Executive Director, Washington State Board of Health (DOH8970)

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our facility in Tumwater and meetings with partners throughout the state.

Terms of Appointment: The Executive Director is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Board (RCW 43.20.030). The Executive Director serves as the agency head.

Why Work for the Washington State Board of Health?

Imagine shaping the policies that protect the health of every person in Washington State from the safety of the water they drink to the disorders their newborns are screened for. That's the work of the Washington State Board of Health, and it's the work you'd lead as Executive Director.

The Board provides statewide leadership on policies that protect and improve public health. It fulfills this mission by monitoring public health trends to understand and prevent disease, serving as a public forum for policy development, and adopting foundational public health rules that keep communities safe. The Board makes recommendations directly to the Governor, Legislature, and Secretary of Health, and in collaboration with the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, completes health impact reviews: evidence-based, non-partisan analyses of how proposed legislative or budgetary changes may affect health and equity.

The Board doesn't do this work alone. It's joined by the Governor's Interagency Council on Health Disparities, a distinct entity staffed by the Board, whose mission is to develop statewide policy recommendations to eliminate health disparities by race, ethnicity, and gender. Together, the Board and Council take on high-profile policy issues of statewide significance.

As part of this mission-driven team, you will work alongside dedicated public servants, agency leaders, policymakers, and community partners to address some of the state's most complex and important public health challenges. This is an opportunity to influence statewide priorities, drive meaningful change, and help create innovative solutions that strengthen the public health system for everyone in Washington State. If you are passionate about public service, systems transformation, and making a measurable difference, the Washington State Board of Health provides an unparalleled platform to lead change at the highest levels of public health in state government.

The Opportunity

As Executive Director, you will be the Board's voice in high-stakes, politically significant, and sensitive settings, negotiating and building relationships with the Governor's Office, State Legislature, governmental public health system partners, other state and local government agencies, professional associations, regulated entities, and community groups.

While the Board sets the overall vision for state public health policy, you carry it out. You administer, manage, and control all aspects of the Board's operations, and you're accountable for ensuring the Board's statutory responsibilities related to critical statewide public health and safety policy and rules are executed. Day to day, you advance the Board and Council's interests through regulatory and policy research and development activities, exercising strategic and tactical discretion as you negotiate the Board's responsibilities with key interested parties and influence state government health policy at the legislative, budgetary, and administrative levels.

What You'll Work On

Who we’re looking for

The successful candidate will bring strong, human-centered leadership to this role, leading with cultural humility, fostering an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace, and actively integrating diverse perspectives. They connect big-picture mission to day-to-day action, communicate with clarity and accountability, and build team health by modeling healthy leadership behavior.

They motivate and develop others by articulating a compelling vision and investing genuinely in their team's growth, staying attuned to how their leadership impacts people. They communicate respectfully and with cultural competence, model self-awareness and integrity, and foster a culture of continuous feedback and learning. This leadership is paired with the strategic agility to navigate change and the operational judgment to keep people, policy, and mission aligned.

Required Qualifications

Option 1: Seven years of experience serving in a senior or executive leadership role within a public-sector organization, such as a government or non-profit organization, with responsibility for program management and oversight, budget and policy analysis and development, and program evaluation.

Option 2: A master's degree in public administration, public health, business administration, or a related field; and five years serving in a senior or executive leadership role within a public-sector organization, such as government or non-profit organization, with responsibility for program management and oversight, budget and policy analysis and development, and program evaluation.

Additional requirements apply to both options listed above:

Preferred Qualifications

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 our benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health. 

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

Work Setting: The official duty station is Tumwater based because there is occasionally an onsite requirement. However, the incumbent may choose to work primarily from home, at a DOH facility or remotely from an alternative location. Work is performed almost exclusively indoors in a DOH or home-based office environment. This position is working at a computer for extended periods of time. Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in government office environments.

Schedule: This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week. Standard DOH business hours are Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Position is expected to work outside of core scheduled hours and/or more than 40 hours of week, including evenings, weekends, and holidays to meet Board needs and critical deadlines. An alternative or flexible work schedule may be considered at the incumbent's request, subject to supervisory approval.

Travel Requirements: Travel is required to attend meetings in person, to include but not limited to, State Board of Health meetings, Health Disparities Council Meetings, public health system meetings related to Foundational Public Health Services, Public Health Advisory Board meetings, legislative meetings, community forums, conferences as funding allows, and other meetings with interested parties, and to meet with legislators or legislative staff, as needed.

When traveling for work, the position may require traveling long distances, alone and/or with other employees for multiple days and nights in or out of state. When driving for state business, the incumbent must be able to legally operate a state or privately-owned vehicle; OR provide alternative transportation while on state business.

Tools & Equipment: Duties require the use of office furniture and equipment (e.g., desk, computer, printer, phone, copy machine, etc.), use of A/V equipment for hybrid (virtual and in person) public meetings.

Customer Interactions: Daily contact with Board managers and staff. Some contact with Board members and governmental public health system partners. Frequent contact with other state, federal, agencies and partner organizations. Must demonstrate the ability to work effectively with diverse communities in a culturally and linguistically appropriate and respectful manner. Contact may be in person, virtual, by phone or email. This position works with these groups to resolve conflicts and sensitive or difficult issues.

Other: The DOH and State Board of Health’s office and meeting spaces are a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment.

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 Zach Covington at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference DOH8970.

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