DSHS ESA DFFR Deputy Director

DSHS ESA DFFR Deputy Director

Salary

$122,673.00 - $146,784.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County - Olympia, WA

Job Type

Full Time - Permanent

Job Number

2026-03927

Department

Dept. of Social and Health Services

Division

ESA

Opening Date

05/15/2026

Closing Date

5/28/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits

Description

DFFR Deputy Director (WMS3)

The DFFR Deputy Director serves as the second-in-command for the Division of Finance and Financial Resources (DFFR) and provides executive-level leadership, strategic oversight, and operational direction for the Economic Services Administrations (ESA) statewide financial and administrative functions. This job plays a critical role in ensuring strong financial stewardship, operational excellence, compliance, internal controls, and organizational readiness across ESA's approximately $3.4 billion biennial budget and roughly 2,700 annual contracts.

This role acts with delegated authority from the DFFR Director and serves as the acting authority in the Director's absence, providing leadership continuity for division operations and administration-wide initiatives.

What This Role Is Responsible For:

• Providing strategic leadership and oversight for DFFR operations, compliance, internal controls, and operational modernization initiatives
• Leading cross-functional operational improvements across accounting, budgeting, grants management, contracting, procurement, and financial reporting functions
• Strengthening internal controls, audit readiness, compliance monitoring, and fiscal risk mitigation efforts
• Leading organizational change management and operational readiness efforts related to major statewide and federal initiatives, including One Washington/ERP transformation efforts
• Overseeing development and use of business intelligence, dashboards, reporting tools, and performance metrics to support executive decision-making
• Supervising and developing leadership staff, including multiple WMS managers responsible for internal controls, decision support, contracts, procurement, budgeting, grants management, and accounting functions

What Success Looks Like:

• Strong and sustainable internal control environment that minimizes audit risk and strengthens accountability
• Successful operational modernization efforts that improve efficiency, consistency, transparency, and service delivery
• Effective implementation of operational and compliance strategies supporting ESA's long-term goals
• Accurate, reliable, and accessible financial and operational data that supports executive leadership decision-making
• Successful navigation of large-scale organizational and system transformations with minimal disruption
• Strong collaboration and alignment across divisions, administrations, and external partners

Key Expectations of the Role:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to ESA and DFFR leadership on operational, financial, compliance, and organizational risks
• Lead through ambiguity and complexity in a fast-paced, high-accountability government environment
• Drive operational excellence, continuous improvement, and cultural transformation across the division
• Build strong partnerships and influence across multiple programs, administrations, and external stakeholders
• Lead high-impact initiatives involving operational redesign, automation, business intelligence, and compliance improvements
• Ensure ESA remains compliant with federal regulations, state laws, and agency policies while supporting mission-critical services statewide

What we are looking for:

• Executive-level leadership experience in large, complex governmental, financial, operational, or administrative environments
• Strong operational leadership skills, including process improvement, organizational change management, and strategic planning
• Deep understanding of government operations and compliance, including budgeting, accounting, procurement, contracts, grants management, and internal controls
• Experience leading modernization and transformation efforts, including workflow redesign, automation, reporting systems, or ERP/business system implementation
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to navigate complex stakeholder environments and lead cross-functional initiatives
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking abilities, including experience using data and performance metrics to drive decision-making
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop managers and high-performing teams through periods of change and competing priorities
• Strong communication and executive presence, with the ability to present complex operational and financial issues clearly to leadership and partners

Who should apply?

Those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited university in public administration, accounting, business or operations

management, finance or related field

AND

A minimum of ten years of paid, professional-level management experience in financial operations, accounting, public administration, budgeting, or a closely related field, with demonstrated expertise in:

• Engaging in organizational management, including process improvement, staff development, communication, and team-building
• Leading, motivating, mentoring, and developing professional and technical staff to drive high performance and operational excellence
• Planning, directing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating functional and technical operations to improve efficiency, strengthen internal controls, and enhance accountability across large government organizations
• Interpreting and applying federal and state laws and regulations-including 2 CFR 200, the Revised Code of Washington (RCW), and the Washington Administrative Code (WAC)- within complex governmental environments
• Managing and analyzing data to support decision-making and enterprise-level financial operations
• Leading cross-functional teams and overseeing performance management in multi-program, high-complexity government settings
• Preparing clear, concise reports and delivering effective presentations to executive leadership
• Driving cultural and organizational change, influencing resistant teams, and navigating complex organizational dynamics
• Applying strategic planning, performance metrics, and continuous improvement frameworks to strengthen organizational effectiveness

Relevant professional experience described above may substitute year for year for the required education.

Why This Role Matters:

This job is critical to ESA's operational stability, financial stewardship, compliance posture, and readiness for major statewide and federal changes. Decisions made in this role directly impact audit outcomes, federal funding stability, operational continuity, system transformation success, and ESA's ability to effectively deliver services to vulnerable individuals and families across Washington State.

The role is especially important as ESA navigates significant operational transformation efforts, evolving federal requirements, and enterprise-wide modernization initiatives that require strong leadership, coordination, and risk management.

Questions? Please contact sean.brauner@dshs.wa.gov and reference #03927.

The Department of Social and Health Services' (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency's vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Supplemental Information

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may 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 job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid drivers license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protected veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security

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

Employer State of Washington

Address View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504

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