The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) is seeking a dynamic, seasoned leader to shape the future of the agency.  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. 

Duties

About the Position
The Executive Director is a new position that will serve as the agency's chief executive officer and will be responsible for the agency's day–to-day operations and achieving operational and strategic objectives.  Reporting to the three Board Members, the Executive Director is a member of the agency's Executive Team which includes the Board Members and the Chief Legal Officer.  This position serves at the pleasure of the Board and is exempt from civil service laws.
 
Primary Responsibilities
 

• Manages members of the agency's Senior Leadership Team, which includes the Chief Judge, Chief Administrative Officer, and Human Resources Manager.  [Note:  The Chief Judge is retiring at the end of March after 25+ years in that role.]
• Leads the Senior Leadership Team in developing the agency's Long Range and Operational Plans.
• Collaborates with the Board Members on overall agency strategic development, business process re-engineering, development, and enhancement of agency processes.
• Defines, prioritizes, and delivers agency initiatives.
• Researches and develops agency policies and/or reviews policy recommendations from the Senior Leadership Team.
• Develops meaningful and collaborative relationships both within the agency and with agency stakeholders.
• Leads, motivates and collaborates with a multi-disciplined staff of professionals, managing agency workload and projects, providing timely performance feedback, and reviewing procedures for efficiency.
• Fosters teamwork and continuously improves processes to achieve high-level agency goals and objectives.
• Represents the agency at legislative meetings and reviews and analyzes all appropriate legislative proposals.
• Develops agency-request legislation, obtains legislative sponsors, and leads the orderly progress of essential bills through the legislative process.
• Responsible for the agency's rule-making process.
• Supports and guides staff through major cultural and technological shifts as the agency pivots to a new organizational structure and the new technology necessary to meet business requirements and desired outcomes.
• Serves as an appointing authority for the agency.  Responds at step three of labor grievances filed by the Washington Federation of State Employees and the Association of Industrial Appeals Judges.
• Represents the agency at the Deputy Director meetings.  Ensures agency compliance with Executive Orders and Directives from the Governor's Office. Serves as the liaison between the agency and the Governor's Office for Results Washington initiatives.
• Serves as the liaison between the agency and the public unless otherwise delegated.
• Directs the administration of agency risk and liability associated with records and information management, litigation holds, public disclosure, and other related processes.  Identifies where controls and/or strategies need to be implemented to mitigate or eliminate agency risk.
• Facilitates the annual BIIA Management Conference, and meetings between the Board Members and stakeholders.
• Meets regularly with all constituent groups.  Attends meetings of committees that directly affect agency stakeholders (such as Workers' Compensation Advisory Committee, WISHA Advisory Committee, meetings with attorneys).
• Responsible for orchestrating the Board Continuing Legal Education (CLE) session.

Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate
For this critical role, the BIIA seeks an experienced, dynamic leader who is deeply committed to the success of the agency 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 must bring an ability to lead in times of change and to facilitate the BIIA's transition to a new management structure.  The ideal candidate will maintain and champion a work environment that fosters respect, trust, integrity, diversity, equity, inclusion, professionalism, accountability, and continuous improvement.  The ideal candidate will model the agency's core and leadership competencies:
 
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.

 
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 strive to achieve agreements or resolve differences in a timely manner.

Qualifications
 

• A bachelor's degree or higher with major study in business administration, political science, law, public administration, finance, or related discipline.

• A minimum of five years of experience as a mid-level or higher manager directing operational and/or administrative activities including:
  • Three years managing supervisors and/or managers.  (Three years of experience as a member of the BIIA's Extended Management Team will substitute for this experience.)
  • Responsibility for a sizeable staff, policy development, strategic planning, budgeting, human resource management, collaborative culture building, and operational planning.
  • Leading teams by applying a collaborative, trust-based, 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.
• A deep interest and understanding of how to effectively lead people, establish trust-based relationships, and create high performing teams.
• Professional work experience characterized by increasingly responsible positions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead positive organizational change.
• A commitment to honor diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Supplemental Information

Total Compensation:
The annual salary for this position is $125,100 - $144,948, depending on qualifications (Exempt Management Service, Band 4).  The State of Washington offers a competitive benefits package including health, vision, dental insurance, retirement, deferred compensation, life insurance, as well as vacation and sick leave.
 
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 have any questions about the position or 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.