Workforce Supports Manager (WMS02) Olympia

Full Job Description

Job Title: Workforce Supports Manager (WMS02)
Location: Olympia, WA / Hybrid
Closes: March 25th, 2026
Salary: $97,469 - $121,836 Annually

The Early Care and Education Workforce Supports Manager is responsible for analyzing efforts, developing solutions and representing the Early Learning Division on topics related to early learning workforce challenges and solutions that advance compensation and recruitment for the early care and education. This includes but is not limited to early care and education provider qualifications, education verification, scholarship supports, and oversight of the substitute pool.

This position is part of a collaborative, highly experienced team within DCYF's Early Learning Division. Team members bring deep subject-matter expertise, a strong commitment to public service, and a shared dedication to improving outcomes for children, families, and communities across Washington. The team values thoughtful discussion, mutual respect, and problem-solving, and works well together in a supportive and mission-driven environment.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:
The Early Care and Education Workforce Supports Manager works with other state agencies, DCYF divisions, state partners, and community stakeholders to analyze, support, and communicate the needs of early care and education providers within a comprehensive professional development system. This position will support DCYF’s capacity to ensure that the early care and education workforce have access to professional learning opportunities to meet their staff qualification requirements and other ongoing workforce support efforts.

The Early Learning Division has a clear and meaningful mission, and this role allows the successful candidate to apply professional experience to advance important, statewide work. This is an opportunity to join a committed team doing challenging, rewarding work that has real and lasting impact, particularly for children and families most affected by early learning systems. This position is well-suited for someone who is motivated by impact and interested in contributing to policy, systems, and practice that support equity and access in early learning.

As a critical part of the agency mission, the Early Learning Division is committed to ensuring children, families, providers, and the early care and education workforce have the resources they need to be successful through ongoing implementation of an enduring, comprehensive and interconnected system of supports.

Some of what you will get to do:

• Develop and conduct routine landscape analysis of the early care and education workforce; provides division leadership with summary of strengths, opportunities and needs to support resourcing this workforce.
• Support development of and enhancements to systems to support the recruitment and retention of a diverse early care and education workforce, removing barriers to entry and progression in the early care and education field.
• Provide management and coordination, including developing scopes of work for service contracts, oversight of deliverables and managing staff specialists in the following areas:
  • Workforce support including recruitment and retention strategies.
  • Business supports, including facilities, technical assistance for business supports, electronic attendance and business training.
  • Scholarships for early care and education professionals.
  • Staff preparation, qualifications and credentialling.
• Perform research on program and policy-related topics relevant to early care and education workforce support issues.
• Manage implementation of early care and education workforce initiatives.
• Provides expert advice and consultation to the division’s leadership team, extended management team, and partners related to early care and education workforce supports.
• Supervise staff, which includes hiring, training, delegating, evaluating, and advising.
• Works in partnership with others in the agency and externally with local, state, and national partners.
• Facilitate cross-sector workgroups and advisory committees related to workforce supports addressing recruitment and retention needs.
• Provide legislative and fiscal analysis for workforce supports and initiatives.

Required Qualifications:

• Equivalent combination of education and progressively responsible experience in managing people, policy analysis, system development and related operations in a leadership role, preferably with local, state, or federal government agencies, and knowledge of project management, and data analysis totaling eight (8) years.

OR

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, early childhood education, program management and leadership, social services, human services, public health, or a related field AND five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in managing people, policy analysis, system development and related operations in a leadership role, preferably with local, state, or federal government agencies, and knowledge of project management, and data analysis.

OR

• Master’s degree in business administration, public administration, early childhood education, program management and leadership, social services, human services, public health, or a related field AND three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in managing people, policy analysis, system development and related operations in a leadership role, preferably with local, state, or federal government agencies, and knowledge of project management, and data analysis.

AND

• 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:

• Previous experience demonstrated in research, data collection and evaluation processes.
• In-depth knowledge of the early learning field and DCYF’s involvement and responsibilities in supporting early learning professionals.
• Previously demonstrated knowledge of child care licensing program policies, early childhood education, as well as state and federal laws and regulations.
• Previously demonstrated knowledge and experience working with professional development registries and/or web-based data systems.

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

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

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.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact Veronica Jones (Talent Acquisition Specialist) atveronica.jones@dcyf.wa.gov.

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

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact me at steven.loduha@dcyf.wa.gov.

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. 2026-02009