Executive Director, Dental Section (WMS 2) DOH8848

Full Job Description

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, combining remote work with scheduled onsite work at our DOH facility in Tumwater, approximately 4 days per month.

The Opportunity

The Office of Health Professions (OHP) is responsible for the regulation and support of the health professions (including the regulatory boards, Commissions and committees), impaired practitioners and prescription monitoring program.

The twenty-one member Governor appointed Dental Commission is responsible for regulating the competency, safety and quality of approximately 8,000 dentists, 18,000 ancillary dental personnel, by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing qualifications for licensing, examinations and educational approval for licensure to ensure consistent safe standards of practice, continuing competency mechanisms, and discipline.

Rules, policies, and procedures developed by the Commission must promote the delivery of safe, quality health care to the residents of the state of Washington.

The Executive Director of the Dental Section in OHP reports to the Executive Director for the Dental Commission to assist the Executive Director in managing the administrative and operational functions in support of the Commission.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Manage and develop professional level staff to support the regulation of the dental program:

• Coordinates processes to identify and prepare employees to assume key positions within the organization.
• Communicates and recognizes innovations, progress and achievements of individual employees and program performance.
• Assists to ensure employees provide quality service and fulfill the direction of the Commission
• Assures appropriate and optimum use of office resources.
• Manages program staff to administer the laws and rules regulating the dental program including enforcement activities
• Manage credentialing staff to review health profession’s applications and verify minimum standards outlined in law and rules are met.

Manage rules and legislative development process to regulate the various dental professions. These rules and guidelines cover qualifications for licensure, standard of practice and/or operation as authorized by law. Responsible for legislative activities:

• Collaborates with staff in developing legislation proposals for consideration by the department in consultation with the Commission.
• Manages the administration of dental rules process, including leading staff and overseeing activities to review, analyze, and monitor legislative proposals and direct development of bill analyses and fiscal notes.
• Works with community partners including professional associations to ensure impacts of proposed legislation is fully identified.
• Analyzes and critiques proposed legislation to ensure legislation accurately reflects agency policy
• Collaborates with internal and external partners to accomplish legislative and regulatory goals and strategies.
• Collaborate with the Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Management System (HELMs) team to develop process and forms needed to implement legislative and regulatory items required to credential health professionals.

Develops and incorporates performance improvement activities:

• Provides leadership and expertise in the management and implementation of appropriate performance improvement tools and methodologies.
• Evaluates the quality and efficiency of the program’s business processes and uses results to make changes and recommendations to improve efficiency and effectiveness of program and credentialing teams.
• As a part of the dental program, develop program specific initiatives that focus on continuous performance and quality improvement efforts
• In support of the Commission’s performance measures, create systems to ensure all performance, accountability and quality standards are met.
• In support of division performance management system, initiate actions, new approaches, policies and procedures to facilitate continuous performance improvements activities

Budget management:

• Directs the development of the program budget in consultation with the Executive Director, Commission, professional associations and the public. Forecasts future budget needs
• Controls and modifies allotments to the program and oversees section expenditure and revenue information to ensure compliance with budget plans
• Provides regular reports to the Executive Director, and Commission on the status of the budget.
• Reports budget issues to the Executive Director. Assists in developing and implementing solutions.
• Authorizes expenditures to DOH approved levels and in accord with DOH signature policies.

Why This Role is Different

Use your knowledge, experience and skills to help inform decision making.

The Executive Director directs the performance improvement activities for the program and directs long-range section planning to ensure that human and financial resources are provided to deliver vital statewide services and meet statutory mandates and program goals and objectives.

This position scope is highly visible and represents the agency and Washington state.

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.

Option 1: Eight (8) or more years of experience in business management, public administration, public health or a related field which must include 4 or more years’ management experience in:

• Regulatory work involving healthcare policy and/or planning
• Relationship-building, facilitation and negotiation
• State healthcare regulatory environment, the legislative process, national and state trends in healthcare
• Complex licensing database system work
• Staff development and supervision
• Verbal and written communication

Option 2: Bachelor’s degree in business management, public administration, public health or a related field and 4 years management experience in:

• Regulatory work involving healthcare policy and/or planning
• Relationship-building, facilitation and negotiation
• State healthcare regulatory environment, the legislative process, national and state trends in healthcare
• Complex licensing database system work
• Staff development and supervision
• Verbal and written communication

Option 3: Master’s degree in business management, public administration, public health or a related field and 2 years’ management experience in:

• Regulatory work involving healthcare policy and/or planning
• Relationship-building, facilitation and negotiation
• State healthcare regulatory environment, the legislative process, national and state trends in healthcare
• Complex licensing database system work
• Staff development and supervision
• Verbal and written communication

Competencies:

Achievement Orientation: Maximizes efficiency, meets deadlines, ensures high-quality results, and takes personal responsibility for improvements.

Communication: Delivers clear, concise, and empathetic messages (written/verbal) while actively listening, engaging constructively, and utilizing appropriate, modern tools.

Leadership: Inspires and coaches staff, empowers others through delegation, sets clear goals, and manages resources to achieve agency objectives safely.

Organizational Relationships: Builds, maintains, and leverages collaborative partnerships with internal and external community partners to improve public services.

Critical Thinking: Analyzes information logically and creatively to resolve issues, develop new solutions, and guide evidence-based actions.

Preferred Qualifications

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

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in public administration, business administration, healthcare administration, or a related field.
• Five years’ relevant management experience.
• Experience working within governmental health profession and facility regulatory framework, developing and analyzing legislation, and communicating national and state trends in healthcare.
• Experience managing data in a complex Healthcare Enforcement and Licensing Management System (HELMs) or similar licensing or regulatory database.

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.

The Office of Health Professions (OHP) contributes to the Washington Department of Health mission by working with advisory committees, boards, commissions, and partner commissioners to regulate 563,179 health care providers in 93 different professions.

We handle the licensing, credentialing, and regulation of these health professions to protect public health and ensure a qualified, diverse, and supported health workforce while promoting equitable access to healthcare for all Washingtonians.

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:

The position requires regular in-person attendance to perform duties on-site at the Tumwater DOH office. When not working on-site, this position may work from home, or an alternate location.

Schedule:

This position has a work schedule of 40 hours per week; however, the position may be expected to work longer hours during the annual legislative session, during emergencies or when traveling.

An alternative or flexible work schedule may be considered at the incumbent's request, subject to supervisory approval.

Travel Requirements:

Regular local and Statewide travel (approximately 2-3 times per month) is required to meet with Commission members, customers, legislators, and community partners. May involve limited national travel to conferences and similar professional events.

Tools & Equipment:

This position uses standard office furniture and equipment, such as a desk, office chair, cell phone, computer, 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.

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.
• This position is included in the Washington Management Service (WMS)

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 Kristina Cox at employment@doh.wa.gov and reference DOH8848.

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

Additional Information

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.