Behavioral Health - Program Supervisor

Behavioral Health - Program Supervisor

Salary

$82,487.00 - $97,050.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County - Olympia, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-07463

Department

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Division

Student Engagement and Support

Opening Date

09/04/2026

Closing Date

9/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

WASHINGTON MANAGEMENT SERVICE

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Behavioral Health - Program Supervisor

$82,487.00 - $97,050.00 annually

Closes September 21, 2026

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill the Behavioral Health - Program Supervisor position. This full-time permanent position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. During your onboarding period (first 6 - 8 weeks) you will be required to be in the office 3 days per week. After you've completed your onboarding period, you may have the option to work a flexible telework schedule (days of the week to be determined with Supervisor approval). While we're happy to offer this balance of in-office connections and telework flexibility, this isn't a fully remote position. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.

About OSPI and our initiatives

OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K-12 education in Washington state. Working with the states 295 public school districts and 7 state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.

At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:

• We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
• We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)
• We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.

Vision, Mission, and Values

Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.

Mission: Transform K-12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.

Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child

Equity

Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:

• Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.
• Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.

Overview of SESP Division

The Student Engagement & Special Programs (SESP) Division advances an equitable education system that provides whole-child supports in partnership with communities so that every student is safe, supported, and equipped to thrive and learn. Grounded in a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS), SESP provides integrated statewide leadership and system supports that respond to the full range of student experiences, reduce barriers to learning, and strengthen attendance, engagement, inclusive learning environments, educational opportunity, and long-term sustainability. The division works through shared practice, strong partnerships, and effective use of data and public resources to drive continuous improvement, fiscal stewardship, and coherent system impact.

Position Overview

This position sits within SESP and reports to the SESP Director of Student Support. It leads the statewide school-based behavioral health portfolio, providing leadership, program oversight, technical assistance, and subject-matter expertise on behavioral health navigation, suicide prevention, and district systems for recognizing and responding to social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health distress.

The role serves as a connecting point across SESP and OSPI, integrating behavioral health with school safety, HIB prevention, attendance, SEL/MTSS, Medicaid, Title IV, and a wide range of other related whole-child initiatives. It strengthens district capacity and statewide alignment by linking OSPI programs, ESD Behavioral Health Navigators, state partners, and community-based behavioral health systems - translating law, policy, funding, evidence, and stakeholder needs into implementation strategy, guidance, training, and sustainable systems.

Core functions include convening internal and external partners; managing key contracts and statewide supports; monitoring implementation, data, and compliance; identifying and mitigating risk; and using field input to drive continuous improvement.

This position is expected to strengthen statewide and regional capacity to support student behavioral health, improve district implementation of behavioral health and suicide-prevention practices, and increase access to consistent, usable technical assistance. It is also expected to improve coordination among OSPI, ESDs, state agencies, and community providers, and to strengthen the alignment of behavioral health within MTSS and related school supports.

Portfolio includes: RCW 28A.320.127, RCW 28A.410.226, RCW 28A.300.288, the statewide Behavioral Health Navigator initiative, statewide suicide-prevention guidance and training, HB 1634 and other potential Washington Thriving implementation, and emerging school behavioral health policy and funding.

Key Responsibilities

Program Leadership

• Serve as the division's strategic systems-level lead for school-based behavioral health, connecting work across SESP, OSPI, state agencies, ESDs, and statewide partners to align policy, systems, resources, and implementation around shared priorities and outcomes
• Understand, articulate and operationalize behavioral-health-related laws, rules, policies, funding requirements, and agency direction into actionable guidance and implementation supports, including HB 1634
• Facilitate and coordinate the statewide ESD Behavioral Health Navigator network, including monthly convenings and maintenance of the Navigator Playbook
• Maintain statewide youth suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention guidance, supporting implementation of RCW 28A.300.288 and RCW 28A.410.226

