Benefits Director jobs in Olympia, WA

This position is relied upon to provide policy oversight and contribute to the agency’s strategic governance in a customer focused, outcomes based, equitable, inclusive, and consistent delivery of services.

The ideal candidate for this position will model cultural competency, emotional intelligence, and have a proven track record of working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to successfully manage policy and oversight functions. Additionally, they will have experience with strategic planning, organizational change management, and quality and process improvement initiatives as well as human-centered leadership.

If you are passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of Washingtonians and can reflect and communicate vision up, down, and out to all stakeholders, we encourage you to apply.

To excel in this role, the ideal candidate should possess strong leadership skills, including the ability to cultivate positive partnerships both within and outside the agency. They should have a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work towards creating an organizational culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

About the Employment System Policy and Integrity Division:

The Employment System Policy and Integrity Division (ESPI) supports the agency by providing employment system policy and oversight across four program areas: agricultural and seasonal workforce services, employment and training, leave and care benefits and unemployment insurance. In that role, ESPI administers and provides oversight of the foreign labor certification program; issues workforce policy, distributes workforce grants and monitors the workforce system; and interprets benefits program statute and rules, promulgates rules, represents the agency on certain appeals, and manages quality assurance requirements for the agency.

Primary Responsibilities:

Lead with Vision: Develop and communicate a strategic vision for benefits policy and integrity. Your leadership will guide our team in delivering high-quality services to our clients.

Policy Development: Collaborate with stakeholders to create and enhance policies related to unemployment benefits, paid family and medical leave, and other critical programs.

Integrity Oversight: Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations, maintaining the highest standards of program integrity.

Holistic Approach: Consider the entire ecosystem of benefits, from policy design to implementation, and foster collaboration across teams.

Advocate for Washingtonians: Represent ESD in legislative sessions, public forums, and community engagements.

People Skills: Build and nurture relationships with internal and external partners, fostering a culture of teamwork and collaboration.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: Exemplify a tangible commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and influence division leaders to demonstrate cultural humility.

Scope of the role:

This position reports to the ESPI Director to direct and manage policy and integrity functions for the unemployment insurance and leave and care programs, as well as managing operational and strategic risk functions for the division. These responsibilities require strategic planning, project management, program management, communications, and external stakeholder engagement to implement high priority initiatives.

This position directs and manages the benefits program functions for the division on behalf of the Director representing the agency on Leave and Care and Unemployment Insurance (UI) policy and oversight activities. The position works with the Director to set strategic direction for the Division with responsibility for ensuring integration with ESD’s operational units and proactive engagement with external partners to advance ESD’s strategic goals. The position oversees and is responsible for 4 direct reports at the WMS Band 3 level and 31 FTEs.

A bachelor’s degree in business management, organizational development, professional development, public administration, or related field.

OR

Four years of substituting experience.

Experience and Competencies:

• Extensive knowledge and expertise in legislative processes and procedures, federal guidance and rulemaking, legal proceedings, and program performance management measures.
• Ability to analyze and interpret laws, rules, and policies with an ability to develop appropriate strategies to positively influence the department’s standing.
• Supervisory experience, including achievement-oriented leadership with a high sense of accountability.
• Ability to effectively give and receive information both orally and in writing to different audiences.
• Building and maintaining internal and external customers' satisfaction through continual awareness of customer needs.
• Accepting change, being flexible without losing sight of missions and goals, and encouraging new ideas concepts, and problem-solving approaches.
• Tangible commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including the integration of those with diverse lived experiences into policy and decision making.

Additional Requirement of Employment: 

• Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.
• Please submit your Cover Letter, and Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field.

• Must be able to pass an Unemployment Insurance (UI) Claim & Benefit Information Review.
• Must be able to travel as needed.

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others, and are at the core of who we are. Our values are Belonging, Love, Equity, Stewardship, and Access. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self. 

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program.  Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Sanyu.Tushabe@esd.wa.gov or at 360.480.4514 or the Talent Acquisition Team, Washington Relay Service 711. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.