Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC)

Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates qualifications within the starting salary range of $180000 - $231813 annually. Our physical office is located in Olympia WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework. However you will need to travel throughout Washington State to attend in-person meetings or community events as required by the position.

Terms of Appointment: Per RCW the Council shall employ an executive director. The executive director shall be appointed by the governor from a list of three names submitted by the Council. However the governor may request and the Council shall provide an additional list or lists from which the governor shall select the executive director. The governor may dismiss the executive director only with the approval of a majority vote of the Council. The Council by a majority vote may dismiss the executive director.

Organization Summary

The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a cabinet-level state agency responsible for expanding access to postsecondary education opportunities advancing educational attainment and increasing student success for all Washingtonians. WSAC actively supports all pathways to postsecondary education including Career and Technical Education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs.

Through strategic planning policy leadership research advocacy and program administration the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) serves as Washingtons catalyst for educational attainment and workforce success. The Council is committed to advancing equitable pathways to education training and career advancement for all Washingtonians while fostering a shared statewide commitment to opportunity and economic mobility. By convening leaders across education workforce business philanthropy government and community sectors WSAC builds consensus aligns strategy and drives collective action to ensure that every learner has access to high-quality pathways beyond high school and the support needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.

WSAC administers and oversees a broad portfolio of programs and initiatives including the Washington College Grant State Work Study College Bound Scholarship GEAR UP Washingtons 529 college savings programs (GET and DreamAhead) Career Connect Washington and a variety of college access and support programs. The agency also serves as a leading source of education research data analysis and policy recommendations that help shape the future of Washingtons postsecondary education addition WSAC provides policy research and administrative support to several statewide statutory initiatives including the independent Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board (WEIAOB). Through this partnership the agency helps advance statewide workforce education priorities while supporting legislative accountability and cross-sector collaboration.

With over 150 employees and responsibility for approximately $590M in financial aid and education investments WSAC plays a critical role in helping Washington meet its long-term educational attainment and workforce development goals.

Position Summary

The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Student Achievement Council and is responsible for leading the agencys strategic vision policy agenda operations partnerships and statewide impact.

This role represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Washington State. The Executive Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Governor the Council legislators educational leaders and community partners while advancing policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment improve affordability and access strengthen workforce readiness and create greater economic opportunity for Washingtonians.

The Executive Director leads one of Washingtons most influential education agencies in an environment where collaboration is essential and formal authority is intentionally distributed. Because the states K12 higher education and workforce systems are governed by multiple independent entities success depends on the ability to build trust align diverse stakeholders shape policy through influence and inspire collective action in pursuit of Washingtons educational attainment and workforce goals.

Building upon a strong organizational foundation this leader will guide the next chapter of WSACs evolution as Washingtons leading voice for educational attainment student success and systems innovation. The Executive Director will bring together leaders from education workforce business government philanthropy and community organizations to develop shared strategies navigate complex policy challenges and advance durable solutions that expand opportunity for all Washingtonians.

Through visionary leadership strategic partnerships and a steadfast commitment to equity the Executive Director will ensure that WSACs priorities reflect broad stakeholder engagement and are recognized as statewide commitments rather than the positions of any single agency or doing so this leader will help shape a stronger future for Washingtons students families employers and communities.

Washington is at a pivotal moment in expanding educational opportunity strengthening workforce readiness and improving economic mobility. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of educational attainment and workforce opportunity in Washingtoncreating lasting impact for students families employers and communities while ensuring every Washingtonian has access to meaningful pathways beyond high school and the opportunity to thrive.

What youll work on

Strategic Leadership for Innovation

• Serve as the Chief Executive Officer and public face of WSAC providing vision strategy and leadership for the organization.
• Lead the development and implementation of the Councils strategic action plan and long-term educational attainment agenda.
• Partner closely with the Governors office Council members executive leadership team and other key stakeholders to advance educational priorities.
• Serve as a member of the Governors Cabinet and participate in regular in-person Cabinet meetings in Olympia collaborating with fellow agency leaders to advance the Governors priorities and statewide initiatives.
• Champion innovation across Washingtons education and workforce systems by identifying emerging trends leveraging data and research and advancing creative evidence-based solutions that improve student outcomes and expand pathways to economic opportunity.
• Position WSAC as Washingtons leading thought leader and trusted resource on educational access affordability workforce readiness postsecondary attainment and economic mobility.
• Foster a culture of innovation accountability collaboration and continuous improvement throughout the organization.

