Job Description

Posting number: 2026-08319

Department: Dept of Children, Youth, and Families

Division: CW Field Operations - Region 6

Job classification: WMS BAND 2

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Administration, Social Services

Summary

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community.

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community".

Job Title: Child Welfare Facilities Deputy Administrator (WMS2)

Location: Vancouver, WA (Belonging House) Hybrid - Work will include a mixture of in-person, telework, and field work and requires a minimum of three days onsite at Belonging House each week.

Closes: 10/14/26

Salary: $95,568 - $119,460 Annually (The posted salary does not include an on-site 24/7 facility 5% premium)

We are looking for a Child Welfare Facilities Deputy Administrator (WMS2) to supervise child welfare direct service staff within the Belonging House placement exception facility as well as the centralized rapid response team. If you have proven leadership skills and want to make a difference in the lives of children and families, apply today and join our supportive and amazing team!

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

The Child Welfare Facilities Deputy Administrator provides leadership, oversight, and direction to teams responsible for serving youth with complex behavioral, developmental, and mental health needs, including youth who are class members of the D.S. Lawsuit. The position ensures that services, programs, and facility operations are responsive to the unique needs of these youth while maintaining a safe, secure, supportive, and therapeutic environment.

In addition to the 24/7 Belonging House facility and program oversight, the Child Welfare Facilities Deputy Administrator provides leadership and supervision for the centralized Child Welfare Rapid Response Team. The establishment of a centralized Rapid Response Team is a direct recommendation from the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO) to help address delays in the delivery of case services within the child welfare system.

The Deputy Administrator is responsible for ensuring that Rapid Response Team resources are effectively deployed to address identified service delays, emerging operational needs, and other critical child welfare issues. The position works collaboratively with regional leadership, quality assurance (QA) staff, and direct service teams to strengthen practice, improve service delivery, and promote consistent outcomes for children and youth.

Some of what you'll do:

• Administer and oversee delivery of Statewide Placement Exception facility and services.
• Manage and Mentor Supervisors and lead social service support staff.
• Develop supervisors in effectively leading their teams to meet or exceed agency, state, and federal
• child welfare service standards.
• Manage, in coordination with supervisors, the recruitment and hiring of employees within agency hiring
• standards.
• Establish goals and objectives, develop performance standards, equip staff, develop expectations and
• procedures, resolve problems, and evaluate supervisors and staff.
• Develop training plans to ensure all staff have the skills and information necessary to make appropriate
• decisions for child safety, permanency, and well-being.
• Develop and monitor corrective action plans and advise the regional administrator or designee of serious
• performance problems or other personnel concerns.
• Ensure compliance with agency, state, and federal standards.
• Provide guidance and consultation to staff on case management, legal services, and permanency decisions.
• Represent DCYF with local tribes, community groups, or organizations; deliver public presentations regarding
• DCYF programs, policies, and issues.
• Develop and preserve connections and communication with DCYF offices across the state of Washington.
• Develop, support, and maintain strong collaborative working relationships statewide with school districts, the
• medical community, law enforcement, courts, prosecutor's office, military, faith community, providers, and child
• advocacy groups.
• Provide leadership and supervision for the centralized Child Welfare Rapid Response Team.

Required Qualifications:

A Master's degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Master’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Four (4) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivering public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs; AND three (3) years of experience must include the supervision of professional staff in social service delivery.

OR

A Bachelor’s degree in social services, human services, behavioral sciences, or Bachelor’s degree which includes 30 semester or 45 quarter credits in a Social Services discipline AND Five (5) years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivering public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs; AND three (3) years of experience must include the supervision of professional staff in social service delivery.

OR

Two (2) years of experience as a Social Service Specialist 5*.

OR

Seven years of paid social service experience* in planning, administering, developing, or delivering public child welfare, social, health, or chemical dependency treatment programs; AND three years of experience must include the supervision of professional staff in social service delivery.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

*Paid social service experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

Ability to:

• Utilize cultural competency to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with clients and staff.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with law enforcement, courts, providers/vendors,
• community stakeholders, and with internal/external statewide professionals.
• Evaluate, compile, and organize data into reports and policies.
• Direct and evaluate the work of others.
• Understand, conceptualize, structure, and administer quality assurance programs.
• Apply principles of child protection to a variety of complex family situations.
• Assess and understand complex casework options.

Knowledge/Skills:

• Advanced supervisory and managerial skills.
• Advanced knowledge of the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act and the WA state Indian Child Welfare Act.
• Working understanding of state and federal law and agency policies and regulations concerning public child protective services, Indian child welfare services, risk assessment, safety planning, and permanency, and well-being services as delivered in a public child welfare setting.
• Budget analysis, allotments, and fiscal accountability applications.
• Proficient with business applications and Child Welfare information computer systems.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• College Transcripts (an unofficial copy is acceptable for the application)

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our goal to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please contact DCYF recruiter. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DSHS BHHA Strategic and Organizational Performance Manager description imageDCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

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