Washington Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range of $130.000 - $170,000 annually. Applications will be reviewed immediately. The hiring authority reserves the right to make a hiring decision at any time

We encourage all to apply as early as possible. Our physical office is located in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework.

However, you will need to attend in-person meetings or community events as required by the position. Terms of Appointment: Per RCW, the Executive Director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor, in consultation with the council. Why work for the Office of the Governor.

The Office of the Governor offers a unique opportunity to shape policies and initiatives that have a lasting impact on the lives of people across Washington State. As part of a mission-driven team, you will work alongside dedicated public servants, agency leaders, policymakers, and community partners to address some of the state's most complex and important challenges. This is an opportunity to influence statewide priorities, drive meaningful change, and help create innovative solutions that improve outcomes for children, youth, families, and communities.

If you are passionate about public service, systems transformation, and making a measurable difference, the Office of the Governor provides an unparalleled platform to lead change at the highest levels of state government. The Job Opportunity Join the Governor's Office in a highly visible leadership role responsible for advancing Washington Thriving, Washington State's strategic plan to build an integrated behavioral health system of care that improves the well-being of children, youth, and families from birth through young adulthood. This position will lead and manage statewide implementation efforts designed to strengthen and transform Washington's behavioral health system by coordinating initiatives across agencies, aligning executive leadership around shared goals, and driving accountability for measurable results.

Working directly with the Governor's Office, executive agency leaders, and the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Work Group, you will accelerate progress on Washington Thriving's priority initiatives, ensure successful implementation across state government, and incorporate emerging best practices to strengthen the state's broader system of care. You will also drive the work of the Washington Thriving Leadership Council, established under House Bill (HB) 2429, to transform governance, funding, and operational approaches across public and private behavioral health systems, while advancing policy recommendations to improve mental and behavioral health outcomes for Washington's children and youth at every level of need. This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic leader who excels at building partnerships, leading complex cross-sector initiatives, and delivering transformational change that will positively impact generations of Washington families.

What you'll work on Lead and coordinate statewide implementation of the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan and First Initiatives by establishing implementation priorities, monitoring progress, resolving cross-system barriers, and ensuring alignment among participating agencies, councils, and system partners. Facilitate collaboration among executive leadership from state agencies, legislative partners, behavioral health system leaders, and community stakeholders to advance integrated behavioral health system transformation for children, youth, and families. As an extension of the Governor's policy and leadership team, support alignment of practices across agencies and community partners around the state in close consultation with those entities.

Support the work of the Washington Thriving Leadership Council established under HB 2429 by coordinating strategic planning activities, facilitating policy discussions, developing implementation recommendations, tracking deliverables, and ensuring follow-through on statewide priorities. Develop implementation frameworks, performance measures, accountability structures, and reporting processes to evaluate progress toward Washington Thriving goals and ensure agencies and partners meet identified commitments and timelines. Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with state agencies, behavioral health providers, community organizations, tribal partners, advocacy organizations, youth and family representatives, and other implementation partners to support coordinated system transformation efforts.

Coordinate development of executive briefings, legislative reports, strategic updates, presentations, and implementation status materials for the Governor's Office, Legislature, Leadership Council, and external stakeholders regarding progress, barriers, recommendations, and system outcomes. Partner with executive leadership and communications staff to develop consistent statewide messaging, communication strategies, and informational materials related to Washington Thriving implementation efforts and behavioral health system transformation initiatives. Ensure implementation activities, policy recommendations, and system transformation efforts incorporate principles of equity, culturally and linguistically responsive practices, trauma-informed approaches, and meaningful engagement of youth, families, and individuals with lived experience.

Provide direct supervisory leadership to the Project Director, maintain oversight of project progress and systemic barriers, and ensure the "Children in Crisis" initiative aligns with and informs implementation of the Washington Thriving Strategic Plan. What we need you to bring Extensive experience in behavioral health, children's systems, youth-serving systems, family-serving systems, public policy, systems transformation, or cross-sector initiative leadership. Leadership experience coordinating complex, cross-sector initiatives involving state agencies, local governments, Tribal partners, educational systems, health care organizations, nonprofit organizations, and community-based partners.

Direct experience developing, implementing, or overseeing strategic initiatives, policy implementation efforts, systems transformation projects, or multi-year organizational priorities. Demonstrated knowledge of Washington State's behavioral health system, including service delivery systems, funding structures, regulatory environments, and cross-system coordination challenges. Advanced knowledge of system-of-care principles and practices, including youth- and family-driven approaches, trauma-informed care, prevention and early intervention strategies, cultural responsiveness, and equity-centered implementation.

Proven ability to analyze complex policy, operational, fiscal, governance, and implementation issues and develop strategic recommendations, implementation strategies, and actionable solutions. Advanced skills in strategic thinking, systems analysis, organizational change management, implementation planning, and performance accountability. Extensive experience facilitating collaboration, stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and relationship management among executive leadership, policymakers, Tribal governments, advocacy organizations, providers, community partners, and individuals with lived experience.

Direct experience working collaboratively with youth, families, caregivers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience. Strong skills in executive-level facilitation, written and verbal communication, and preparation of executive briefings, legislative reports, strategic recommendations, presentations, and public-facing materials. Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, political acumen, professionalism, and discretion in highly visible, politically sensitive, or rapidly evolving environments.

Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, coordinate competing demands, adapt to emerging needs, and maintain progress toward strategic objectives in fast-paced environments. The ability to learn and grow: Curious about themselves and others, who take responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, and who use their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington. The ability to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people we work with and serve.

Desired Qualifications: Advanced degree in public administration, social work, public health, law, medicine, behavioral health, nursing, or a closely related field. Knowledge of national system-of-care models, cross-state innovations, and evidence-informed practices in children, youth, and family behavioral health. Familiarity with state and federal funding sources, including Medicaid, behavioral health block grants, Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA), commercial insurance, and philanthropic investments.

Experience facilitating high-stakes cross-agency planning processes or resolving multi-system operational barriers. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position.

If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them. Application Process: Once you've decided to apply for a state government job, you'll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person will read it.

We do not use AI or other technology to screen your application and reject it. Please provide clear, detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews.

If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384. Your application must consist of the following attachments: Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position Resume: that details your applicable experience and education. References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Supplemental Information What we offer: We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here's a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer: An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year State retirement programs Questions: Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov

The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects diversity in culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.