Stakeholder Engagement and Coalition Building

• Convene and engage leaders from K-12 education higher education workforce development business labor philanthropy Tribal Nations community organizations and government agencies.
• Cultivate enduring executive relationships that strengthen collaboration and advance shared statewide priorities across university leaders community and technical college leaders school district superintendents legislators elected officials and other strategic partners.
• Facilitate productive dialogue among stakeholders with differing priorities and perspectives to identify common goals and collaborative solutions.
• Represent Washington and WSAC in national forums professional associations and philanthropic partnerships.

Policy Development and Advocacy

• Advise the Governor Council Legislature and other policymakers on emerging issues trends and opportunities affecting Washingtons education ecosystem.
• Advance policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment improve affordability and expand opportunities for students and families.
• Lead legislative engagement and maintain productive relationships with policymakers across the political spectrum.
• Promote data-informed policy solutions that address educational opportunity gaps and workforce needs.

Data Research and Systems Innovation

• Position WSAC as a national leader in the strategic use of research analytics and emerging technologies to inform policy improve decision-making and advance student success.
• Strengthen partnerships that support the integration and use of education workforce and economic data.
• Champion innovative approaches to increasing FAFSA/WASFA completion postsecondary enrollment credential attainment and student success.
• Advance technology-enabled solutions that improve outreach engagement service delivery and operational effectiveness.

Operational and Organizational Leadership

• Lead a diverse team of 150 employees and an experienced executive leadership team.
• Oversee agency operations financial management human resources technology communications and program administration.
• Ensure sound fiscal stewardship and effective management of agency resources including oversight of significant state investments in financial aid and educational access programs.
• Serve as Chair of Washingtons 529 College Savings Committee and provide oversight for the states college savings programs.
• Provide leadership and support to Career Connect Washington and other statewide initiatives administered by the agency.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Experience

• Minimum of eight (8) years of senior executive leadership experience leading a complex multidisciplinary organization with responsibility for strategy operations budgeting talent management and organizational performance.
• Demonstrated success managing and developing high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability collaboration innovation and continuous improvement.
• Experience serving in a chief executive deputy executive cabinet-level or similarly senior leadership role within a public educational nonprofit or other mission-driven organization.
• Deep knowledge of education trends issues and policy and an understanding of the connections among education workforce development economic opportunity and community prosperity.
• A demonstrated ability to influence public policy and work effectively with governing boards or councils elected officials government agencies business leaders and other external stakeholders to build consensus and advance shared priorities.
• Experience leading strategic planning and organizational change initiatives in complex and dynamic environments.
• Strong political acumen and the ability to navigate complex highly visible public-sector environments including legislative processes.
• Proven success building partnerships and coalitions across diverse stakeholder groups and the ability to lead through collaboration and influence rather than authority alone.
• Advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education.

Competencies and Skills

• Visionary innovative and inspirational leader capable of advancing a compelling statewide agenda.
• Exceptional coalition builder with the ability to influence and lead through collaboration.
• Strong political acumen and ability to navigate complex public-sector environments.
• Strategic thinker who can translate vision into measurable outcomes.

• An analytical data-informed approach to decision-making with the ability to translate vision into measurable outcomes.

• Outstanding communication facilitation and public speaking skills.
• Strong executive leadership organizational management and team development capabilities.
• High emotional intelligence and exceptional relationship-building skills.

Personal Attributes

• Intellectually curious and committed to lifelong learning.
• Collaborative humble and approachable.
• Diplomatic and politically savvy.
• Mission-driven and committed to public service.
• Resilient and adaptable in complex environments.
• Ethical transparent and credible.
• Innovative and willing to challenge traditional thinking.
• Courageous and willing to make difficult decisions in the public interest.

Desired Qualifications:

• Interaction and work with a Council Commission or Board.
• Hands-on experience with legislatures and the legislative process.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Dont let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

What we offer:

We foster a culture of integrity innovation inclusion and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Heres a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:

• An environment of diversity equity inclusion and belonging
• Medical Dental Vision and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays 14 paid vacation days (minimum) and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once youve decided to apply for a state government job youll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it. So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying please call 7-1-1 or 1-.

When completing your application we encourage you to attach all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Questions:

Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process please email us at .

The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural racial ethnic sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women racial and ethnic minorities persons of disability persons over 40 years of age and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.