Job Description

Posting number: 2026-07731

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: BHHA

Job classification: WMS BAND 2

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Human Services, Program Management

Summary

Providing support for jails and jail partners statewide.

As the Jail Technical Assistance Manager, your goal is to become that trusted resource for jails across Washington—helping them strengthen behavioral health support for people in their custody, including people covered by the Trueblood settlement and others with behavioral health conditions.

Getting there starts with understanding the issues jails face.

You'll listen to what's getting in the way, connect them with the right expertise, and bring people together to find a way forward. But you can't help with a problem you don't know about. Jail staff need to trust you enough to tell you what isn't working, making strong relationships essential to everything that follows.

We encourage you to apply if you know how to build that kind of trust and collaboration.

You initiate conversations, listen before offering solutions, and help people across different organizations solve problems together. You're comfortable speaking to a large group, following up one-on-one, and keeping things moving without waiting to be asked. As those relationships grow, you'll see opportunities to improve how jails get support. You'll have room to build new partnerships, bring people together around shared challenges, and contribute to efforts such a expanding access to telehealth.

You'll carry that perspective into statewide conversations. As DSHS's representative on the Reentry 2030 Council and a participant in other partner forums, you'll bring what you're hearing from jails into the conversation and identify where DSHS can help.

Your first 90 days are about building the foundation for that work.

You'll get to know jail staff and state partners, understand where they need support, and learn what resources and relationships already exist. Then you'll put those connections to work—bringing in subject matter experts, developing presentations around what jails need, and helping partners work through challenges together.

Most of your work will be done remotely, giving you the independence to manage relationships and projects across the state. Those relationships won't exist entirely online. You'll travel as needed to meet with partners, participate in meetings, and speak at forums and other in-person events.

Within your first year, success is clear: jails know who to call when they need help—and trust you enough to make the call.

Still reading? Here's what you'll do.

Some of What You'll Do

• Build trusted relationships with jails across Washington and the agencies and organizations that work with them.
• Assist jails and partners troubleshoot situations related to forensic behavioral health issues and connect them with useful resources and subject matter experts.
• Stand up and run a committee bringing partners together to help identify and solve problems.
• Develop monthly presentations for jails and partners around topics that are important to them and that highlight current and emerging practices.
• Bring together speakers, partners, and experts for virtual and in-person learning opportunities.
• Represent DSHS on the statewide Reentry 2030 Council and bring opportunities for collaboration back to DSHS leadership.
• Participate in Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs meetings and other partner forums.
• Develop training, curriculum, reports, web content, guidebooks, and other resources for partners.
• Manage projects from planning through implementation and evaluation.

Who Should Apply

Required:

• A master's degree in psychology, behavioral health, public administration, or a closely related field and six years of paid professional experience in psychology, behavioral health, public administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least five years of experience building and maintaining effective partnerships, including work governed by strict legal requirements such as a lawsuit or settlement agreement and requiring a high level of discretion.
• At least five years of experience delivering virtual and in-person training and managing complex projects from planning through implementation and evaluation.
• At least five years of experience helping partner organizations solve problems and access resources, including researching, writing, and editing high-visibility materials such as reports, web content, articles, training manuals, and guidebooks.
• At least two years of experience developing curriculum.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a jail or partnering with jails.
• Behavioral health experience, including some direct experience.
• Knowledge of applicable Washington laws and regulations (RCW and WAC) and HIPAA requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications such as Word, Outlook, and Teams.

How to Apply

Hit the green APPLY button and submit:

• Your resume.
• Your cover letter.
• Three professional references.

Questions?

Email recruiter Kris George at kris.george@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 07731.

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.

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