Secretary of Health (Department of Health)
Apply NowCompany: State of Washington
Location: Olympia, WA 98501
Description:
Salary : $124,956.00 - $224,916.00 Annually
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2025-01230
Department: Office of the Governor
Division: Office of the Governor
Opening Date: 02/13/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Please Note: To allow for growth and salary progression over time in this role, the full salary range is $124,956 - $ 224,916 annually. The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range. This recruitment will remain open until filled and the hiring manager may make a hiring decision at any time. First review of applications will occur the week of February 24, 2025.
Terms of Appointment: The secretary is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the governor.
Join the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) - Advancing Equity and Optimal Health for All!
At DOH, we are dedicated to improving health outcomes and advancing equity for all Washingtonians. With nearly 3,000 employees across Tumwater, Shoreline, Spokane, and Richland, we are committed to preserving public health, ensuring quality health care delivery, and overseeing health-related activities statewide.
We focus on equity and health in everything we do. Our broad responsibilities include environmental health, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease protection, health care regulation, behavioral health, and climate justice. We aim to strengthen our partnerships with local health departments, Tribes, and the State Board of Health, and work with diverse communities to design health solutions that work for everyone.
What We Do:
The opportunity
The Secretary of Health is a critical leadership role for the state of Washington, serving as the Governor's public health expert and guiding the future of public health in the state. We're looking for a dynamic, visionary leader who is ready to advance statewide health policy, oversee regulatory improvements, and lead swift responses to public health emergencies.
As Secretary, you will drive key initiatives to support healthcare professionals, enhance community health outcomes, and rebuild trust in our public health systems following recent challenges. You'll ensure that science leads the way in shaping both public health practices and policy making, creating a balanced approach where research and practice work hand-in-hand to improve the well-being of all Washingtonians.
In this role, you'll have the opportunity to lead the charge in shaping and advancing statewide healthy policy to improve the health of all Washington residents. This includes overseeing and improving the regulatory framework for healthcare systems and providers, ensuring accountability and quality care. By collaborating across diverse groups of partners, including state and federal agencies, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and public-private partnerships, we will achieve improved health outcomes.
Duties
What you'll work on
Key Challenges and Opportunities
Qualifications
What we need you to bring
Required Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
Competencies and Skills:
Personal Attributes:
Desired Qualifications:
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information:
What we offer:
We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.
Please visit our for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here's a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:
Application Process: Once you've decided to apply for a state government job, you'll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it. So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:
Questions:
Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at
For more information about this opportunity, please contact:
LeAnna Spriestersbach
Principal
Anvil Rock Consulting, LLC
253-227-5821
The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.
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. That's 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 (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 (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 , 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, are entitled to three (3) 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
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 12-31-2022
Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA
Job Type: Exempt
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 2025-01230
Department: Office of the Governor
Division: Office of the Governor
Opening Date: 02/13/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Please Note: To allow for growth and salary progression over time in this role, the full salary range is $124,956 - $ 224,916 annually. The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates' qualifications within the starting salary range. This recruitment will remain open until filled and the hiring manager may make a hiring decision at any time. First review of applications will occur the week of February 24, 2025.
Terms of Appointment: The secretary is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the governor.
Join the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) - Advancing Equity and Optimal Health for All!
At DOH, we are dedicated to improving health outcomes and advancing equity for all Washingtonians. With nearly 3,000 employees across Tumwater, Shoreline, Spokane, and Richland, we are committed to preserving public health, ensuring quality health care delivery, and overseeing health-related activities statewide.
We focus on equity and health in everything we do. Our broad responsibilities include environmental health, chronic disease prevention, infectious disease protection, health care regulation, behavioral health, and climate justice. We aim to strengthen our partnerships with local health departments, Tribes, and the State Board of Health, and work with diverse communities to design health solutions that work for everyone.
What We Do:
- Lead public health strategy and strengthen the state-local-governmental partnership.
- Develop proactive prevention strategies and provide expert public health guidance.
- Shape health policy in Washington while collaborating nationally.
- Ensure fair enforcement and support during public health emergencies.
- Share clear, data-driven information with the public.
The opportunity
The Secretary of Health is a critical leadership role for the state of Washington, serving as the Governor's public health expert and guiding the future of public health in the state. We're looking for a dynamic, visionary leader who is ready to advance statewide health policy, oversee regulatory improvements, and lead swift responses to public health emergencies.
