DSHS HCLA WA Cares Fund Portability Administrator

Make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable Americans who need long-term care by embracing this exciting opportunity. The WA Cares Fund is a first-in-the-nation program. Created by the WA State Legislature in 2019, the WA Cares Fund (WCF) offers affordable long-term care insurance coverage to all working Washingtonians. The WA Cares Fund is part of DSHS's Home & Community Living Administration (HCLA). WA Cares is going live with statewide benefit implementation this summer. At the same time, this hire is the beginning of our efforts to develop a plan to implement out-of-state benefits effective July 1, 2030. The Portability Administrator will design and launch the out-of-state benefits model that will allow WA Cares participants to access benefits across the country—and ultimately around the world. This role is built for a senior leader who has experience architecting complex programs across jurisdictions, enjoys working in uncharted policy and operational territory, and wants to shape a model that could influence public benefit design nationally. Reporting directly to the WA Cares Fund Director and serving on the division's senior leadership team, the WCF Portability Administrator leads the end-to-end design and implementation of the WA Cares Fund out-of-state benefit portability program, with benefits scheduled to go live for out-of-state participants on July 1, 2030. As the Portability Administrator, you will own the portability strategy and roadmap, from policy design and legislative alignment to financial planning, technology integration, interstate agreements, and partner strategy. You will have substantial influence on service continuity for participants living outside Washington, as well the long-term credibility of WA Cares Fund as the nation's first publicly funded long-term care social insurance program. Because the work is highly visible and has no direct U.S. precedent, it requires a leader who is comfortable making thoughtful, evidence-based decisions in an emerging field. Through strong executive communication, comfort working across agencies and sectors, and a visible commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in both program design and service delivery, you will bring the ability to lead multi-year initiatives from concept to launch, translate legislation and policy into clear implementation frameworks, manage budgets of $1 million or more, and synthesize complex legal, actuarial, and operational information into actionable decisions. This position is designated as Washington Management Service Band 3, is based in Olympia, Washington, and operates in a hybrid work environment. Core business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with occasional work beyond normal hours and travel across the state for meetings and partner engagement. Some of what you will do Set the overall architecture for WA Cares portability, including governance, agency roles, data flows, operational models, and secure participant information management. Lead the implementation roadmap through 2030, integrating policy design, systems development, cross-agency coordination, and phased rollout planning. Negotiate, establish, and oversee interstate agreements and partnerships required to implement portable benefits across jurisdictions. Direct policy development and regulatory alignment, including legal and regulatory mapping, legislative strategy, rulemaking support, and operational guidance. Shape budget strategy and sustainability planning, including legislative funding requests, financial controls, reporting systems, and coordination with actuarial partners. Define milestones, performance indicators, and readiness measures, then direct corrective action when risks or bottlenecks emerge. Build and coordinate cross-functional teams spanning policy, operations, technology, finance, and communications. Represent the program in senior policy forums, executive briefings, and stakeholder settings to build alignment, confidence, and long-term support. Champion equity, transparency, and user-centered design so portability works for diverse participants and remains durable over time. Who should apply : Professionals with a bachelor's degree in public administration, social work, health care administration, public policy, business administration, law, or a closely related field, and 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in at least two qualifying areas such as long-term care insurance or services administration, public benefits program development, health or human services policy development, interstate or multi-jurisdictional coordination, legislative affairs or regulatory compliance, or large-scale public program management. or, A master's degree in a related field may substitute for up to two years of required experience, and professional experience may substitute year-for-year for educational requirements. At least three years of the required experience must include supervisory or managerial responsibility over professional staff. DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources. Interested? Please submit a current resume, contact information for three professional references, and a cover letter explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role. 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. Questions? Contact Chris by email at chris.pulley@dshs.wa.gov or phone (360) 995-2275 and reference 02866. 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 driver's 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