WDVA Counseling and Wellness Programs Administrator (WMS 3), Full-Time, Olympia

Description

If you are an experienced leader, manager, and clinician looking to utilize your expertise to improve the quality of life for veterans and their families, this is an exciting opportunity for you!

This role leads Washington’s statewide counseling and wellness portfolio to prevent veteran suicide and expand trauma-informed care for veterans and their family members.

Position Schedule & Shift: Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Hybrid/Telework: This position may be eligible for hybrid telework based on business needs, as approved by the appointing authority. The position will still require in-person presence.

Here at the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA), we are passionate about our mission of “Serving Those Who Served.” As a national leader in our advocacy for nearly 500,000 veterans and their family members, we strive to connect them to earned benefits as well as innovative programs focused on their overall health and wellness. In addition, we provide critical community services through a variety of programs, and at our four State Veterans Homes located in Orting, Port Orchard, Spokane, and Walla Walla. These locations provide Medicare and Medicaid nursing home care to Veterans, including, in some instances, their spouses, widows, or Gold Star. 

Under the supervision of the VSCW Director, The Counseling and Wellness Programs Administrator ensures statewide coordination and/or delivery of services to veterans and their family members. This position develops and implements the strategic direction and daily operations of the Counseling and Wellness Programs office. As the Counseling and Wellness Programs Administrator, you will shape and implement Washington’s strategy for veteran counseling programs, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury services, training and education, and conservation opportunities. You will work with state agencies, federal partners, tribes, counties, nonprofit organizations, and community providers to improve service quality, access, and outcomes for veterans and their families. If you want to make a positive impact in the lives of veterans and their families, we encourage you to join our team and apply now!

Duties

Some of the duties of the Counseling & Wellness Programs Administrator include:

• Provides direct oversight of the quality and service delivery of all treatment and educational services offered by the Counseling Program.
  •  Responsible for recruiting and selecting contracted licensed mental health providers. 
  • Conducts provider site visits and case consultation as needed.
• Oversee WDVA’s Suicide Prevention Programs and associated activities including:
  • Governor’s Challenge.
  • Outreach.
  • Training and education.
  • Tobacco Cessation Program
• Oversee the SSG Fox Federal Suicide Prevention Program.
• Oversee the Veteran Training Support Center and associated activities.
• Oversee the activities of the Brain Injury and Recovery Program.
• Oversee Veteran Conservation Corp activities.
• Oversee performance management, professional development, required training and education for all staff within the Counseling and Wellness office.
• Management and oversight of the budget for all Counseling and Wellness Program areas.
• Develops, monitors, and reports on performance metrics for all program areas within the Counseling and Wellness Programs office.
• Serves as Contract Administrator for all contracts within the Counseling and Wellness Programs office including meeting all the requirements of contracts and grants as well as overseeing contract enforcement actions as needed.

*Full position description available upon request

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies.

• Master’s Degree from an accredited university in counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy or related field. Licensure is required along with five years of counseling experience.
• Five (5) years of progressive business/financial leadership and management experience.

A combination of education and experience may be considered on a year-for-year basis. Experience must be relevant to the position.

