DSHS ESA DCS Executive Assistant

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Economic Services Administration (ESA), Division of Child Support (DCS), is seeking to hire an Executive Assistant to support the Director and provides executive-level assistance to division chiefs, managers, and administrative staff.

The Executive Assistant provides high-level, confidential administrative support to executive leadership within the Division of Child Support. This highly visible role manages complex calendars, coordinates meetings and travel, supports daily operations and special projects, and serves as a primary liaison between leadership, staff, and the public. The position handles sensitive information and high-priority communications, requiring exceptional professionalism, organization, and communication skills.

This role offers a hybrid schedule with 2-3 days/week in Headquarters, located in Olympia, WA.

Join a team that helps to empower people and their families to thrive.

• Provide executive-level support to senior management/executive leadership by managing complex calendars, preparing meeting materials, coordinating workflow, and handling sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Oversee communications for executive leadership, including reviewing and drafting correspondence, preparing briefing materials and talking points, and ensuring timely, accurate responses to inquiries.
• Serve as a primary liaison to constituents, legislators, government agencies, and internal staff, ensuring professional and effective communication across all stakeholder groups.
• Coordinate division meetings and initiatives, managing agendas, materials, meeting minutes, and follow-up actions for management team and all-staff meetings.
• Plan and manage in-state and out-of-state travel for executive leadership and designated staff, developing detailed itineraries and ensuring compliance with agency requirements.
• Support division-wide operations, including monitoring personnel actions, legislative activity, fiscal documents, and other administrative processes to ensure timely and accurate completion.
• Lead and contribute to special projects, balancing multiple priorities, resolving day-to-day operational issues, and providing flexible, high-level support to senior management and the broader leadership team.

• Minimum of five years progressively responsible experience in office/clerical, secretarial, bookkeeping, accounting, or general administrative work.
• Knowledge of DSHS programs and services.
• Excellent professional verbal and written communication skills. Ability to write and speak clearly. Ability to edit and proofread for grammar, punctuation and spelling.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills with attention to detail. Ability to organize multiple tasks, projects and priorities in a deadline‑driven environment.
• Ability to function independently and use good judgement in potentially stressful situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality with highly sensitive client and personnel information.
• Advanced computer skills with Microsoft Office, including Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel and Teams.

• A proven ability to anticipate executive needs, work well in stressful situations, and respond appropriately to emergencies.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience working with SharePoint.
• Broad knowledge of state government organization and administration procedures, federal and local government functions, state and federal laws and regulations governing personnel actions, administrative policies, and the Washington Federation of State Employees Bargaining Agreement.
• Decisiveness and judgment – makes timely, informed decisions even under ambiguous circumstances; uses available information and logic to prioritize conflicting needs; takes action and advocates for important organizational objectives, even when unpopular; recognizes when and how to apply protocol to situations.
• Problem‑solving skills – looks beyond the obvious and is resourceful in seeking additional information that may impact proposed solutions; identifies all facets of problems and the implications of new information; breaks…