DSHS Assistant Secretary, Home & Community Living Administration
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Management
General Management, Project & Program Management, Change Management, Operations Management
Job Description & How to Apply Below
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 HCLAHCLA 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.
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.
We’re seeking an…
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