DSHS Deputy Assistant Secretary, Behavioral Health Habilitation Administration

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services; Olympia (WA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is seeking an experienced executive to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA). This leader will guide internal operations, oversee seven direct reports, and manage approximately 1,633 employees and statewide programs, ensuring sound fiscal stewardship in a complex healthcare system.

The role emphasizes collaborative leadership, patient and staff safety, risk management, and the

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for BHHA and its seven direct reports and approximately 1,633 employees.
• Oversee operational leadership across six behavioral health facilities and statewide programs.
• Direct policy implementation, risk management, major strategic initiatives, and allocation of significant budget resources.
• Strengthen organizational performance through fiscal stewardship, patient and staff safety, and collaborative leadership.

Job description

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration

Lead with Humanity. Strengthen Operations. Shape the Future of Behavioral Health.

The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is seeking an experienced executive leader to serve as the next Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Behavioral Health & Habilitation Administration (BHHA).

This is an opportunity to help shape the future of behavioral health services in Washington by strengthening one of the state's most complex healthcare systems, supporting statewide behavioral health facilities, and ensuring every decision reflects sound fiscal stewardship and a commitment to the people we serve.

If you're energized by solving complex challenges, strengthening organizations, and leading people through collaboration, this role offers the opportunity to make a lasting statewide impact.

About The Role

Working in partnership with the Assistant Secretary, you'll serve as BHHA's primary internal leader, providing executive leadership for approximately 1,633 employees and seven direct reports, including hospital chief executive officers and senior headquarters leaders.

You'll provide operational leadership across six behavioral health facilities, forensic mental health services, and other statewide behavioral health programs, with responsibility for policy implementation, risk management, major strategic initiatives, and significant budget resources while partnering with executive leaders to strengthen organizational performance across one of Washington's most complex behavioral healthcare systems.

Every operational decision has a financial impact—and every decision ultimately affects the people we serve. Effective leadership in this role requires balancing fiscal stewardship, patient and staff safety, operational excellence, and humanity.

What Success Looks Like

• Strengthen consistency across BHHA facilities and headquarters.
• Improve executive decision-making by ensuring policy and business decisions are supported by sound financial stewardship and well-developed business cases.
• Build trusted partnerships with hospital CEOs, headquarters leaders, and executive leadership.
• Advance patient and staff safety through proactive leadership and thoughtful decision-making.
• Strengthen the organization's infrastructure while helping advance the Assistant Secretary's vision for BHHA.

You Are a Leader Who

• Builds trust through collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
• Exercises sound judgment and understands the financial impact of executive decisions.
• Remains calm, decisive, and solutions-focused during complex challenges and crisis situations.
• Balances organizational excellence with compassion and humanity.
• Develops people, strengthens teams, and inspires confidence across the behavioral health system.

Key Priorities

• Strengthen Organizational Performance
• Provide executive leadership across BHHA facilities and headquarters while fostering consistency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Advance Financial Stewardship
• Guide thoughtful decision-making by ensuring policies and initiatives are supported by sound financial analysis, strong business cases, and responsible stewardship of public resources.
• Support Patient and Staff Safety