Deputy Director (WMS 3) DOH8998

Washington State Department of Health; Washington; Remote; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Health is seeking a Deputy Director for the Office of Enterprise Risk Management to provide strategic leadership across risk, privacy, and governance functions. You will coordinate operations, guide program leaders, and ensure compliance with laws and internal controls while aligning with agency priorities.

This remote role requires advanced experience in public health governance, enterprise risk management, and cross-functional collaboration with executive

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge and experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, and best practices in public disclosure/public records, audit, civil rights compliance, privacy compliance, or risk management.
• Experience providing legal and risk guidance to executive leaders on complex matters.
• Proven ability to develop and implement organization-wide policies and procedures.
• Experience leading initiatives involving organizational change or process improvement.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the OERM Director to provide strategic and operational direction across diverse programs.
• Lead day-to-day coordination of OERM’s programs and budgets.
• Translate agency priorities into actionable work plans and measurable outcomes.
• Represent OERM in agency initiatives and strategic projects.
• Oversee and manage budget and fiscal activities for OERM.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public health governance

Risk management

Policy interpretation

Budget oversight

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Master's degree in public health, public administration, law, or related field

Professional certification in privacy, risk management, or auditing

Experience in government or healthcare sector

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Job description

Deputy Director, Office of Enterprise Risk Management (WMS 3)

Center for Facilities, Risk and Adjudication - Office of Enterprise Risk Management

This home-based (remote) position is open to Washington residents and those living in Oregon and Idaho only.

The Opportunity

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is seeking an experienced leader to serve as the Deputy Director of the Office of Enterprise Risk Management (OERM), within the Center for Facilities, Risk and Adjudication (CFRA).

The Office of Enterprise Risk Management brings together more than 50 FTEs across Public Disclosure, Information Governance and Records Management, Privacy, External Audit and Internal Controls, Enterprise Risk Management, Workplace Safety, and Civil Rights and ADA. Together, these teams help DOH navigate complex challenges and manage risk, safeguard information, promote transparency and accountability, support equitable access, and meet legal and regulatory requirements.

The Deputy Director provides leadership across these varied functions, working closely with the OERM Director and program leaders to coordinate operations, anticipate and address complex challenges, strengthen systems and processes, and translate agency and office priorities into meaningful action. This position serves as a key thought partner to the Director and a core member of the OERM leadership team, with delegated authority to act on behalf of the Director when needed.

This is an opportunity for a strategic and collaborative leader to bring together people, programs, and perspectives to strengthen how this office supports the Department of Health and advances its mission to protect and improve the health of people in Washington.

Key Responsibilities Include

Leading Office Operations

• Partner with the OERM Director to provide strategic and operational direction, establish priorities, and advance shared goals across OERM.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and coordination across OERM’s diverse programs and functions.
• Translate agency and office priorities into actionable strategies, work plans, and measurable outcomes.
• Serve as the Director’s delegate when needed and provide continuity of leadership across the office.
• Serve as CFRA’s lead subject matter expert for legislative and rulemaking activities, coordinating CFRA’s response to proposed legislation, and helping program leaders understand and prepare for potential impacts.
• Oversee and manage budget and fiscal activities for OERM.

Advancing Agency Partnerships & Shared Solutions

• Build strong working relationships with executive leaders, program managers, and internal and external partners across DOH.
• Identify opportunities for OERM to work across organizational boundaries and develop coordinated approaches to agency needs.
• Help translate OERM’s expertise into practical guidance and solutions for staff across the agency.
• Represent OERM in agency-wide initiatives, leadership discussions, and strategic projects.

Navigating Agency Risk & Compliance

• Provide guidance to program staff and agency leaders as they navigate emerging challenges, competing risks and priorities, and legal, policy, and operational considerations. Facilitate problem-solving and help identify strategic solutions.
• Help ensure OERM programs are well-positioned to support agency compliance with applicable laws, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Strengthen organizational practices that promote accountability, transparency, privacy, civil rights and equitable access, workplace safety, and responsible stewardship of agency resources.
• Anticipate emerging issues and develop strategies to address them proactively.

Improving Systems & Processes

• Evaluate office-wide systems, processes, and practices to identify and advance opportunities for greater coordination, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Use data, staff and partner perspectives, and continuous improvement practices to inform decision-making and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Help develop sustainable approaches to operational challenges and changing office and agency needs.
• Lead the development, implementation, maintenance, and review of agency policies and procedures related to OERM programs and activities.

Leading People & Strengthening Teams

• Support OERM program leaders in navigating priorities, solving problems, delivering results, and advancing effective performance management and continuous improvement .
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, inclusion, and shared responsibility, where people feel heard and supported, and their ideas, strengths, and perspectives are valued.
• Support leaders and staff through organizational change, emerging challenges, and evolving priorities.
• Help cultivate strong connections across OERM’s teams and with partners throughout the agency.
• Promote employee engagement, professional development, and opportunities for growth.
• Supervise assigned staff, while also providing leadership, guidance, and support to other leaders and staff across the office .

Why You’ll Love This Role

This role offers the opportunity to influence work that reaches across every part of the Washington State Department of Health. OERM’s programs play an essential role in protecting information, promoting transparency and accountability, supporting civil rights and equitable access, managing risk, and ensuring safe and effective workplaces.

