Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06016

Department: Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division: OOS

Job classification: WMS BAND 2

Posting type: Open

Categories: Human Resources

DSHS Talent Acquisition Administrator

We’re seeking a Talent Acquisition leader.

Our Talent Acquisition Administrator is a trusted advisor to senior leaders, transforming workforce priorities into scalable, data-driven strategies. You’ll lead a high-performing, experienced team in a fast-paced agency-wide recruiting environment for a state agency of 18,000+ employees.

The Talent Acquisition Administrator is responsible for the strategic planning, development, and implementation of strategies required to meet and support the agency’s recruiting and staffing needs.

The customer base for services is DSHS employees statewide in all DSHS Administrations, other state agencies, community-based organizations, business partner groups, and job seekers in Washington State and nationwide.

Reporting to the Office Chief of Specialty Consulting Services, the Talent Acquisition Administrator’s responsibilities include:

• Team leadership: Inspire, mentor, and scale a team of multiple workgroups.
• Collaborative and strategic planning and implementation of activities in support of HR Administration strategies and initiatives.
• Operational excellence, process, and technology optimization.
• Data and analytics to drive internal accountability and continuous improvement.
• Compliance and governance, ensuring practices adhere to federal, state, and local employment requirements, including EEOC guidance, pay transparency requirements, Washington Administrative Code, Governor’s executive orders, agency policies, and State HR directives.
• Influence, challenge assumptions, and communicate data-driven insights to senior leaders.
• Provide a consultative approach to recruiting and staffing planning by effectively anticipating organizational talent needs and gaps.
• Manage change, including developing and executing strategies to address future needs and change.
• Build collaborative, trusted relationships with key internal business partners and work effectively at all levels of the HR Division.
• Maintain an excellent customer-service focus and develop effective partnerships inside and outside the agency.
• Respond with urgency, remain flexible, and manage multiple priorities.

What Success Looks Like

During the first 6 to 12 months, you will:

• Build strong relationships with the Talent Acquisition team and agency leadership.
• Establish trust and credibility by listening, learning, and following through.
• Understand the agency’s priorities and the work already underway.
• Become familiar with DSHS’s skills-based hiring implementation and continue moving that work forward.
• Provide steady leadership while remaining open to thoughtful opportunities for improvement.

What You’ll Bring

Demonstrated professional Human Resources experience focused on Talent Acquisition and selection, including:

• Providing consultation and advice to managers on assessment, selection, and hiring activities.
• Supervising employees or leading the work of others in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, or a staffing organization.
• Applying state and federal pre-employment laws, Washington Administrative Code, collective bargaining agreements, and administrative policies related to hiring.
• Using data to support planning and communicate performance and results.
• Providing clear written and verbal guidance to diverse audiences.
• Prioritizing and managing multiple projects, tasks, and service demands.
• Translating skills-based hiring direction into practical processes, tools, and services.

You’ll lead with clear communication, sound judgment, trust, resilience, and inclusion.

A bachelor’s degree with a focus in business, human resource management, social or organizational behavioral sciences, or a related field is required. Professional Human Resources experience may substitute for the degree on a year-for-year basis.

And

Minimum of 3 years professional HR experience, focused on talent acquisition and selection to include providing consultation and advice to managers on assessment, selection, and hiring activities.

Minimum 2 years’ experience supervising and/or leading the work of others in human resources, talent acquisition, or staffing organization.

Why DSHS?

The Talent Acquisition team is effective and efficient, providing agency-wide sourcing and recruiting efforts across occupations that span almost every job you would find in a small city.

Our business consulting services provide planning and execution of creative, complex, and comprehensive recruiting and staffing strategies that deliver immediate and long-term solutions to selection and hiring challenges. Our Executive Search Services provide a trusted in-house solution for nationwide searches.

To Apply

To be considered, please include your resume and letter of interest.

Online applications are not required. Email your resume and letter of interest to Tracie Kidd at tracie.kidd@dshs.wa.gov

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.