Job Description

Posting number: 2026-09090

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: HCLA

Job classification: EXEMPT BAND 5

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Social Services, Executive Management

Summary

DSHS Assistant Secretary, Home and Community Living Administration

Help Shape the Future of Home and Community Living in Washington State

What does it take to lead an organization that helps thousands of Washington residents live with greater independence, dignity, and choice?

It takes vision, sound judgment, and the ability to bring people together to accomplish meaningful work.

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking an accomplished executive to lead the Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA). Recognized nationally for its leadership and innovation in long-term care, HCLA supports more than 115,000 older adults and adults with disabilities across Washington State.

This is an opportunity to build on Washington’s leadership in long-term services and supports while guiding an administration through growing service demands, evolving federal requirements, and complex organizational priorities.

About HCLA

HCLA helps older adults and people with disabilities access essential services that support their safety, independence, and connection to their communities.

Through Home and Community Services, Adult Protective Services, Residential Care Services, Management Services Division, and the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, HCLA works with individuals, families, caregivers, Tribes, unions, service providers, and community organizations to strengthen Washington’s long-term care system.

Organizational Scope

• Workforce: Approximately 3,100 employees statewide.
• Budget: $13.4 billion for the 25-27 biennium.
• Executive leadership: Leads six direct reports responsible for HCLA’s statewide divisions, programs, and operations.
• Service delivery: Statewide services supporting older adults, adults with disabilities, vulnerable adults, families, and caregivers.

The Opportunity

As Assistant Secretary, you’ll join the DSHS executive leadership team and provide strategic direction for HCLA’s statewide programs, operations, and services.

You’ll lead and develop executive teams, establish priorities, and hold leaders accountable for delivering critical services that support the health, safety, and independence of Washington residents. You’ll also build strong relationships and collaborate with community partners to strengthen service delivery.

You’ll guide HCLA through major statewide initiatives, evolving state and federal requirements, fiscal challenges, and increasing demand for long-term services and supports while strengthening leadership capacity and advancing priorities across DSHS.

What You’ll Lead

• Strategic direction: Shape statewide priorities, guide major initiatives, and align HCLA’s work with the Governor’s and Secretary’s goals.
• Executive leadership: Coach and develop senior leaders, delegate authority, establish accountability, and strengthen succession planning.
• Statewide service delivery: Oversee critical services, including case management, adult protective services, and program quality assurance, ensuring services are effective, accessible, and responsive.
• Financial stewardship: Provide oversight of significant operating budgets, establish spending priorities, and balance fiscal responsibility with service delivery needs.
• Policy and systems change: Guide statewide policy, legislative initiatives, evolving federal requirements, and improvements across complex service delivery systems.
• Government and community relationships: Collaborate with legislators, Tribal governments, federal agencies, unions, service providers, and external partners to advance shared priorities.
• Organizational performance: Strengthen accountability, address emerging challenges, and support collaboration and results across the Department.

Experience and Leadership

We’re seeking an accomplished executive with demonstrated success leading complex organizations, including:

• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, public health, social services, health and human services, or a related field. Relevant experience may substitute year for year for education.
• Demonstrated executive leadership experience overseeing large, complex organizations, multiple programs, and senior leadership teams.
• Experience leading complex community-based healthcare, long-term care, human services, or related service delivery systems.
• Demonstrated financial leadership, including managing multimillion-dollar budgets, allocating resources, and making fiscally responsible decisions.
• Ability to anticipate challenges, exercise sound executive judgment, and navigate complex government and political environments with diplomacy.
• Demonstrated success establishing strategic priorities, delegating responsibility, developing leaders, and delivering organizational results.
• Experience leading organizational change, strengthening performance, and overseeing complex initiatives.
• Knowledge of long-term services and supports, including relevant state and federal programs, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong executive communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships with legislators, community organizations, executive leaders, and external partners.
• A commitment to equity, access, inclusion, and belonging.

Why HCLA?

Washington State has long pioneered long-term services and supports. At HCLA, you’ll work alongside dedicated leaders and staff committed to meeting Washington residents' growing needs.

You’ll help shape statewide policy, strengthen essential public services, develop future leaders, and advance the future of home and community living.

Application process

We anticipate appointing the assistant secretary as early as January 2027.

Applications received by November 13th will receive priority consideration.

We will begin confidential review of applications immediately and continue until an appointment is made.

Please submit a resume and letter of interest to:

Tracie.Kidd@dshs.wa.gov

Your letter of interest should highlight how your experience aligns with leadership competencies and capabilities outlined in this profile.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may 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 job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position