Child Welfare Deputy Regional Administrator (WMS2) - Region 6

Full Job Description

Job Title: Child Welfare Deputy Regional Administrator (WMS02)
Location: Tumwater, WA. Region 6 - (Region Map). Travel within the Region and State is required. Occasional national travel may be required.
Closes: 03/23/2026
Salary: $ 100,934 – $130,320.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families is seeking a Child Welfare Deputy Regional Administrator (DRA) for Region 6, Thurston County. This position reports directly to the Regional Administrator (RA) and provides direct management to several field offices and program Area Administrators. This position is a member of the Regional Leadership Team and the statewide Child Welfare Leadership Team. This position serves as a designee for the Regional Administrator with delegated authority to act on behalf of the Regional Administrator in their absence. The incumbent in this position must possess a strong command of management principles, deep knowledge of and demonstrated leadership in child welfare program implementation, management, and results. Knowledge of personnel practices, service programs, and expertise to assess program, staff, and community needs is preferred.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
This position is part of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) Child Welfare Field Operations Division. Field Operations, Region 6 consists of 15 field offices, serving 11 counties. Included within the region are 13 federally recognized tribes. Region 6 is a high-volume region, conducting approximately 745 child abuse/neglect investigations per month, and serves approximately 1,450 children in out-of-home placement each month. This position participates as a leader in statewide program initiatives. The DRA also works with other government and non-governmental organizations that provide services to children and families working within the assigned geographic area to coordinate DCYF services with county, nonprofit, and other social service agencies. This position is responsible for the following specific delegated authorities: routine personnel matters, staff and client travel requests, review of hiring packets, Exception Requests, Overtime requests, Guardianship plans, Voluntary Placement Agreement extension requests, Safety Plan approvals, training approvals, and FamLink approvals. This position manages the delivery of Child and Family Service programs to clients in its region according to federal and state laws, regulations, and policies. The position evaluates, interprets, develops, and implements federal and state law, state and DCYF policies and regulations as they apply to regional operations, and administers the region’s day-to-day programs and administrative activities. This position supports the DCYF mission by providing effective leadership in management and supervision to field office Administrators, ensuring consistent, high-quality child welfare practices are occurring and each office meets or exceeds outcome expectations in child welfare metrics and overall PIP efforts. This position ensures a safe, supportive, and professional office environment with a high level of support for Staff, Supervisors, and Area Administrators.

Some of what you will do:

• Provide effective leadership and management to the field office and program Area Administrators to ensure consistent, high-quality child welfare practices.
• Ensure a safe, supportive, and professional work environment consistent with DCYF's mission, regional goals, and priorities.
• In the absence of the Regional Administrator, act as their delegate.
• Provide guidance, supervision, and leadership to secondary management and direction in the critical areas of child safety, family engagement, permanency planning, disproportionality, and well-being.
• Responsible for region-wide compliance with policies and management expectations.
• Implement department policy, federal and state laws, and regulations as they apply to regional child welfare operations.
• Lead regional efforts in the development and implementation of programs and protocols.
• Provide strategic leadership in planning for statewide programs, initiatives, and activities through statewide committees.
• Represent the region in other state, local, government, federal, community, vendor, and citizen groups and organizations involved in Children and Family Services to improve coordination of DCYF services.
• Serve as a member of the regional leadership team.
• Set priorities for service delivery and accountability.
• In coordination with the Regional Administrator, develop staff expectations for the region.
• Ensure consistent, predictable, high-quality practice within the region.
• Monitor and approve program services.

Required Qualifications:

• Nine (9) years of management experience in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.

OR

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Social Services, Public Administration, Social Work, or other closely allied field AND seven (7) years of management experience in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.

OR

• A Master’s Degree in Social Services, Public Administration, Social Work, or other closely allied field AND five (5) years of management experience in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.

AND

• Three (3) years of experience working with abused and neglected children who are under the care of supervision of the state. Experience must include assessing risk and safety to children and providing direct family-centered practice services (strengthening and preserving family units).
• This position requires advanced management skills, technical, clinical, and legal knowledge, and decisions are routinely and significantly scrutinized by the public, judicial procedures, fair hearing process, and legislative inquiry.
• Must possess a strong command of management principles, deep knowledge of and demonstrated leadership in child welfare program implementation, management, and results.
• Knowledge of personnel practices, service programs, and expertise to assess program, staff, and community needs.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow, and meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Understanding of principles of social work, specialized interventions with children and families in crisis; child protective services investigation techniques, including legal and forensic evidence gathering; permanency planning; mental health assessment techniques; child development, and the effects of trauma on child development.
• Understanding of state and federal laws and agency policies related to child welfare services.
• Understanding of the inner workings of Indian Child Welfare and Government-to-Government relationships with tribes.
• Possession of advanced leadership skills.

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

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications.
• Transcripts (a copy for application purposes is acceptable - if applicable).

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.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment, but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position.

If you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter.

If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855) 524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

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.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214 or NGB Form 22, or other verification of military service.

Please black out (redact) the Social Security Number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans' Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

2026-02174