stronger future for Washington's students, families, employers, and communities. Washington is at a pivotal moment in expanding educational opportunity, strengthening workforce readiness, and improving economic mobility. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of educational attainment and workforce opportunity in Washington—creating lasting impact for students, families, employers, and communities while ensuring every Washingtonian has access to meaningful pathways beyond high school and the opportunity to thrive.

Requirements

• Minimum of eight (8) years of senior executive leadership experience leading a complex, multidisciplinary organization with responsibility for strategy, operations, budgeting, talent management, and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated success managing and developing high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Experience serving in a chief executive, deputy executive, cabinet-level, or similarly senior leadership role within a public, educational, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organization.
• Deep knowledge of education trends, issues, and policy, and an understanding of the connections among education, workforce development, economic opportunity, and community prosperity.
• A demonstrated ability to influence public policy and work effectively with governing boards or councils, elected officials, government agencies, business leaders, and other external stakeholders to build consensus and advance shared priorities.
• Experience leading strategic planning and organizational change initiatives in complex and dynamic environments.
• Strong political acumen and the ability to navigate complex, highly visible public-sector environments, including legislative processes.
• Proven success building partnerships and coalitions across diverse stakeholder groups, and the ability to lead through collaboration and influence rather than authority alone.
• Advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Visionary, innovative and inspirational leader capable of advancing a compelling statewide agenda.
• Exceptional coalition builder with the ability to influence and lead through collaboration.
• Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex public-sector environments.
• Strategic thinker who can translate vision into measurable outcomes.
• An analytical, data-informed approach to decision-making, with the ability to translate vision into measurable outcomes.
• Outstanding communication, facilitation, and public speaking skills.
• Strong executive leadership, organizational management, and team development capabilities.
• High emotional intelligence and exceptional relationship-building skills.
• Intellectually curious and committed to lifelong learning.
• Collaborative, humble, and approachable.
• Diplomatic and politically savvy.
• Mission-driven and committed to public service.
• Resilient and adaptable in complex environments.
• Ethical, transparent, and credible.
• Innovative and willing to challenge traditional thinking.
• Courageous and willing to make difficult decisions in the public interest.

Nice To Haves

• Interaction and work with a Council, Commission or Board.
• Hands-on experience with legislatures and the legislative process.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer and public face of WSAC, providing vision, strategy, and leadership for the organization.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Council's strategic action plan and long-term educational attainment agenda.
• Partner closely with the Governor's office, Council members, executive leadership team, and other key stakeholders to advance educational priorities.
• Serve as a member of the Governor's Cabinet and participate in regular, in-person Cabinet meetings in Olympia, collaborating with fellow agency leaders to advance the Governor's priorities and statewide initiatives.
• Champion innovation across Washington's education and workforce systems by identifying emerging trends, leveraging data and research, and advancing creative, evidence-based solutions that improve student outcomes and expand pathways to economic opportunity.
• Position WSAC as Washington's leading thought leader and trusted resource on educational access, affordability, workforce readiness, postsecondary attainment, and economic mobility.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
• Convene and engage leaders from K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, business, labor, philanthropy, Tribal Nations, community organizations, and government agencies.
• Cultivate enduring executive relationships that strengthen collaboration and advance shared statewide priorities across university leaders, community and technical college leaders, school district superintendents, legislators, elected officials, and other strategic partners.
• Facilitate productive dialogue among stakeholders with differing priorities and perspectives to identify common goals and collaborative solutions.
• Represent Washington and WSAC in national forums, professional associations, and philanthropic partnerships.
• Advise the Governor, Council, Legislature, and other policymakers on emerging issues, trends, and opportunities affecting Washington's education ecosystem.
• Advance policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment, improve affordability, and expand opportunities for students and families.
• Lead legislative engagement and maintain productive relationships with policymakers across the political spectrum.
• Promote data-informed policy solutions that address educational opportunity gaps and workforce needs.
• Position WSAC as a national leader in the strategic use of research, analytics, and emerging technologies to inform policy, improve decision-making, and advance student success.
• Strengthen partnerships that support the integration and use of education, workforce, and economic data.
• Champion innovative approaches to increasing FAFSA/WASFA completion, postsecondary enrollment, credential attainment, and student success.
• Advance technology-enabled solutions that improve outreach, engagement, service delivery, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead a diverse team of 150+ employees and an experienced executive leadership team.
• Oversee agency operations, financial management, human resources, technology, communications, and program administration.
• Ensure sound fiscal stewardship and effective management of agency resources, including oversight of significant state investments in financial aid and educational access programs.
• Serve as Chair of Washington's 529 College Savings Committee and provide oversight for the state's college savings programs.
• Provide leadership and support to Career Connect Washington and other statewide initiatives administered by the agency.

Benefits

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• 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