State of Washington

Compensation

Full Description

Salary: $146,784.00 - $170,076.00 Annually Location : Thurston County - Olympia, WA Job Type: Exempt Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid Job Number: 2025-CAO Department: Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals Division: Administrative Services Opening Date: 11/26/2025 Closing Date: 12/17/2025 11:59 PM Pacific Description The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) is seeking a dynamic, seasoned leader. This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the right individual to make a difference through serving the state of Washington. Our people are our most valuable resource: energetic, innovative thinkers who care equally about producing quality work, serving the public, and developing a culture that is great for all our employees. About the Agency The BIIA rules on approximately 11,000 annual appeals related to orders, decisions, and awards of the Department of Labor and Industries. The BIIA plays a significant role in the state's multi-billion-dollar industrial insurance economic sector. Key stakeholders include the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Labor and Industries, and business and labor groups representing over 179,000 employers and more than 3,000,000 workers. The agency has approximately 160 FTEs and a biennial budget of approximately $56 million. Headquartered in Olympia, the BIIA also has staffed offices in Lakewood, Renton, Richland, Spokane, and Yakima. The BIIA's mission is to serve the public by resolving appeals in a consistent, impartial, timely, and efficient manner. The agency's jurisdiction includes disputes involving workers' compensation, premium assessment, industrial safety and health, and crime victims' compensation, among others. The agency is also the final authority on all proposed claim resolution settlement agreements. The Board is a full-time, quasi-judicial, three-member board appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The BIIA is a great place to work! We offer flexibility and mobility in the workplace, including flexible schedules, telework, and infants at work, to enhance work/life balance, to improve wellness, and to support a productive work environment, increased job satisfaction, and engagement. You can read employee testimonials on our website at Duties About the Position Reporting to the three Board Members, the Chief Administrative Officer serves on the Executive Leadership Team and is responsible for management oversight, administration, and day-to-day operations of the agency's Administrative Services division (25 FTE). The division is responsible for Information Services, Budget, Fiscal/Accounting, Purchasing/Contracting, Facilities, Telecommunications, Public Records, Risk Management, Safety, and Mail operations. Primary Responsibilities: • Provides strategic leadership and direction to division staff. Directly supervises the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Information Officer, and Facilities and Telecommunications Manager. • Maintains and champions a work environment that fosters respect, trust, integrity, diversity, equity, inclusion, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Manages initiatives to improve agency-wide organizational performance, processes, and culture. • Participates in strategic planning activities. Advises Board Members on budget, information services, facilities, etc. • Works closely with the Chief Judge and Human Resources Manager to develop and implement policies and monitor agency compliance with policies and procedures. • Plans, organizes, develops, prepares, and submits all elements of the multi-fund agency biennial ($56 million) and supplemental proposals. Ensure the agency has the necessary FTEs and financial resources to operate effectively. Allocates and approves expenditures. Approves agency Fiscal Notes and Fiscal Impact Statements. • Ensures compliance with Executive Orders and Directives from the Governor's Office. Ensures compliance with Department of Enterprise Services (DES), Office of Financial Management (OFM), legislative, and Washington Technology Solutions (WATech) reporting requirements. • Serves as the Appointing Authority for the division, and has final authority for all personnel actions (i.e., hires, discipline) in the division. Qualifications The Ideal Candidate For this critical role, the BIIA seeks an experienced, dynamic leader who is deeply committed to the agency's success and has a general understanding of the nature and importance of the BIIA's work. Candidates should have a proven record of success as a senior leader and as a strategic big-picture thinker. The ideal candidate will maintain and champion a work environment that fosters respect, trust, integrity, diversity, equity, inclusion, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement. Qualifications • A bachelor's degree or higher with a major in business administration, political science, public administration, finance, or related field and at least six (6) years of experience as a mid-level or higher manager OR a combination of education and relevant experience equivalent to ten (10) years. The experience must include experience in the following: • Leading teams with a collaborative leadership style. • Linking management and administrative efforts to improving program performance. • Taking risks and experimenting in an effort to improve service to customers. • Exceptional interpersonal and communications skills; ability to adapt communications to technical, professional, and managerial audiences