Director of Government Affairs (Olympia)

Director of Government Affairs (Olympia)

Salary

$108,000.00 - $149,724.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County - Olympia, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-05641

Department

Dept of Children, Youth, and Families

Division

Office of the Secretary

Opening Date

07/08/2026

Closing Date

7/27/2026 11:59 AM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits

Description

Our vision is to ensure that "Washington states children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Director of Government Affairs

Agency: Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF)

Location: Olympia, WA - Office of the Secretary. This position is headquartered at DCYF Headquarters in Olympia. Telework opportunities are available at the discretion of the Secretary; however, regular in-person work is required, particularly during the legislative session. Statewide travel is required, including overnight travel as necessary.

Reports To: DCYF Secretary Tana Senn

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and strategic leader to serve as our Director of Government Affairs. This executive leadership position serves as the agency's principal advisor on legislative affairs and government relations, leading DCYF's legislative strategy while building and maintaining strong partnerships with the Governor's Office, Washington State Legislature, Tribal governments, state agencies, providers, advocates, and community partners.

DCYF oversees a broad portfolio of programs and services that support children, youth, and families across Washington, including early learning, child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, licensing, and family support services. The Director of Government Affairs plays a vital role in advancing the agency's mission by shaping legislative priorities, coordinating Agency Request Legislation (ARL), supporting budget development, and ensuring effective communication and collaboration with policymakers throughout the legislative process.

If you are a strategic thinker who thrives on building relationships, navigating complex policy environments, leading high-performing teams, and advancing public policy that improves outcomes for children, youth, and families, we invite you to apply.

The Opportunity:

Reporting directly to the Secretary, the Director of Government Affairs provides executive leadership for DCYF's Office of Government Affairs and serves as the agency's primary liaison with the Governor's Policy Office, members of the Legislature, legislative staff, Tribal governments, and key external partners.

The Director leads the development, coordination, and execution of DCYF's legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation while partnering closely with executive leaders, including the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Budget Director, to advance budget priorities, decision packages, and fiscal policy initiatives. This position ensures DCYF is strategically positioned throughout the legislative process, from policy development and advocacy through implementation and evaluation.

As a member of the DCYF Leadership Table, the Director contributes to agency-wide strategic planning, executive decision making, and organizational priorities. The Director provides leadership and direction to the Office of Government Affairs team, including Policy Advisors and Senior Policy Advisors, while representing the agency before legislative committees, stakeholder organizations, community partners, and executive leaders.

Some of what you will do:

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop Government Affairs Policy Advisors and Senior Policy Advisors.
• Lead and execute DCYFs comprehensive legislative strategy and engagement efforts supporting the agency's mission across child care, child welfare, and juvenile justice programs and services.
• Develop, coordinate, and manage the agencys legislative agenda and Agency Request Legislation, ensuring alignment with child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and broader child and family well-being priorities.
• Advise the Secretary and Executive Leadership Team on legislative priorities, emerging policy issues, and strategic opportunities impacting child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and the communities DCYF serves.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with legislators, legislative staff, the Governors Office, Office of Financial Management, Tribal governments, advocacy organizations, providers, and community partners.
• Coordinate and oversee legislative testimony, reports, presentations, and communications with the Legislature on issues affecting child care access, child welfare systems, juvenile justice programs, and agency operations.
• Partner with the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Budget Director to develop and coordinate agency decision packages and budget proposals supporting critical child care, child welfare, and juvenile justice investments.
• Monitor legislation, budget proposals, provisos, and executive actions affecting DCYF programs and operations, including impacts to child care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and related prevention and early intervention services.
• Coordinate legislative and policy activities with other state agencies throughout the legislative process.

Track and ensure timely completion of legislatively directed reports, executive orders, and statutory reporting requirements.

• Collaborate with Communications staff to develop messaging, webinars, and materials related to legislative priorities and agency initiatives.

Foster collaboration across agency divisions to ensure legislative priorities align with operational and program needs.

• Negotiate and resolve complex policy, organizational, and interagency issues while balancing competing priorities.
• Represent DCYF before legislative committees, stakeholder groups, statewide workgroups, Tribal governments, and public forums on issues impacting children, youth, families, and communities.
• Serve as a member of the DCYF Leadership Table, contributing to executive leadership and agency-wide strategic planning.

Required Qualifications:

• Five (5) years minimum experience working in legislative affairs, public policy, or government relations.
• Expert knowledge of the legislative process, how a bill becomes a law, and the budget development and proviso process.
• Demonstrated political acumen to interact with legislators, the Governor's Office, Secretary, etc.
• Ability to lead and manage a team.
• Excellent communication skills, including writing, presenting, and public speaking.
• Previously demonstrated ability to work well and deliver in a fast-paced, often-unpredictable environment.
• Commitment to equity and tribal sovereignty.
• Previously demonstrated work experience in Microsoft products, PPT, Teams, Zoom, etc.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in public policy, public administration or related field, or law degree.
• Experience and familiarity working with the Washington State legislature, specifically.
• Expertise in child welfare or juvenile justice or early learning or related field or knowledge of child welfare, juvenile justice, and early learning.
• Seven (7) years of experience working in legislative affairs, public policy or government relations.
• Understanding of agency budgeting.
• Experience drafting, analyzing or advocating for legislation.
• Familiarity or experience working with Tribes.

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Three professional references

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 goal 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 position is exempt from Washington's civil service rules. Exempt employment is considered "at will," and there are no contractual employment rights.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicants suitability and competence to perform in the position.

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

If youre 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.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. Thats why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Employer State of Washington

Address View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504

Website http://www.careers.wa.gov