Description

Our vision is to ensure that “Washington state’s children and youth grow up safe and healthy—thriving physically, emotionally and academically, nurtured by family and community."

Job title: Administrative Assistant 5

Location: Olympia, WA

Closes: Thursday, December 19, 2025

Salary: $5,011 - $6,735 Monthly

The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) is accepting applications for a principal Administrative Assistant 5, responsible for coordinating and completing a wide range of complex and confidential projects. Our ideal candidate maintains strict confidentiality regarding employee and client information and frequently represents and responds on behalf of the Director of Rehabilitation Programs and Services.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

In this role you will carry delegated authority to exercise signature authority on administrative matters on behalf of the Director. Key responsibilities include managing travel processes; overseeing equipment purchases and service orders; coordinating facility and space needs; supporting labor relations and personnel actions; assisting with the development of procedures and practices; and responding to inquiries, complaints, and issues raised by the public or forwarded through the Governor’s or Secretary’s Office. You will maintain strict confidentiality regarding employee and client information and frequently represent and respond on behalf of the Director of Rehabilitation Programs and Services.

Some of what you will do:

• Assist the Director, and all direct reports in day-to-day administrative tasks, travel, and budget.
• Coordinate, manage, and prioritize the Director's calendar using agency approved software applications and prepare background information for professional commitments.
• Research, compile and analyze data for Director to be utilized in presentations, training, projects, report outs, and meetings.
• Sort, read, and annotate incoming mail and business correspondence, determining next steps and action items.
• Coordinate, schedule, and prepare materials for meetings involving courts, tribes, school districts, community partners, contracted providers, and interagency teams.
• Serve as recorder for meetings, ensuring accurate notes, follow-up actions, and distribution of materials.
• Prepare, format, and distribute Director-level communications to facilities, parole regions, leadership teams, and frontline staff.

Required qualifications:

An equivalent combination of education/experience.

OR

One year as an Administrative Assistant 4.

OR

Two years as an Administrative Assistant 3

AND

1. The ability to take action to learn and grow.
2. The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• A Bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration or closely aligned field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
• Three years of experience providing direct administrative support to an executive manager in the public sector or a regulated industry.
• Drafting, editing, and finalizing executive correspondence.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective internal and external working relationships.
• A working experience and knowledge of legal terms, forms and documents and how to process them.
• A practical understanding of and experience with the processes and documentation required for legal hearings, public meetings, and rulemaking.
• Previously demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

How do I apply?

Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.

Supplemental Information:

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve.  If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants selected for an interview are required to pass a national fingerprint background check and complete a questionnaire mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inquiring about any sexual misconduct. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but is considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

This position is in a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

 This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

Benefits eligibility for this position may be different than what’s listed in the benefits tab of this recruitment announcement, for more information on employee benefits eligibility visit Public Employee Benefits Board (PEBB).

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact the Talent Acquisition Specialist. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

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