and negotiate effectively with internal and external stakeholders. • Professional work experience characterized by increasingly responsible positions in a field such as budget, accounting, human resources, or information technology. • Demonstrated ability to lead positive organizational change. Desirable Qualification Central budget office experience or large agency program equivalent in a Washington state agency, which includes direct communication with OFM and Legislative staff regarding budget issues. Leadership Competencies • Leadership, Performance and Accountability: Serves as an effective leader consistent with the agency's mission and values. • People Management: Effectively manages human resources in a consistent and equitable manner. • Decision Making: Uses knowledge and understanding of the organization to make sound and logical decisions and takes actions that contribute effectively to organizational goals. • Knowledge and Learning: Develops and maintains a knowledge base, including a deep understanding of agency programs, authorities and resources and a commitment to learning. • Strategic Thinking: Develops innovative ideas that provide solutions to all types of workplace challenges. • Conflict Management: Effectively works with others to understand interests and actively strives to achieve agreements or resolve differences in a timely manner. BIIA Core Competencies • Accountability: Takes responsibility for own actions and can be relied upon to achieve excellent results with little oversight. • Adaptability to Changing Needs/Flexibility: Embraces changing business needs and adapts approach, goals, and methods to achieve success. • Customer Focus: Builds and maintains internal and external customer satisfaction with the services offered by the organization. • Diversity: Recognizes the value of cultural, ethnic, gender, and other individual differences. Understands differences in and responds appropriately to others. • Effective Respectful Communications: In a respectful manner, conveys clear messages that are effective in communicating information and ideas with others. • Ethics and Integrity: Earns trust, respect, and confidence of coworkers and customers through honesty, candor, and professionalism in all interactions. • Relationship Building: Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of teamwork, cooperation, and mutual regard. • Safety Focus: Adheres to all workplace safety laws, regulations, standards, and practices. Statewide Equity Competencies • The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington. • The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve. Supplemental Information Total Compensation: This position includes medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, retirement, deferred compensation, flexible spending account, dependent care assistance, paid time off (sick leave, vacation leave, personal holiday), 11 paid holidays, and an Employee Assistance Program. Tuition Reimbursement is available for eligible employees subject to guidelines and funding. You can find more information about benefits at Special Notes: • This position is exempt from Civil Service. • The official duty station is the Olympia Office; however, remote work is an option. The incumbent will be expected to work in-person in the Olympia office as needed. Travel to other BIIA offices or to attend off-site meetings is required on occasion. Application Process: Interested candidates must apply on-line and attach the following: • A cover letter specifying how you meet the qualifications listed above (no more than two pages). • A current resume. • A list of at least three professional references. Please attach the required documents in the "provide attachment" section of the online application. Only applicants who meet the required qualifications and submit all of the required documents by the closing date will be considered. Questions? If you would like a copy of the Position Description or organizational chart, or if you have any questions about the application process, please contact Christy Sterling, Human Resources Manager, at (360) 753-6823, ext. 1123 or christy.sterling@biia.wa.gov. The Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender identity/expression, 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 dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at HROffice@biia.wa.gov or call 360-753-9639. 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. That's 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 (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 (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 , 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 Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Leave Without Pay Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits. Updated 07-21-2025 01 Do you have a bachelor's degree or higher in business administration, political science, public administration, finance, or a related field AND at least six (6) years of experience as a mid-level or higher manager, OR a combination of education and relevant experience equivalent to ten (10) years? • Yes • No 02 Do you have experience working in a Washington state agency's central budget office, or equivalent large program area? • Yes • No 03 In reference to the question above, please describe your experience. If you do not have this experience, type N/A. 04 Did you attach a cover letter, resume, and list of at least three professional references? • Yes • No 05 Were you referred by a current or former BIIA employee? If yes, please list name. Required Question