Regional Permanency and Youth Services Area Administrator (WMS2) – Region 4

Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy— thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community."

Job Title: Regional Permanency and Youth Services Area Administrator (WMS2) - Region 4 
Location: Seattle, WA - Region 4, King County.  Travel within the Region and State is required. Occasional national travel may be required.
Closes: 07/05/2026
Salary: $87,024 - $108,780 Annually.
 
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) seeks an Area Administrator (WMS2) for R4 Field Operations, responsible for ensuring the effective administration and adequate implementation, per law and policy, of all DCYF programs and units within Regional Permanency and Youth Services Programs. This position oversees the Legally Free Unit, Extended Foster Care (EFC), Region 4 Roving Unit, Cross-Systems Program Manager, Education Program Manager, Permanency Consultant, and Office Manager. 
 
Click here to learn more about DCYF.  
 
The Opportunity:
This position serves as an Area Administrator within DCYF for R4 Field Operations, Regional Permanency and Youth Services. The position provides primary and secondary supervision for approximately 35 FTEs. The Area Administrator reports to the Regional Administrator and is responsible for ensuring the effective administrative and adequate implementation, per law and policy, of all DCYF programs and units within R4 Field Operations. In addition, the Area Administrator is responsible for ensuring that every child served by the regional safety and stability programs is, first and foremost, safe and that all regional safety and stability staff are engaged in the highest levels of child safety practices. Maintaining positive relationships with Federal, State, County, and City governments, the Area Administrator fosters strong collaboration with a variety of child welfare systems and the community.
  
Some of what you will get to do:

• Supervises professional social services staff in accomplishing the administration's purpose, which is to keep children safe, to safely reduce the number of children in need of out-of-home care, and to strengthen and preserve families and communities so they can provide safety, permanency, and well-being for children.
• Establishes and enforces performance measures to ensure social workers and supervisors meet all casework management directives as required by law, policy, and other mandates.
• Establishes goals and objectives, develops performance standards, equips staff, develops section expectations, procedures, and protocols, resolves problems, and evaluates programs, supervisors, and staff.
• Develops processes and structures to ensure manageable workloads, ensures quality assurance reviews are completed, and training plans are used effectively. 
• Provides clinical guidance and consultation for complex screening decisions.
• Monitors progress in meeting federal, state, and other child welfare outcomes and makes organizational, procedural, resource, supervisory, and training changes as necessary to meet identified outcomes.
• Manages units, budget, and program responsibilities within FTE allocation.
• Manages and maintains quality relationships with law enforcement, medical providers, schools, contracted providers, child advocates, courts, attorneys, and other community entities in Region 4.
• Responds promptly to client, caregiver, and community concerns regarding child safety and case planning. 
• Manages personnel, providing supervision that consists of regular individual conferences, recruiting, hiring, and training staff. 
• Develops performance expectations, monitors employee performance, and ensures timely annual performance evaluations. 
• Develops and monitors corrective action plans and advises the Regional Administrator of performance problems or other personnel concerns. 
• Reviews and authorizes client services as well as staff overtime expenses for the assigned programs.

What we are looking for (Required Qualifications):

• A Master's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration, or a related field, and three years of professional experience in management or supervision experience in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.

OR 

• A Bachelor's degree in social work, a health or social science, public administration or a related field and five years of professional experience in management or supervision experience in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education.

OR

• Nine (9) years of professional experience in management or supervision in Social Services, Mental Health, or Education. 

AND

• Demonstrated working understanding of safety and risk assessment, family preservation, principles of family-centered and child-focused practice, and strategies for family engagement, along with expertise in building relationships with clients, staff, and community leaders and modeling, including at least two (2) years of experience providing direct services to children and families served through the public child welfare system.

This position also requires the candidate to possess the following: 

• Complete understanding of state and federal laws and policies related to social and health programs, principles and practices of program assessment, planning, public administration, and personnel management, and social programs specific to clientele served, vendor/provider relationships, negotiations, principles of community organizations, and program consultation and monitoring.
• Must fully understand the principles of program management/consultation and have a comprehensive understanding of the regional support programs identified. 
• Must have interpersonal skills required to work cooperatively with other agencies, public speaking skills, understanding of the dynamics of organizational change, the ability to use FTEs creatively and balance workloads of staff with the sections, and problem-solving skills needed to address obstacles to effective program implementation and meet agency goals and objectives. 
• Must have the skills and credibility necessary to take the lead in project development, coordination, and completion in situations where the position has no line authority over other administrators and supervisors. 
• Must thoroughly understand the agency's case and management information system and be adept in its use to review case information and have strong abilities with other electronic applications, i.e., Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. 

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:
Utilize cultural competency to understand, communicate with, and effectively interact with clients, subordinate staff, and other individuals across cultures, focusing on understanding and respecting the strengths of the clients, including their heritage, cultural beliefs and values, communication and learning styles.
AND
•Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with law enforcement, courts, providers/vendors, community stakeholders and with internal/external statewide professionals.
•Evaluate, compile, and organize data into reports and policies.
•Direct and evaluate the work of others.
•Understand, conceptualize, structure, and administer quality assurance programs.
•Apply principles of child protection to a variety of complex family situations to lead staff in making decisions that keep children safe.
•Assess and understand program and social/behavioral complexities and be able to create safe, permanent plans that meet the caseload reduction goals and program outcomes for child safety.
•Advanced supervisory and managerial skills.
•Working understanding of state and federal law and agency policies and regulations concerning public child protective services, risk assessment, safety planning, and permanency and well-being services as delivered in a public child welfare setting.
•Budget analysis, allotments, and fiscal accountability applications.
•Assessing and understanding complex case work options.
•Use of business applications and Child Welfare information computer systems

How do I apply? Complete your applicant profile and attach the following: 

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Transcripts - if applicable. 

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 mission 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 recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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.

This position requires a minimum of at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license. 

Successful completion of DCYF Academy and DCYF Supervisory Academy or current equivalent.
 

Degrees must be obtained from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), or a foreign equivalent verified by a NACES-approved organization at naces.org. Foreign Equivalency certification must be attached to the application for degrees obtained outside the U.S.

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement. For more information on employee benefits eligibility, visit: Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact DCYF Recruiter.  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.          

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22, or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission).  If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, the individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD Form 214, NGB Form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veterans’ Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.

2026-05229