Policy Manager (RA 3) DOH8922

State of Washington•Multiple Locations Statewide, WA

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) protects the health and safety of Washington residents through the regulation of physicians and physician assistants, including licensing, discipline, rulemaking, and education. The Policy Manager plays a key role in advancing the Commission’s regulatory mission by providing policy expertise, supporting the WMC Policy Committee, and guiding complex regulatory initiatives that shape health care practice throughout the state. This position serves as the primary policy staff member supporting the Governor-appointed Medical Commissioners who serve on the Policy Committee and the Commissioners as a whole. The Policy Manager works closely with Commission leadership, staff, regulated professionals, interested parties, and members of the public to analyze emerging issues, develop policy solutions, and guide regulatory actions through established legal and administrative processes. The ideal candidate brings strong policy analysis skills, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex and sometimes politically sensitive issues while maintaining an objective, equity-centered, and professional approach.

Requirements

Eight (8) years of progressively responsible work experience developing and implementing policy, legislation, or administrative rules in a health professions regulatory setting OR A master’s degree in public administration, health policy, business administration, or related competency; and Two (2) years of experience developing and implementing policy, legislation, or administrative rules in a health professions regulatory setting
Experience working in complex political or regulatory environments, including identifying emerging issues, advising leadership, communicating with diverse groups, and maintaining an objective, nonpartisan approach while representing an organization.
Two (2) years of experience working with regulatory bodies, boards, commissions, or other governing entities, including those with appointed members or executive-level representation.
Two (2) years of experience collaborating with influential partners to develop, advance, and implement policy or legislative proposals.
Practical skills in MS Excel for spreadsheet tasks, database management, MS Word for document creation and formatting, and MS Outlook or similar email systems for electronic correspondence.
Adobe Acrobat (Reader, Standard, or Pro) to create, edit, review, and manage PDF documents.
Customer service experience with resolving problems and responding to inquiries regarding policies, procedures, and services.
Written and verbal communication skills to provide direction and information to varied levels of involvement and commitment.
Project support experience that includes managing tasks, directing others, and reporting progress to project managers.
Prepare, review, and edit written materials that are clear, concise, well-organized, and accurate, with responsibility for ensuring proper structure, grammar, punctuation, spelling, and overall quality.
Assessment and evaluation of original research, statistics, and data quality with specific focus on applicability to the position functions.
Ability to take action to learn and grow.
Ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Nice To Haves

Three years of experience performing complex research to support development of policies and guidance that have a statewide impact.
Query and manipulation of relational databases.
Three years of experience producing policy documents in a medical regulatory setting.
LEAN or other quality management certification.
Experience with the state health profession regulatory framework.
Experience with the Washington State legislative process.
Experience with national and state trends in health care and medical regulation.
Experience with Washington Medical Practice and Compact Acts administered by the WMC: RCW 18.71, 18.71A, 18.71B, 18.71C, 18.71D.
Experience with the Uniform Disciplinary Act RCW 18.130.
Experience with the Administrative Procedures Act.

Responsibilities

Analyze legislation, regulations, case law, administrative decisions, and emerging health care issues to provide policy recommendations and support Commission decision-making.
Identify regulatory gaps, emerging areas of concern, and opportunities for improvement in health care regulation.
Develop and advance policies, guidelines, interpretive statements, and regulatory recommendations through formal adoption processes.
Prepare policy documents, correspondence, memoranda, briefs, and other materials to communicate complex regulatory topics clearly and effectively.
Serve as the primary staff support for the WMC Policy Committee, including preparing materials, conducting research, and coordinating policy discussions.
Support the Commission’s legislative activities by analyzing proposed legislation, monitoring policy impacts, and assisting with legislative responses.
Provide policy and regulatory expertise to Commission staff responding to inquiries related to rules, policies, and practice standards.
Collaborate with Governor-appointed Commissioners, executive leadership, internal teams, regulated professionals, government partners, and members of the public.
Build and maintain productive relationships while representing the Commission’s regulatory mission and commitment to public protection.
Facilitate discussions on complex issues by balancing diverse perspectives with legal requirements, regulatory standards, and equity considerations.
Address complex regulatory matters requiring independent judgment, creativity, and analysis when established guidance or precedent may not exist.
Apply knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, and administrative processes to recommend appropriate courses of action.
Support continuous improvement of regulatory policies and practices to enhance public safety and health care delivery.