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Assistant Director of Licensing (WMS 2) DOH8898



Assistant Director of Licensing

Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON)

Permanent · Full-time 


This home-based (remote) position is open to Washington residents and those residing on the ID/WA and OR/WA borders.


Assistant Director of Licensing

Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON)

The Washington State Board of Nursing (WABON) protects public health and safety by regulating the competency and quality of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), advanced registered nurse practitioners (ARNPs), nursing assistants (NAs), and nurse technicians (NTECs). This includes establishing and enforcing licensing standards, ensuring consistent practice expectations, and maintaining effective discipline and continuing competency systems.


The Assistant Director of Licensing is a key member of the WABON leadership team and reports to the Director of Licensing. This role provides strategic and operational leadership for the licensing program, overseeing supervisors and staff to deliver high-quality, timely, and compliant licensing services that safeguard the public.


The Opportunity

This role serves as a strategic regulatory leader, licensing and compliance expert, and systems improvement driver. The Assistant Director of Licensing leads complex work that strengthens public protection, advances regulatory practices, and improves licensing systems across WABON.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership & Oversight
 • Direct and oversee all aspects of the licensing program
 • Lead, coach, and support Licensing Supervisors and staff
 • Set priorities and ensure performance expectations and outcomes are achieved

Policy, Compliance & Strategy
 • Interpret and implement laws, rules, and legislative directives
 • Develop and refine policies, procedures, and licensing systems
 • Lead long-range planning and continuous improvement efforts

Collaboration & Representation
 • Partner across divisions and with state, national, and regulatory organizations
 • Present findings and recommendations to WABON and executive leadership
 • Serve as a subject matter expert on licensing and regulatory practices

Systems & Process Improvement
 • Lead complex, cross-functional projects and modernization efforts
 • Analyze systems and workflows to improve efficiency and service delivery
 • Advance data-informed decision-making and operational improvements


Why You’ll Love This Role

This is an opportunity to lead meaningful work that directly protects public health while shaping the future of nursing regulation in Washington. You’ll collaborate with a strong leadership team, influence statewide systems, and drive improvements that make a lasting impact.



Required Qualifications 

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.


Required Qualifications:

Option 1: Five years of experience managing ongoing operations and leading complex business projects in a nursing regulatory environment. Experience will include the following:

  • Reviewing and evaluating potentially fraudulent credential applications, supporting large scale state or federal initiatives such as Operation Nightingale
  • Demonstrated ability to lead business analysis efforts, including gathering requirements, identifying risk, and developing policies or procedures to strengthen fraud prevention, compliance, and system improvements
  • Technical expertise with licensing systems, including the use of Nursys database


Option 2: Bachelor’s degree or higher in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field AND Three years of experience managing ongoing operations and leading complex business projects in a nursing regulatory environment. Experience will include the following:

  • Reviewing and evaluating potentially fraudulent credential applications, supporting large scale state or federal initiatives such as Operation Nightingale
  • Demonstrated ability to lead business analysis efforts, including gathering requirements, identifying risk, and developing policies or procedures to strengthen fraud prevention, compliance, and system improvements
  • Technical expertise with licensing systems, including the use of Nursys database


Additional Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Experience

Three (3) or more years of experience supervising the work of others in a healthcare credentialing related organization, to include coaching, mentoring, training, and corrective action of multiple staff.


Preferred Qualifications

While these aren’t required, having them can help you stand out as a candidate.

  • Involvement in national health credentialing forums and policy development, and experience working with boards.
  • Experience leading a healthcare licensing or credentialing program, ideally within nursing regulatory board 
  • Knowledge of nursing educational pathways (RN, LPN, ARNP, NA) and public protection-focused regulatory frameworks
  • Demonstrated success supervising supervisors and building high-performing, accountable teams
  • Experience interpreting and implementing state laws, rules, and legislative changes impacting licensure
  • Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional projects and improve licensing systems or processes


Employee Benefits 

We offer a solid benefits package that supports you and your family’s health, financial security, and work-life balance. You’ll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, and retirement plans that help you plan for tomorrow while you’re living today. Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave help you recharge, and additional programs like dependent care assistance and professional development opportunities add value beyond basic coverage. Join us and enjoy benefits designed to care for you as much as you care about public health. Learn more about DOH benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health. 


About the Washington State Department of Health

We're nearly 2,000 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience. At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We’re passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.



Working Conditions:

The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.


Work Setting:

  • Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in indoors at home or office environments. This position is sedentary, working at a computer for extended periods.

Schedule:

  • This position typically works 8 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday, with one hour for lunch. A flexible schedule may be considered upon request and with supervisor approval after an initial review period.
     Work occasionally in excess of 40 hours per week, including evenings and weekends, to meet work requirements or reporting deadlines.

Travel Requirements:

  • Travel is not required to perform the duties of this position; however occasional travel may be expected to attend meetings, trainings, or conferences. When driving for state business, the employee must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternate transportation while on state business.

Tools & Equipment:

  • This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer/laptop, monitor(s), keyboard, and mouse; and when in the office, the position may also require the use of a printer, phone, fax machine, and/or copy machine.

Customer Interactions:

  • The position requires engaging with customers in a variety of settings: agency staff, agency managers, agency supervisors, legislators, governor's office staff, local health jurisdictions, federal government, State Board of Health, external partners, statewide professional associations.

Other:

  • The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment. 
  • This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities. 


APPLICATION DIRECTIONS:

We’re committed to a fair and equitable hiring process. Only materials submitted through the official application will be considered. Emailed resumes or documents won’t be accepted or shared with the hiring manager.


Click “Apply” to complete your application. Attach your resume, cover letter, and DD-214 (if applicable). List at least three professional references, directly in your Applicant Profile or as a separate attachment, including a supervisor, a peer, and someone you’ve supervised or led (if applicable).


DO NOT INCLUDE private details like your SSN or birth year, personal photos, transcripts, certifications, diplomas, projects, portfolios, or letters of recommendation.


Veterans Preference: Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year


Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.  


DOH is an equal-opportunity employer. We prohibit discrimination based on race/ethnicity/color, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, religion, national origin, marital status, the presence or perception of a disability, veteran’s status, military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender expression, or gender identity. 


Questions and Accommodations: If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Andrea Thieme at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference DOH8898.


Technical Support: Reach out to NEOGOV directly at 1-855-524-5627 for technical support and login issues. 


Qualifications

This recruitment may be used to fill positions of the same job classification across the agency. Once all the position(s) from the recruitment are filled, the candidate pool may be used to fill additional open positions for the next sixty (60) days. 


Only applicants who follow the directions and complete the Application Process in full will have their responses reviewed for consideration. 


Experience and education selected, listed, or detailed in the Supplemental Questions must be verifiable on the submitted applicant profile.

Date Posted
07/30/2026
Job Reference
DOH8898
Organization
Dept. of Health, Washington State Board of Nursing (WSBON)
Location
Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Category
Executive
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