As Secretary, you will drive key initiatives to support healthcare professionals, enhance community health outcomes, and rebuild trust in our public health systems following recent challenges. You'll ensure that science leads the way in shaping both public health practices and policy making, creating a balanced approach where research and practice work hand-in-hand to improve the well-being of all Washingtonians.
In this role, you'll have the opportunity to lead the charge in shaping and advancing statewide healthy policy to improve the health of all Washington residents. This includes overseeing and improving the regulatory framework for healthcare systems and providers, ensuring accountability and quality care. By collaborating across diverse groups of partners, including state and federal agencies, Tribal Nations, nonprofits, academic institutions, and public-private partnerships, we will achieve improved health outcomes.
Duties
What you'll work on
- Strategic Leadership: Set the agency's vision, aligning priorities with the Governor's objectives and mission. Lead the agency's Executive Team to implement strategic goals and optimize resources. Champion the State Health Improvement Plan and position Washington as a leader in public health innovation.
- Accountability: Implement robust performance management and customer feedback systems, ensuring accountability and high-quality service delivery.
- Fiscal Responsibility: Effectively manage the agency's annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with state priorities, ensuring sustainable operations.
- Operational Excellence: Streamline and reduce barriers in the licensing and certification processes for healthcare professionals. Direct a comprehensive set of activities aimed at reducing or eliminating health hazards in the environment, including program areas associated with drinking water, food safety, radiation protection, toxic substances, and toxins.
- Community Engagement: Center community voices, especially marginalized populations, in health planning. Build meaningful partnerships with Tribes, local governments, healthcare providers, hospitals, and advocacy groups.
- Regulatory Oversight: Oversee healthcare system and professional regulations to ensure compliance and patient safety. Manage responses to public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks and climate-related events.
- Advocacy and Policy Development: Represent the DOH before the legislature, elected officials, and key partners, leading the implementation of health reform legislation. Propose and implement health policy legislation to address public health challenges.
Key Challenges and Opportunities
- Address the politicization of public health and rebuild trust in state health systems.
- Effectively manage the budget and ensure sustainable operations.
- Strengthen the public health workforce and improve morale following pandemic-related challenges.
- Enhance the state's data infrastructure and integrate public health and clinical care systems effectively.
Qualifications
What we need you to bring
Required Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
- Minimum five (5) years' executive level management experience in large, complex organizations.
- Working knowledge of leadership, communications, human resources and labor relations, finance and business practices, and performance management and quality improvement.
- Understanding of the state and local public health and the connection between public health and health care systems.
- Knowledge of issues affecting a wide range of health protection and promotion programs, such as tobacco prevention, nutrition and healthy living, emergency preparedness, and environmental public health.
- Knowledge of Washington's public health and health care delivery systems.
- Understanding of the Incident Management System, and possess experience planning for and/or responding to emergency situations that threaten life, public health, and/or property.
Competencies and Skills:
- Organizational and political awareness, relationship building skills, and effective decision making.
- Ability to lead and direct groups of diverse and highly technical employees, such as physicians, toxicologists, epidemiologists, engineers, nurses, attorneys, laboratory scientists, etc.
- Ability to integrate performance leadership into program activities, provides coaching and mentoring for improved success, provides personalized recognition and celebrates successes, and displays characteristics of interpersonal influence.
- Seeks to understand the needs, objectives and challenges of the people they impact.
Personal Attributes:
- Exceptional emotional intelligence, humility and thoughtfulness
- Resilient and adaptable
- Action-oriented
- Highly ethical
- Innovative and challenges the status quo
Desired Qualifications:
- Master's in Public Health Administration, Public Administration, or related field.
- Experience working in public administration, public health systems or health care organizations.
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information:
What we offer:
We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.
Please visit our for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here's a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:
- An environment of
- Tuition reimbursement
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
- 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
- State retirement programs
Application Process: Once you've decided to apply for a state government job, you'll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it. So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:
- Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
- Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
- References: at least three professional references and their contact information.
Questions:
Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at
For more information about this opportunity, please contact:
LeAnna Spriestersbach
Principal
Anvil Rock Consulting, LLC
253-227-5821
The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.
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. That's 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 (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 (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 , 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, are entitled to three (3) 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
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 12-31-2022