The Deputy Director will work alongside experienced program leaders and agency partners while helping bring together a wide range of expertise toward common goals. For a leader who enjoys solving complex problems, improving systems, building strong partnerships, and developing people—and who finds meaning in helping an organization work better for the people it serves.

Required Qualifications

There are multiple pathways to qualify for this position. You must meet one of the options provided and any additional criteria listed. Experience may have been gained through paid or unpaid activities. Please ensure any relevant experience defined below is outlined in your cover letter, resume, and/or applicant profile.

Advanced knowledge and experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, and best practices in public disclosure/public records, audit, civil rights compliance, privacy compliance, or risk management. (Must have been gained within the last ten (10) years).

Five (5) or more years of management- or oversight-level leadership experience, demonstrating experience in each of the following:

• Overseeing and managing programs in public disclosure/public records, audit, civil rights compliance, privacy compliance, risk management, or legal affairs
• Providing legal and risk-based guidance to executive-level leaders on complex and sensitive matters
• Developing and implementing organization-wide policies and procedures
• Leading significant initiatives involving organizational change, process improvement, or systems transformation that require coordination across programs
• Supervising, leading, and developing staff
• Preparing executive-level written reports, legislative/policy analyses, and recommendations on complex legal or regulatory matters

Preferred Qualifications

• A balance of assertiveness and diplomacy, as well as the ability to collaborate effectively with a team of professionals, both internal and external to an organization.
• Experience working in government, healthcare, or another highly regulated or complex environment.
• Experience leading or coordinating enterprise-wide initiatives involving multiple programs, functions, and organizational partners, and facilitating collaboration across complex organizations with competing priorities, perspectives, and interests.
• Experience overseeing or conducting monitoring, audits, or investigations. For example: privacy incident investigations, civil rights investigations, employee investigations, internal or external government audits.
• Education or professional certification in a relevant field, such as law (JD), public administration (MPA), privacy (e.g., CIPM, CIPP, CIPT), auditing (e.g., CIA, CGAP), public disclosure (e.g., WAPRO certification), enterprise risk management (e.g., CRM, CRMP, CRMA), project management (e.g., PMP), or accounting (e.g., CPA).

Employee Benefits

We offer a solid benefits package that supports you and your family’s health, financial security, and work-life balance. You’ll have access to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and long-term disability insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, and retirement plans that help you plan for tomorrow while you’re living today. Paid holidays, vacation and sick leave help you recharge, and additional programs like dependent care assistance and professional development opportunities add value beyond basic coverage. Join us and enjoy benefits designed to care for you as much as you care about public health. Learn more about DOH benefits and see how we support your life at work and beyond by visiting Work@Health.

About The Washington State Department Of Health

We’re nearly 2,700 professionals across Washington working together to protect and improve community health. Guided by our values of Equity, Innovation, and Engagement, we address health disparities, respond to emerging challenges, and strengthen systems that support resilience.

At DOH, we help reduce barriers, collaborate with diverse communities, and champion equitable health outcomes. We're passionate people who are driven to make a difference in public health . Our work depends on people who take action to learn and grow and who take action to meet the needs of others every day, in service of a healthier Washington. Explore more about the Department of Health, our programs, and our impact by visiting our website.

Working Conditions

The following describes the working conditions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Setting

• This position may work from home, a DOH facility, or remotely from an alternate location. The official duty station for this position is home-based. If onsite work is requested by the supervisor, the request will be planned and communicated in advance.
• The work is fast paced with many demands and multiple priorities and primarily involves working at a computer.
• Exposure to hazards is limited to those commonly found in indoor at home or office environments. This position is sedentary, working at a computer for extended periods.

Schedule

• Due to the operational and supervisory nature of the position, the schedule will be Monday through Friday. A minimum of 40 hours per week is required to fulfill the responsibilities of this position. An alternative work schedule will be considered, subject to approval.
• This position may need to work more than 40 hours per week to meet critical deadlines or address workload peaks such as during legislative session.

Travel Requirements

• This position may require travel to the Tumwater DOH location, and occasionally to other DOH locations. Occasional travel in-state and out-of-state may also be needed to attend conferences and events, but not frequently.

Tools And Equipment

• Work is performed using standard office furniture, equipment, and software such as a laptop, docking station, monitors, cellular phone, Microsoft Office products, Adobe Professional Pro, SharePoint, and other similar products.

Customer Relations

• Frequent contact and communication with internal agency staff and leaders, and occasionally with external partners. Interactions often require tact, sensitivity, and careful consideration of confidentiality.

Other

• Ability to take action to learn and grow
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others
• The DOH campus is a smoke-free, drug-free, alcohol-free, scent-neutral environment.
• This position may be required to conduct and/or participate in public health emergency preparedness and response activities.

Veterans Preference

Applicants wishing to claim Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD-214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22, or a signed verification of service letter from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs to their application. Please remove or cover any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers and birth year

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We regard diversity as the foundation of our strength, recognizing that differing insights and abilities enable us to reflect the unique needs of the communities we serve.

Questions and Accommodations:

If you have questions, need assistance with the application process, require an accommodation, or would like to request this posting in an alternative format, please contact Andrea Thieme at [e-mail] and reference DOH8998 .