DSHS BHHA JAIL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGER

DSHS BHHA JAIL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE MANAGER

Salary

$80,936.00 - $114,701.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County - Olympia, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-07731

Department

Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division

BHHA

Opening Date

10/02/2026

Closing Date

10/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits

Description

Providing support for jails and jail partners statewide.

As the Jail Technical Assistance Manager, your goal is to become that trusted resource for jails across Washington-helping them strengthen behavioral health support for people in their custody, including people covered by the Trueblood settlement and others with behavioral health conditions.

Getting there starts with understanding the issues jails face.

Youll listen to whats getting in the way, connect them with the right expertise, and bring people together to find a way forward. But you cant help with a problem you dont know about. Jail staff need to trust you enough to tell you what isnt working, making strong relationships essential to everything that follows.

We encourage you to apply if you know how to build that kind of trust and collaboration.

You initiate conversations, listen before offering solutions, and help people across different organizations solve problems together. Youre comfortable speaking to a large group, following up one-on-one, and keeping things moving without waiting to be asked. As those relationships grow, youll see opportunities to improve how jails get support. Youll have room to build new partnerships, bring people together around shared challenges, and contribute to efforts such a expanding access to telehealth.

Youll carry that perspective into statewide conversations. As DSHSs representative on the Reentry 2030 Council and a participant in other partner forums, youll bring what youre hearing from jails into the conversation and identify where DSHS can help.

Your first 90 days are about building the foundation for that work.

Youll get to know jail staff and state partners, understand where they need support, and learn what resources and relationships already exist. Then youll put those connections to work-bringing in subject matter experts, developing presentations around what jails need, and helping partners work through challenges together.

Most of your work will be done remotely, giving you the independence to manage relationships and projects across the state. Those relationships wont exist entirely online. Youll travel as needed to meet with partners, participate in meetings, and speak at forums and other in-person events.

Within your first year, success is clear: jails know who to call when they need help-and trust you enough to make the call.

Still reading? Heres what youll do.

Some of What Youll Do

• Build trusted relationships with jails across Washington and the agencies and organizations that work with them.
• Assist jails and partners troubleshoot situations related to forensic behavioral health issues and connect them with useful resources and subject matter experts.
• Stand up and run a committee bringing partners together to help identify and solve problems.
• Develop monthly presentations for jails and partners around topics that are important to them and that highlight current and emerging practices.
• Bring together speakers, partners, and experts for virtual and in-person learning opportunities.
• Represent DSHS on the statewide Reentry 2030 Council and bring opportunities for collaboration back to DSHS leadership.
• Participate in Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs meetings and other partner forums.
• Develop training, curriculum, reports, web content, guidebooks, and other resources for partners.
• Manage projects from planning through implementation and evaluation.

Who Should Apply

Required:

• A masters degree in psychology, behavioral health, public administration, or a closely related field and six years of paid professional experience in psychology, behavioral health, public administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least five years of experience building and maintaining effective partnerships, including work governed by strict legal requirements such as a lawsuit or settlement agreement and requiring a high level of discretion.
• At least five years of experience delivering virtual and in-person training and managing complex projects from planning through implementation and evaluation.
• At least five years of experience helping partner organizations solve problems and access resources, including researching, writing, and editing high-visibility materials such as reports, web content, articles, training manuals, and guidebooks.
• At least two years of experience developing curriculum.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a jail or partnering with jails.
• Behavioral health experience, including some direct experience.
• Knowledge of applicable Washington laws and regulations (RCW and WAC) and HIPAA requirements.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications such as Word, Outlook, and Teams.

How to Apply

Hit the green APPLY button and submit:

• Your resume.
• Your cover letter.
• Three professional references.

Questions?

Email recruiter Kris George at kris.george@dshs.wa.gov and reference job number 07731.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agencys vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental Information

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 drivers 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.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here. Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.

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

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