Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Olympia

Job Title: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)
Agency: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)
Location: Olympia, Washington 
Reports To: Secretary of DCYF

Position Overview:

The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to oversee critical operational functions supporting the agency’s mission to protect children, strengthen families, and create opportunities for youth. The CAO will supervise the departments of Human Resources and Employee Wellness, Information Technology, Facilities, Administrative Services (including legal affairs, public records, and risk management), and Finance to ensure operational excellence and alignment with the agency’s strategic goals.

The CAO will serve on the Executive Leadership Team advising the Secretary and helping create, direct and lead the agency.   

This position is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations and making strategic decisions for DCYF. Acting as the Secretary’s designee, they will implement strategic planning initiatives, policies, and the requirements of Results Washington. While this position has considerable autonomy in decision-making, decisions with significant system-wide or political impact are typically forwarded to the Secretary with recommendations.

Why Join DCYF?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Washington’s children, youth, and families by leading critical operational functions that enable frontline services to thrive. If you are a mission-driven leader with a passion for public service and organizational excellence, we encourage you to apply.

Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Strategy: Develop and implement operational strategies that enhance agency performance and service delivery. Lead and supervise the department directors of the agency’s back office work, ensuring it has integrated, efficient and responsive operations to help serve the mission of the agency. Work collaboratively with the Secretary and executive leadership team to drive DCYF’s mission and priorities.
• Leadership Development and Supervision: Developing and mentoring the leaders of DCYF Divisions for Financial and Business Services, Administrative Services, Information Technology and Human Resources. This position holds these team leaders accountable to both strategic and tactical objectives, demonstrating agency values, quality improvement commitments, and meeting performance objectives.
• Human Resources & Employee Wellness: Oversee HR operations, including talent acquisition, labor relations, and workforce development for a diverse workforce. Promote employee well-being through wellness programs and workplace culture initiatives.
• Labor Relations:  Building and maintaining effective working relationships with the agency's labor partners, including SEIU 925 and WFSE. This includes strategizing on agency collective bargaining and other labor/management efforts.
• Information Technology: Oversee IT operations and digital transformation efforts, ensuring secure, efficient, and innovative technology solutions that support agency functions.
• Facilities Management: Oversee facility planning, maintenance, and safety compliance to provide a productive and secure work environment for staff at dozens of DCYF offices and facilities.
• Legal & Public Records Compliance: Oversee the Administrative Services department providing adherence to legal and regulatory requirements, torts, public records requests, risk management, ADA compliance and internal policy development. 
• Budget & Finance: Oversee the Chief Financial Officer responsible for budgeting, financial planning, and fiscal management processes to ensure responsible stewardship of public funds. Align financial strategies with agency objectives.
• Operational Efficiency & Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for operational improvements and implement best practices to enhance service delivery. Utilize data-driven decision-making to optimize agency resources.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster partnerships with other state agencies, Office of Financial Management, internal stakeholders, field operations and the Leadership Team to advance DCYF’s initiatives. 
• Agency Representation: Represent the agency on a variety of intergovernmental taskforces, projects and committees.
• Executive Leadership: The CAO will serve on the Executive Leadership Team advising the Secretary and helping create, direct and lead the agency.   

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Human Resources, Finance, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred AND ten (10) years of progressive leadership experience in operations management, preferably within government or nonprofit organizations.

OR

• Twelve (12) years of progressive leadership experience in operations management, preferably within government or non-profit organizations.

AND

• Demonstrated expertise in HR, finance, IT, facilities management, and legal compliance.
• Strong leadership, strategic thinking, and change management skills.
• Experience working in complex, multi-stakeholder environments with an understanding of public sector operations.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in organizational practices.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications & Experience:

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Social Work, or closely allied field AND ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in operations management, preferably within government or non-profit organizations.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve.  If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Steven Loduha (Talent Acquisition Manager) at steven.loduha@dcyf.wa.gov 

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Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Salary : $116,364 - $189,096