Director of Government Affairs (Olympia)

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 DCYF's 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 agency's 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 Governor's 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:

• Master's 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 applicant's 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 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.