| Location | WA |
| Salary | $93,249–$108,000 Per Year |
DSHS HCLA WA Cares Policy Program Manager
Salary
$93,249.00 - $108,000.00 Annually
Location
Multiple Locations Statewide, WA
Job Type
Full Time - Permanent
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2026-07315
Department
Dept. of Social and Health Services
Division
HCLA
Opening Date
09/01/2026
Closing Date
9/8/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
WA Cares Fund Benefits and Customer Care Policy Program Manager
Make a meaningful impact on long-term care policy by embracing this exciting opportunity. The WA Cares Fund (WA Cares) is the first of its kind in the United States, showcasing why Washington State leads the nation in long-term care initiatives. Created by the WA State Legislature, WA Cares offers affordable long-term care insurance coverage to all working Washingtons. This is a great opportunity to support foundational infrastructure for the nation's first long-term services and support social insurance program.
As the Benefits and Customer Care (BCC) Policy Program Manager, you will support both our BCC teams and our Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) teams by creating, updating, and maintaining staff guidance which impacts their daily work in supporting WA Cares customers. In this role, you'll learn how the Benefits & Customer Care (BCC) team and Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) deliver services, then turn that understanding into clear, accessible policies and procedures. You'll collaborate with Intake, Call Center, Imaging, and other teams to see how their work happens in our systems and translate that knowledge into guidance staff can easily follow. You'll also help make our technology instructions more user-friendly so both technical and non-technical staff can use them with confidence.
BCC employees and AAA community partners are the primary contacts for anyone who needs to contact WA Cares for any reason. These teams are the backbone of our support system. Their work includes assisting people who want to use the WA Cares benefit to apply and get assessed for eligibility, providers who need resources or assistance, and handling returned mail and imaging any paper documents. They are the teams who need to know the most about our system and are typically the first contact with most of our customers.
This role reports to our Beneficiary Policy Unit Manager and will be assigned to work on the aspects of our staff guidance which impact these customer-facing teams. Our person-centered philosophy for staff guidance is that we create staff guidance with people and not for people. That means we focus on involving subject matter experts as well as the people who use the instructions to do their work. That means that you will be a part of our dynamic beneficiary policy team as well as being closely aligned with our BCC and AAA teams to understand their specific needs for procedural guidance and process steps.
Your work will intersect with a significant part of the WA Cares system-from internal staff processes to contracted partnership processes. You will help create a shared understanding of BCC and AAA expectations for customer support, support our teams through improvement efforts, and ensure that statewide standards are clear and concise.
This Home & Community Living Administration (HCLA) WA Cares Washington Management Services 2 (WMS2) role offers hybrid telework within the state of Washington. Travel for meetings is expected to be infrequent.
Some of what you will do
Within your first six months, you will build strong working relationships with WA Cares BCC staff and our AAA partners to create a cohesive and collaborative approach to our customer-facing work. You will have a strong understanding of our person-centered policy development philosophy and our WE CARE values and understand how to create policies with people rather than for people.
Who should apply
Professionals with experience in program management in long-term care policy development for social services, healthcare programs, or state government programs with at least two years of demonstrated experience writing policy and procedural guidance.
A combination of education and experience may qualify, including:
You will also bring skills in:
DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources. See why people like you chose careers at WA State Department of Social and Health Services.
Interested? Please list 3 professional references' current contact information on your application and include your current resume and a letter of interest explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role.
Questions? Please contact the Recruiter, Jenny, at bastrjl@dshs.wa.gov or 360-725-5810 and reference #07315. Learn more about DSHS.
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 applicants 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.
Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader). Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position.
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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
Do you have progressively responsible experience in program management in LONG TERM CARE policy development for social services, healthcare programs, or state government programs?
02
Do you have at least 2 years demonstrated professional experience writing policy and procedural guidance?
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