DSHS ESA DCS Executive Assistant

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration (ESA), Division of Child Support (DCS), is seeking to hire an Executive Assistant to support the Director and provides executive-level assistance to division chiefs, managers, and administrative staff.
 
The Executive Assistant provides high-level, confidential administrative support to executive leadership within the Division of Child Support. This highly visible role manages complex calendars, coordinates meetings and travel, supports daily operations and special projects, and serves as a primary liaison between leadership, staff, and the public. The position handles sensitive information and high-priority communications, requiring exceptional professionalism, organization, and communication skills.
 
This role offers a hybrid schedule with 2-3 days/week in Headquarters, located in Olympia, WA. 
 
 Join a team that helps to empower people and their families to thrive.  




Some of what you’ll do

• Provide executive-level support to senior management/executive leadership by managing complex calendars, preparing meeting materials, coordinating workflow, and handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Oversee communications for executive leadership, including reviewing and drafting correspondence, preparing briefing materials and talking points, and ensuring timely, accurate responses to inquiries.
• Serve as a primary liaison to constituents, legislators, government agencies, and internal staff, ensuring professional and effective communication across all stakeholder groups.
• Coordinate division meetings and initiatives, managing agendas, materials, meeting minutes, and follow-up actions for management team and all-staff meetings.
• Plan and manage in-state and out-of-state travel for executive leadership and designated staff, developing detailed itineraries and ensuring compliance with agency requirements.
• Support division-wide operations, including monitoring personnel actions, legislative activity, fiscal documents, and other administrative processes to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Lead and contribute to special projects, balancing multiple priorities, resolving day-to-day operational issues, and providing flexible, high-level support to senior management and the broader leadership team.

• A proven ability to anticipate executive needs, work well in stressful situations, and respond appropriately to emergencies.
• Bachelor’s degree;
• Experience working with SharePoint
• Broad knowledge of state government organization and administration procedures, federal and local government functions, state and federal laws and regulations governing personnel actions, administrative policies, and the Washington Federation of State Employees Bargaining Agreement.
• Decisiveness and judgment – makes timely, informed decisions even under ambiguous circumstances; uses available information and logic to prioritize conflicting needs; takes action and advocates for important organizational objectives, even when unpopular; recognizes when and how to apply protocol to situations.
• Problem-solving skills – looks beyond the obvious and is resourceful in seeking additional information that may impact proposed solutions; identifies all facets of problems and the implications of new information; breaks problems down into component parts to solve them more readily; applies general rules to specific problems to produce solutions that make sense; develops creative but workable solutions.
• Interpersonal relationships – gains the support of others through persuasiveness, credibility, trust, and expertise; addresses issues in an open, constructive, professional manner; able to be kind but firm and remain polite and approachable even when delivering unpleasant news; able to professionally represent the agency.

We partner with people to access support, care, and resources.

This role is an Exempt Management Services role.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may 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 job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle
 
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

 

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