Technical Assistance and Capacity Building

• Develop and maintain practical behavioral health guidance, tools, templates, FAQs, timelines, training materials, modules, web resources, and communications for districts, ESDs, and partners
• Design, deliver, and coordinate behavioral health technical assistance, training, and professional learning for districts, ESDs, and statewide partners that includes recognition, initial screening, and response to social, emotional, or behavioral distress
• Respond to behavioral health and suicide-prevention inquiries from districts, families, and community members

Partnership and System Alignment

• Lead, facilitate, staff, or represent OSPI, as assigned, in relevant statewide behavioral health advisory groups, workgroups, interagency meetings, and stakeholder processes, including school behavioral health, youth behavioral health, school safety and well-being, suicide-prevention, and school-based health bodies.
• Build and maintain trusted relationships across OSPI, ESDs, Tribes, DOH, HCA, and community behavioral health partners
• Proactively connect and integrate school-based behavioral health with MTSS, safety, attendance, SEL, and Title IV to support a coherent continuum of care
• Serve as a primary programmatic connection for school behavioral health with the Department of Health, Health Care Authority, ESD/AESD partners, Washington Thriving, community behavioral health providers, and other statewide partners, including coordination of the school behavioral health technical assistance and training framework
• Convene an internal cross-program behavioral health space to reduce duplication and strengthen shared understanding across SESP

Data, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor program implementation, statutory reporting, training participation, and statewide service quality
• Lead district data communications and reporting for behavioral health data collections, including the RCW 28A.320.127 district-plan cycle
• Use data, stakeholder input, and equity analysis to improve program design, technical assistance, and recommendations
• Prepare required reports, dashboards, issue briefs, presentations, and executive summaries

Fiscal and Resource Stewardship

• Manage assigned behavioral health contracts, grants, and appropriations supporting statewide implementation
• Develop and manage subject-matter expert contracts
• Support development and administration of behavioral health grants or funding opportunities as resources become available, including implementation expectations and monitoring

Required Qualifications:

Required Education, Experience, and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree in education, public policy, public administration, public health, social or behavioral sciences, social services, or a closely related field; and at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in statewide or large-scale program implementation, systems coordination, policy implementation, technical assistance, grant or public-sector program management, or related work.

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and professional experience totaling seven (7) years that demonstrates progressively increasing responsibility in relevant program leadership, systems coordination, policy implementation, technical assistance, grant administration, or public-sector program management.
• Must reside of in the state of Washington as a condition of employment
• Periodic statewide travel, including travel to districts, ESDs, trainings, coordinator meetings, conferences, interagency meetings, or incident-related activities.

Additionally:

• Demonstrated knowledge of, or professional experience in, school-based behavioral health, youth behavioral health, suicide prevention, emotional/behavioral distress response, or a closely related behavioral health system sufficient to provide credible statewide guidance and technical assistance.
• Ability to interpret relevant laws, regulations, and policy requirements (e.g., RCW 28A.320.127, RCW 28A.410.226, RCW 28A.300.288) and translate them into accurate, actionable guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and facilitate groups of experienced subject-matter professionals across agencies, districts, ESDs, Tribes, and/or community organizations toward shared decisions and outcomes, without requiring equivalent technical depth in each domain.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex programs or initiatives from planning through implementation and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective partnerships among diverse professionals, organizations, and communities.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience providing technical assistance, training, facilitation, coaching, or other capacity-building support.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information for varied audiences.
• Ability to interpret and summarize behavioral health, education, or implementation data to inform program design, reporting, shared measurement, and decision-making.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds and support equitable, culturally responsive, and inclusive practices, informed by awareness of documented behavioral health disparities affecting LGBTQ+ students, students of color, and Tribal and rural communities.
• Experience exercising sound judgment, professional composure, and appropriate escalation when communicating about sensitive, urgent, or crisis-adjacent behavioral health issues with families, districts, partners, or leadership.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and emerging issues, follow through on commitments, and exercise sound judgment.
• Knowledge of Washingtons K-12 education system and the roles of OSPI, ESDs, districts, schools, Tribes, state agencies, and community behavioral health partners.
• Experience with statewide behavioral health advisory committees, interagency workgroups, legislative or policy implementation, proviso/statutory reporting, or similar cross-system bodies.
• Experience operationalizing behavioral health, education, public-health, or human-services requirements into clear guidance, implementation tools, governance documents, or interagency agreements.
• Experience developing scopes of work and managing contracts, grants, procurements, or other public resources through their full lifecycle.
• Experience integrating behavioral health within MTSS or educational systems framework and aligning related prevention, safety, attendance, health, or student-support initiatives.
• Working familiarity with Washingtons ESD system, statewide behavioral health partners, universal screening, substance-use prevention, or school Medicaid as they relate to school-based behavioral health.
• Experience developing plain-language guidance, FAQs, website content, trainings, or other public-facing resources on complex or sensitive topics.

