Vital Records Program Manager; WMS DOH

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our DOH facility in Tumwater, WA, approximately 2-3 days per week.

As the Vital Records Program Manager, you will lead Washington's statewide vital records operations, overseeing the registration, amendment, preservation, and issuance of certified birth, death, fetal death, abortion, marriage, and divorce records. You will manage three service areas and about 30 staff through their supervisors, ensuring records are accurate, secure, timely, and compliant with state law and policy.

You will set the program’s strategic direction, interpret legislation, establish statewide policy, and make complex decisions about record access, corrections, and potential fraud. You will also guide improvements to the technology and processes behind vital records, including the Washington Health and Life Events System (WHALES). Partnering with local health jurisdictions and state and federal agencies, you will promote consistent practices statewide while balancing public access, legal requirements, and the security of sensitive information.

Your leadership ensures Washingtonians can rely on the records they need to establish identity and parentage, get a passport, enroll children in school, and access public benefits. These records also supply vital data that informs public health decisions across the state.

• Lead statewide vital records operations, overseeing registration, amendments, preservation, and certification services to ensure accurate, timely, and legally compliant records.
• Direct program strategy, priorities, performance measures, and continuous improvement initiatives to strengthen service delivery, efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
• Develop and implement statewide policies and standards that promote consistent vital records practices across the Department of Health and Washington's 39 local health jurisdictions.
• Manage three service areas through their supervisors, setting performance expectations, allocating resources, and addressing workforce and operational needs.
• Interpret laws, regulations, and legislation to guide policy decisions, assess operational impacts, and recommend changes to improve vital records administration.
• Oversee vital records technology and system improvements, working with technology teams and vendors to maintain and enhance systems that support statewide operations.
• Protect the security and integrity of vital records by establishing safeguards, conducting security reviews, addressing suspected fraud, and coordinating with law enforcement when needed.
• Resolve complex and sensitive customer issues, appeals, and legal-risk matters while managing contracts, interagency agreements, and program resources.

You bring sound judgment, strategic thinking, and a practical approach to leading complex operations. You can navigate sensitive issues, interpret requirements, and make thoughtful decisions when the path forward is not always clear. You value consistent, equitable service and understand the importance of protecting confidential information while ensuring people receive the records they are legally entitled to access. You lead through others, build strong working relationships, and look for ways to improve systems and services while keeping the needs of Washingtonians at the center of your decisions.

This role offers the opportunity to shape statewide policies, improve essential services, and lead a program with a direct impact on people across Washington. Your work will help ensure Washingtonians have access to accurate legal records when they need them, while…