Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

Executive Director

The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range of $180,000 - $231,813 annually. Our physical office is located in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework. However, you will need to travel throughout Washington State to attend in-person meetings or community events as required by the position.

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a cabinet-level state agency responsible for expanding access to postsecondary education opportunities, advancing educational attainment and increasing student success for all Washingtonians. WSAC actively supports all pathways to postsecondary education, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs.

The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Student Achievement Council and is responsible for leading the agency's strategic vision, policy agenda, operations, partnerships, and statewide impact.

This role represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Washington State. The Executive Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Governor, the Council, legislators, educational leaders, and community partners while advancing policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment, improve affordability and access, strengthen workforce readiness, and create greater economic opportunity for Washingtonians.

Building upon a strong organizational foundation, this leader will guide the next chapter of WSAC's evolution as Washington's leading voice for educational attainment, student success, and systems innovation. The Executive Director will bring together leaders from education, workforce, business, government, philanthropy, and community organizations to develop shared strategies, navigate complex policy challenges, and advance durable solutions that expand opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to equity, the Executive Director will ensure that WSAC's priorities reflect broad stakeholder engagement and are recognized as statewide commitments rather than the positions of any single agency or institution. In doing so, this leader will help shape a stronger future for Washington's students, families, employers, and communities.

Washington is at a pivotal moment in expanding educational opportunity, strengthening workforce readiness, and improving economic mobility. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of educational attainment and workforce opportunity in Washington—creating lasting impact for students, families, employers, and communities while ensuring every Washingtonian has access to meaningful pathways beyond high school and the opportunity to thrive.

What you'll work on

Strategic Leadership for Innovation

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer and public face of WSAC, providing vision, strategy, and leadership for the organization.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Council's strategic action plan and long-term educational attainment agenda.
• Partner closely with the Governor's office, Council members, executive leadership team, and other key stakeholders to advance educational priorities.
• Serve as a member of the Governor's Cabinet and participate in regular, in-person Cabinet meetings in Olympia, collaborating with fellow agency leaders to advance the Governor's priorities and statewide initiatives.
• Champion innovation across Washington's education and workforce systems by identifying emerging trends, leveraging data and research, and advancing creative, evidence-based solutions that improve student outcomes and expand pathways to economic opportunity.
• Position WSAC as Washington's leading thought leader and trusted resource on educational access, affordability, workforce readiness, postsecondary attainment, and economic mobility.
• Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coalition Building

• Convene and engage leaders from K-12 education, higher education, workforce development, business, labor, philanthropy, Tribal Nations, community organizations, and government agencies.
• Cultivate enduring executive relationships that strengthen collaboration and advance shared statewide priorities across university leaders, community and technical college leaders, school district superintendents, legislators, elected officials, and other strategic partners.
• Facilitate productive dialogue among stakeholders with differing priorities and perspectives to identify common goals and collaborative solutions.
• Represent Washington and WSAC in national forums, professional associations, and philanthropic partnerships.

Policy Development and Advocacy

• Advise the Governor, Council, Legislature, and other policymakers on emerging issues, trends, and opportunities affecting Washington's education…