Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Director (WMS3/SPI) - Project

Full Job Description

Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Director (WMS3/SPI) - Project

71112992

This is a project position funded through 10/30/2030.

The Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Director at HCA leads a large federal grant focused on improving rural health care across Washington.

The Director will oversee projects, contracts, budgets, timelines, and compliance for a broad range of initiatives.

This role requires strong skills in complex project management, strategic planning, federal communication and reporting, cross-agency leadership, community engagement, contract management, performance measurement, and policy analysis.

All HCA employees will apply an equity lens to their work, which may include but is not limited to all analyses of core business and processes.

About the division:

The Strategy, Policy, & Innovation division (SPI) of the Health Care Authority (HCA) is statutorily directed to study all state-purchased health care, alternative health care delivery systems and strategies for the procurement of health services, and to coordinate state agency efforts to develop and implement uniform policies across state purchased health care programs.

SPI serves as the focal point for coordinating the agency’s strategy, affordability, and health policy efforts.

The division is structured to provide expert direction, consultation, and support for these activities.

SPI is responsible for driving policy design, development and implementation of health reform, and health transformation activities, and program development and refinements for all programs.

About the position:

Rural Health Transformation (RHT) Program Director oversees Washington’s RHT Initiative, which includes an array of projects coordinated with our sister agencies, Dept.

of Health (DOH), Dept of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Governor’s office.

The RHT Initiative comes from the H.R.1 budget reconciliation bill, which Congress passed in July 2025, providing Washington State with up to $1 billion in funding over a five-year period.

This position reports to the Chief Policy Officer and manages the HCA RHT team and serves as the lead point of contact for federal communication with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

In addition, the incumbent leads interagency coordination with multiple workgroups, to ensure all the initiative contracts are accountable to HCA as the lead organization and to CMS requirements.

RHT funds are intended to:

• Strengthening state’s rural health care infrastructure

• Improve health care access, quality, and sustainability

• Address health care workforce shortages

• Promote innovative care models

• Provide supports for rural providers facing financial challenges

Read more about the RHT Program on our website.

This position is eligible to telework but is occasionally required to report on-site to meet business needs.The default assigned work location of all Health Care Authority (HCA) positions – both on-site and telework eligible positions – is within the State of Washington.

This position reports to Olympia, WA. Frequency of onsite work will vary based on business and operational needs. HCA has currently suspended the ability to support out-of-state telework.

Requirements

Some of what you will do:

• Oversee, lead, and manage the Rural Health Transformation grant from CMS.
• Lead, formalize, and plan the three-agency leadership team with HCA, DOH, and DSHS ensuring accountability for all work over the broad RHT activities.
• Provide expert advice in developing and managing contracts, work and issues related to the initiatives internally and oversee coordination across the multi-agency effort to ensure accountability to the federal government.
• Demonstrate an in-depth understanding at both a detailed and strategic level on all requirements outlined in Washington’s RHT submission and the Cooperative Agreement/terms and conditions with CMS.
• Lead efforts to identify any legislative or statutory changes necessary to implement the RHT and work directly with the Office of Tribal Affairs Team and the Governor’s Indian Health Advisory Council (GIHAC) to ensure full benefit of RHT to Washington Tribes.
• In coordination with the Enterprise Analytics Research and Reporting Office, this position will lead the development of the RHT performance metrics to ensure accountability to the federal government’s requirements with all grant participants.
• Lead compliance and tracking all programmatic and budgetary progress, the completion of all federal fiscal and performance reporting, monitoring, and ensures that deliverables and all submissions are consistent with the terms as outlined in the Notice of Award, and the Cooperative Agreement.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:

Qualifying candidates will meet one of the following criteria options:

Option 1:

Master’s degree or higher in a health policy related field (or equivalent) and five (5) years of the required experience below

Option 2:

Bachelor's degree in a field identified above and seven (7) years of the required experience below

Option 3:

Eleven (11) years of the required experience below

Note: Occasional travel may be required to meet with clients or partners, conduct business, or attend or provide training and/or conferences.

The required experience includes the following:

• Progressively responsible program development, oversight, management, and coordination in policy areas such as health care coverage.
• Demonstrated experience managing highly complex health care related projects involving multiple partners and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to develop materials and present stakeholder presentations to external audiences on challenging policy concepts.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, monitor performance data, and provide analysis of major federal health care initiatives to formulate and advise decision making, issue resolution, and policy development.
• Broad knowledge of the health care industry, Medicaid, and other federal laws affecting low-income populations.
• Knowledge and experience in the rural environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft tools and an understanding of analytic tools.

Required competencies:

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred qualifications:

• Three years of experience directly supervising staff.
• Advanced degree in law or policy.
• Experience in systems thinking and planning.
• Knowledge of historical context of Washington State policy making and evolution of federal law impacting low-income populations, including Title XIX (Medicaid), national health reform and Washington’s Tribes.
• Experience writing, developing and managing successful grants and other funding applications to meet Washington State’s needs.

How to apply:

Only candidates who reflect the required qualifications on their NEOGOV profile will be considered. Failure to follow the application instructions below may lead to disqualification.

To apply for this position, you will need to complete your profile which includes three professional references and attach:

• A cover letter that specifically addresses how you meet the qualifications for this position
• Current resume

To take advantage of veteran preference, please do the following:

• Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 long-form copy), NGB 22, or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please black out any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers. Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

Additional Information

About HCA:

Functioning as both the state's largest health care purchaser and its behavioral health authority, the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is a leader in ensuring Washington residents have the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.

There are three pillars of our work: Apple Health (Medicaid); the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) and School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) programs; and behavioral health and recovery.

Under these pillars, HCA purchases health care, including behavioral health treatment for more than 2.7 million Washington residents and provides behavioral health prevention, crisis, and recovery supports to all Washington residents.

What we have to offer:

• Meaningful work with friendly co-workers who care about those we serve Voices of HCA
• A clear agency mission that drives our work and is person-centered HCA's Mission, Vision & Values
• A healthy work/life balance, including alternative/flexible schedules and mobile work options.
• A great total compensation and benefit package WA State Government Benefits
• A safe, pleasant workplace in a convenient location with restaurants, and shopping nearby.
• And free parking!

Notes:

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment.

HCA is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency.

HCA has five employee resource groups (ERGs). ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups whose aim is to foster a diverse, inclusive workplace aligned with HCA’s mission.

Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

Studies have shown women, racial and ethnic minorities, and persons of disability are less likely to apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every qualification as described in a job description.

Persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are also encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions about the required qualifications or how your experience relates to them, please contact us at HCAjobs@hca.wa.gov.

Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact Lisa Fleming at (360) 725-1723 or lisa.fleming@hca.wa.gov.

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is an E-Verify employer. All applicants with a legal right to work in the United States are encouraged to apply.

E-Verify® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

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