Child Care Licensing Legal Letter Writer (MA5) Olympia

This position plays a critical role within DCYF’s Licensing Division, advising management on appropriate licensing actions that impact child and family safety. It requires strong analytical skills and a deep understanding of policy, regulation, and practice to inform leadership decisions. In this role, you will analyze data, identify trends, and help shape enforcement strategies. You’ll lead efforts to improve the agency’s legal letter process by collaborating with licensing staff, supervisors, area administrators, Public Records Officers, Assistant Attorneys General, and executive leadership.

Key responsibilities include compiling and analyzing legally significant information and drafting clear, well-supported enforcement action letters. You will also partner with AAGs and licensed foster care and child care providers to strengthen understanding and consistency in DCYF’s enforcement approach. This is a high-impact role suited for someone who excels in complex regulatory environments and driving process improvement.

• Compiles legal sufficient documents and information to develop and draft legally sound enforcement action letters. 
• Drafts and edits enforcement action letters.
• Evaluates division documents to determine if they meet agency readability standards; provide technical assistance to staff in meeting department readability requirements.
• Develops working relationships with local Offices of the Attorney General and consult with local AAGs to assess legal letters for legal sufficiency.
• Gathers data from a variety of sources.
• Uses analytical reasoning evaluate data for completeness and determine accuracy, reliability, and reasonableness.
• Examines fluctuations and potentially unexpected trends and provide context and clarifying information.
• Identifies potentially problematic data and verify, edit or make recommendations for update as needed.
• Uses critical thinking skills to assess business processes and identify areas to improve.
• Gathers/reviews and analyzes data related to the performance of licensing programs and make appropriate recommendations.

• Equivalent combination of education and experience conducting research, analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations, conducting business analysis and developing requirements, leading business projects, managing business operations, business policy development, or supervising, totaling nine years.

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, law, public health, health administration, or a related field AND five years of demonstrated experience in two or more of the following areas:
  • Conducting research
  • Analyzing policies, laws, rules, or regulations
  • Conducting business analysis and developing requirements
  • Leading business projects 
  • Managing business operations
  • Business policy development
  • Supervising 

• Knowledge of government organization policies, rules, procedures and program needs; federal and local government functions; licensing methods and procedures in child care licensing, research methods and data collection.
• Prior experience speaking before groups; compiling written reports; obtaining the cooperation of other departments and other government agencies 
• Prior experience working effectively and collaboratively with internal and external partners.
• Prior experience understanding and working effectively with diverse populations. 
• Prior experience building and maintaining collaborative working relationships with internal and external community partners. 
• Prior experience evaluating, compiling, and organizing data into reports to inform policy and practice.
• Prior experience understanding program complexities and developing recommendations for improvement to meet outcome goals.
• Prior experience in the following: leadership skills, public speaking mediations, negotiations, and planning. 
• Prior experience using business applications (Microsoft Office; FamLink, etc.).
• Prior knowledge of state and federal law, agency policies and regulations related to child care licensing. 

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

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

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

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission).  If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment.