DSHS ESA Regional Administrator
About The Position
The Regional Administrator for Region 3 leads a complex, community-connected service area within the Department of Social and Health Services’ Economic Services Administration. The position guides Community Services Offices across Southwest Washington and coastal counties, ensuring timely and equitable access to public assistance services. The administrator shapes regional operations by supporting leaders, strengthening service delivery, building partnerships, and aligning regional work with statewide priorities while responding to community needs. During the first six months, the administrator will learn regional operations, meet staff across Community Services Offices, develop relationships with Tribal partners and community organizations, assess current practices, and identify improvement opportunities. The role will strengthen workforce planning, operational consistency, and service quality; establish communication and accountability practices; and begin developing long-range plans for staff and communities. The position works on a hybrid, telework schedule, with a duty station in Tacoma, Washington. Applicants must provide three professional references, a current resume, and a letter of interest of up to two pages addressing relevant knowledge, skills, experience, and responsibilities.
Requirements
- Demonstrated executive leadership experience overseeing large-scale public assistance, human services, or comparable public-sector service delivery operations across multiple locations.
- Substantial experience in the planning and administration of a statewide human services delivery system.
- Experience directing large, geographically dispersed operations within a public-sector or human services environment.
- Experience leading through change while maintaining operational stability and employee engagement.
- Skill in developing leaders through coaching, mentoring, accountability, and succession planning.
- Experience managing service delivery, fiscal stewardship, workforce planning, program integrity, and organizational risk.
- Ability to build collaborative partnerships with Tribal governments, community organizations, labor representatives, and local governments.
- Ability to make timely, informed decisions in complex and rapidly changing environments.
- Commitment to equity, inclusion, belonging, and culturally responsive leadership.
- Leadership grounded in integrity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and service to Washington communities.
- A valid driver's license is required for employees driving on state business; employees using a privately owned vehicle for state business must have liability insurance.
- If selected, disclose whether a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner is within the potential supervisory chain of command.
Responsibilities
- Provide visible, engaged leadership across Region 3 to support consistent, customer-centered service delivery.
- Guide Community Services Office Administrators and regional leadership teams through coaching, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Oversee regional service delivery, staffing, workforce planning, fiscal stewardship, and compliance with state and federal requirements.
- Strengthen partnerships with Tribal governments, community organizations, labor representatives, and local governments.
- Lead organizational change efforts that support employee engagement, succession planning, and workforce development.
- Coordinate emergency response, business continuity, and implementation of statewide initiatives.
- Use data, performance measures, and sound judgment to inform decisions that improve outcomes for customers and staff.
- Foster collaboration across administrations and external partners to align regional work with statewide goals.
- Learn regional operations, meet staff across Community Services Offices, and build relationships with Tribal partners and community organizations.
- Assess current practices and identify opportunities to improve workforce planning, operational consistency, and service quality.
- Establish a clear communication rhythm with regional leaders, reinforce accountability and collaboration, and begin shaping long-range plans.
Benefits
- Pierce County employees are eligible to receive an Orca Card for transportation needs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Executive
Education Level
No Education Listed