Compensation

The annual compensation for the position is $82,487.00 - $97,050.00 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This is a Washington Management Position. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Application Process

Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word or PDF format:

• A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement;
• A current résumé, and;
• A list of three or more professional references.

NOTE: Your resume and letter of interest must be attached to your application. Please confirm they are attached before you submit.

Please address any questions to:

Sal Salazar, Human Resources

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

600 Washington Street Southeast

Olympia, Washington 98504-7200

360-725-6278: sal.salazar@k12.wa.us

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at (360) 725-6270 or (360) 725-6066, or e-mail hroffice@k12.wa.us.

New Jobs Alert Service

OSPI offers a subscription service, which regularly notifies subscribers of new OSPI employment opportunities on careers.wa.gov. Subscribers are notified via text or email alert. If you are interested in this service, then please subscribe at this location.

OSPI is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from job seekers who will contribute to our diversity. OSPI provides equal access to all programs and services without discrimination based on sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, honorably discharged veteran or military status, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. If you would like, please include your name and gender pronouns in your application, to ensure we address you appropriately throughout the application process. Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may contact the human resource consultant listed in "Application Process."

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. Thats 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 WAC 357-31-165(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 WAC 357-31-165(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 WAC 357-58-175, 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, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) 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

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

01

Please select the answer that best describes your education and experience.

• I have a bachelors degree in education, public policy, public administration, public health, social or behavioral sciences, social services, or a closely related field, and at least three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in statewide or large-scale program implementation, systems coordination, policy implementation, technical assistance, grant or public-sector program management, or related work.
• I have an equivalent combination of education and professional experience totaling seven (7) years that demonstrates progressively increasing responsibility in program leadership, systems coordination, policy implementation, technical assistance, grant administration, or public-sector program management
• None of the above

02

Do you have demonstrated knowledge of, or professional experience in, school-based behavioral health, youth behavioral health, suicide prevention, emotional/behavioral distress response, or a closely related behavioral health system, sufficient to provide credible statewide guidance and technical assistance?

• Yes
• No

03

Do you have the ability to interpret relevant laws, regulations, and policy requirements (e.g., RCW 28A.320.127, RCW 28A.410.226, RCW 28A.300.288) and translate them into accurate, actionable guidance?

• Yes
• No

04

Do you have demonstrated experience leading or facilitating groups of experienced subject-matter professionals across agencies, districts, ESDs, Tribes, and/or community organizations toward shared decisions and outcomes?

• Yes
• No

05

Do you have demonstrated experience leading complex programs or initiatives from planning through implementation and continuous improvement?

• Yes
• No

06

Do you have demonstrated experience building effective partnerships among diverse professionals, organizations, and communities?

• Yes
• No

07

Did you attach the required documents (cover letter, resume, list of references)?

• Yes
• No

08

How did you hear about this job opportunity?

• Careers.wa.gov
• OSPI Jobs Page
• Linkedin
• Facebook
• OSPI Employee Referral
• Military Outreach Event
• Career Fair
• Other

09

Do you currently have a relative working in our agency?

10

Are you currently an employee at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer State of Washington

Address View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504

Website http://www.careers.wa.gov