Practice Improvement Analyst (MA5) - Olympia

Full Job Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Practice Improvement Analyst (MA5)
Location: Olympia, WA (This position is stationed in Olympia, WA and is primarily remote; however, the incumbent must have the ability to travel and attend in-person meetings.)
Closes: 3/8/26
Salary: $6414 - $8628

Are you someone who enjoys collecting, reviewing, and analyzing data? Do you have a creative, strategic approach to problem-solving? Come utilize your expertise as a Practice Improvement Analyst (MA5). To be successful in this position, you will need an advanced level of expertise in performance management and quality assurance/improvement. Are you interested in making a difference in the lives of children in your community? Apply today.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
The Practice Improvement Analyst has statewide responsibility for analyzing, developing, and implementing a management system to improve the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of child welfare practice throughout the state. This position directly affects agency-wide policy and practice as leadership utilizes data analysis and strategic planning to set the direction of DCYF, improve outcomes for children and families, and manage state resources effectively.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Facilitate the development, coordination, and submission of federally required reports, including the Annual Progress and Services Report (APSR), Child and Family Services Plan (CFSP), Child and Family Services Review (CFSR), and Statewide Assessment (SWA).
• Facilitate the development and monitoring of the Program Improvement Plan (PIP), ensuring strategies, benchmarks, and measures are accurately tracked and reported.
• Provide expert-level consultation and quality review to ensure all reporting products align with federal requirements and support statewide performance improvement.
• Facilitate cross-division collaboration to support federal reporting and PIP development and monitoring.
• Provide guidance, technical assistance, and expert consultative support to contributors and partners.
• Apply continuous quality improvement principles to strengthen process consistency and system partner engagement.
• Plan, coordinate, and complete targeted reviews required for federal reporting.
• Conduct a detailed analysis of case-level information, administrative data, and program documentation to assess alignment with federal expectations.
• Prepare written summaries, findings, and analysis for inclusion in federally required reports and leadership briefings.
• Develop review tools, guidance, and methodology updates to strengthen future review cycles.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):

Nine years of progressively responsible experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Conducting research
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
• Leading business projects
• Managing business operations
• Business policy development
• Supervising

OR

A Bachelor's degree in social work, psychology, social science, business administration, public administration, public health, health administration, or a related field AND five years of progressively responsible experience in two or more of the following areas:

• Conducting research
• Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
• Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
• Leading business projects
• Managing business operations
• Business policy development
• Supervising

AND

• Ability to coordinate work across 100+ contributors, including scheduling, timeline management, and ensuring timely submission of deliverables.
• High-volume content synthesis, including the ability to merge input from dozens of contributors into cohesive, publish-ready statewide reports.
• Ability to translate complex datasets into clear, understandable narratives for leadership, program managers, and external partners.
• Proven experience developing complex data reports using quantitative and qualitative data sources.
• Experience working with internal and external partners to gather information, interpret data, and support program strategy.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

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

• Experience at a highly proficient level in the use of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.
• Experience managing statewide or enterprise-level reporting cycles, preferably federal reporting (APSR, PIP, CFSR, CFSP, or comparable frameworks).
• Strong project management and performance reporting skills.
• Advanced facilitation skills, including running large-group kick-offs, cross-divisional meetings, and recurring technical assistance meetings.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and cooperatively as a team member, managing multiple work projects, leading and facilitating teams and work groups.
• Competency in strategic and operational planning, analytical thinking, interpreting complex data, and managing complex projects.
• Applied knowledge of principles of quality assurance, continuous quality improvement, and advanced principles of quality management, public administration, strategic planning, and process improvement.

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

• Cover letter
• Resume

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.

This position is included in the supervisory bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/

The incumbent must successfully complete formal training courses as required by law, policy, and regional requirements within one year of their appointment.

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S.

Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org.

Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

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 blackout (redact)the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

For more information about this position or if you need an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, please contact DCYF recruiter.

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

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