• Demonstrated leadership and proven effectiveness working with city governments, federal agencies, non-profit organizations, and corporate organizations.
• Organizational management experience with the ability to coach middle level managers and develop high performing teams and implement innovative strategies that support the WDVA Strategic Plan.
• Direct Service to the community: Experience managing programs that facilitate mental health services directly to the community.
• Leadership and Management: Experience in a leadership role to include supervising staff. This experience should demonstrate the ability to manage staff, develop and implement programs, oversee budgets, interpret data, competence with contemporary management principles, and ensure compliance with regulations and ethical guidelines. Must be able to demonstrate leadership acumen in a complex organization and ability to drive change.
• Knowledge of Evidence-Based Practices: Experience navigating and facilitating access to a variety of social and mental health services, and evidence-based best practices based on client need.
• Program Development and Evaluation: Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs. This experience should demonstrate the ability to assess needs, design effective interventions, and measure program outcomes.
• Must be able to demonstrate WDVA’s Organizational Competencies for all employees:
  • Interpersonal Influence: Demonstrate long-term view to build a shared vision with partners; acts as a catalyst for WDVA's organizational and cultural change. Influence others to translate vision into action. Demonstrate ability to influence others within the organization and committed to furthering the organization's goals and objectives.
  • Inclusiveness: Demonstrated ability to actively contribute to a work environment that embraces diversity and uses diverse perspectives to enhance the attainment of organizational goals.
  • Leadership and People Management: Meets with direct reports to set and clarify expectations and provide feedback and coaching. Use formal and informal methods to monitor and track each employee’s performance. Distinguishes between high and low performers. Actively works to identify and retain talent. Deals promptly with performance problems by working with staff to diagnose problems, develop solutions, and monitor progress.
  • Communications Effectiveness: Demonstrated ability to communicate clear, timely, persuasive messages that positively influence the thoughts and actions of others.
  • Performance Leadership: Demonstrated ability to actively participate/support efforts to accomplish the organizational mission and goals.
  • Relationship Building: Demonstrated ability to build constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of acceptance, cooperation, and mutual regard.
  • Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrated ability to earn the trust, respect, and confidence of coworkers and customers through consistent honesty, forthrightness, and professionalism in all Interactions.

Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies.

• Doctorate Degree from an accredited university in Psychology or a related field.
• Veteran or family member of a veteran.
• Eight (8) years of progressive business/financial leadership and management experience with at least 5 years at the senior level.
• Experience in the management of Licensed Mental Health Providers or related social services program where clinical oversight was required. Knowledge of military culture and the unique stressors and resilience factors experienced by veterans and their families. 
• Experience with mental health supervision and consultation would demonstrate leadership and mentorship skills.
• Awareness of military culture, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic Growth, Military Sexual Trauma, Traumatic Brain Injury, veteran suicide, LGBTQ+ issues, and women veteran issues. Experience working with groups impacted by these issues.
• Demonstrated senior-level skills in project management, strategic planning, budget development/execution, contracting, and reporting.
• Strong understanding of government operations including legislative processes, budget cycle, risk management, ethical standards, customer service, and business operations.
• Demonstrated senior-level experience in interpersonal communication and coalition building.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize Lean practices and other change management techniques, recognizing the need for process and performance improvement and ability to develop and implement requisite process improvement techniques.

Special requirements:

• Must be able to pass a DSHS BCCU Background Check every two (2) years in accordance with WDVA Policy 615.000 Background Checks. 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.
• Must maintain regular and reliable attendance and be willing to work as needed.
• Must successfully complete, within mandated timeframes, employee orientation and all other mandatory annual, in-service, and other required training.
• Must become familiar and comply with all DVA policies and procedures and Collective Bargaining Agreements as applicable.
• Must sign the confidentiality statement for all employees.
• Positions requiring travel must have a valid unrestricted driver's license and must be insured if driving a privately owned vehicle on state business.
• Candidates who are offered a job with WDVA must possess work authorization which does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

Supplemental Information

Check out this awesome video here to see what it is like to work for the WDVA!

Application Process: 

The top candidates will be contacted directly to interview for this position. Because the selection will be based on information provided by you, it is in your best interest to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities that address the mandatory and desirable qualifications described below.
   
   Please include the following documents with your application:
   1. A letter of interest describing specific qualifications.
   2. A current resume detailing applicable experience and education.
  
 Finalists will be asked to provide a list of at least three professional references with current telephone numbers.
  
Other Information:

• This position is non-represented.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Employer

Here at YOUR Washington Department of Veterans Affairs our employees come from all walks of life. We strive to hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds.   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
 
We believe in the importance of recognizing the value each of us contribute to the success of the mission of the agency. Having a diverse workforce is this agency’s greatest resource of strength and knowledge. It is through the combination of talents and abilities that we can pursue finding effective measures on how we can provide the best customer service. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace for everyone.
 
The State of Washington is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with a disability who need assistance in the application process or testing process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, may call (360) 725-2183. TTY users should first call 711 to access the Washington Relay Service.
 
You are welcome to include the name and pronoun you would like to be referred to in your materials, and we will honor this as you interact with our award-winning diverse and inclusive organization.
 
If you have any questions regarding this announcement, program, or the agency please contact us at recruiters@dva.wa.gov.