DSHS Assistant Secretary, Developmental Disabilities Administration

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is seeking an experienced executive leader to serve as the next Assistant Secretary of the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). DDA is entering an important phase of transformation, focusing on making services easier to access, supporting safe and successful transitions, strengthening service availability, and ensuring individuals have a greater voice and choice in planning their services. The Assistant Secretary will help bring clarity, strengthen alignment, and guide the organization through change while building on strong relationships with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, families, advocates, providers, and community partners.

About the Role

The Assistant Secretary will guide DDA through this transformative period while preserving trust and community relationships. With a workforce of more than 4,000 employees, eight direct reports, and responsibility for a biennial budget of approximately $6.2 billion, the Assistant Secretary oversees one of Washington’s largest human-services administrations. This role involves establishing clear priorities, strengthening coordination and accountability, ensuring commitments are carried through, and advancing complex work while keeping collaboration and community voice central to DDA’s mission.

Responsibilities

• Lead DDA through its next phase, building alignment among employees and partners around the direction ahead.
• Build on DDA’s strong culture of community engagement while ensuring feedback and commitments lead to meaningful action.
• Strengthen accountability, coordination, and follow-through across the administration.
• Establish clear priorities and create alignment among teams, programs, and partners.
• Lead with sound judgment and steadiness in an environment where services and operational responsibilities continue around the clock.
• Strengthen relationships with legislators and build intentional connections with federal partners, communications leaders, and others to advance and communicate DDA’s work.
• Communicate proactively about emerging issues, priorities, challenges, and opportunities.

Requirements

The ideal candidate will demonstrate the ability to:

• Listen carefully and follow through on commitments.
• Translate vision and planning into action and results.
• Lead confidently through change, uncertainty, and competing priorities.
• Make sound decisions when no perfect solution exists, navigate complex work, mitigate risks, and achieve positive outcomes.
• Build trust while setting clear expectations.
• Balance empathy and collaboration with accountability and decisive leadership.
• Navigate complex relationships with sound judgment and political awareness.
• Communicate clearly with employees, communities, legislators, partners, and executive leaders.
• Understand the importance of community voice while strengthening internal discipline and execution.

Skills

• Transformational Leadership
• Accountability and Results
• Community-Centered Leadership
• Strategic Communication and Influence
• Political and Stakeholder Acumen
• Collaboration and Partnership
• Sound Judgment and Decision-Making

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, business administration, public administration, health care administration, finance, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• Executive-level experience leading directors, managers, and other senior leaders across complex programs and operations is preferred.
• Experience leading programs, systems, or organizations that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families is preferred.

Why Apply

The Assistant Secretary will build on a strong foundation of community trust while strengthening clarity, accountability, and follow-through to deliver meaningful results for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

Applications received by September 4 will receive priority consideration. Confidential review of applications will begin immediately and continue until an appointment is made.