News & Updates

Washington State Department of Health Seeks Equity and Social Justice Manager/Advisor
March 19, 2021 | Alison Pagan

Our ideal candidate is a team player, has a driving passion for equity and social justice, a commitment to collaboration across the agency with external partners, and holds themselves accountable to the community. They are a holistic thinker and can see both the big picture and the detail level, moving comfortably between larger policy and systems issues to the details that drive inequities at a micro-level. 

Our ideal candidate sees the needs of others, values difference in perspective, and  
 adapts their approach and expectations accordingly. They are responsive to the experiences of others and are committed to ongoing learning/unlearning and self-growth.
Our ideal candidate strives for humility and partnership, even when confronted with others that are not open or collaborative. They are nimble and adaptive when faced with resistance, demonstrate resilience, and can have courageous conversations when needed.
 
The Equity and Social Justice Manager/Advisor will develop, lead and oversee the implementation of agency initiatives to promote diversity, inclusion, cultural humility, equity, and social justice. They provide consultation and guidance to DOH divisions, offices, and programs on these issues and oversee alignment with the agency’s commitment and approach on these issues.

The Equity and Social Justice Manager/Advisor supports the agency mission by ensuring that equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice are integrated into policies, processes, programs, and decisions that protect and improve the health of people in Washington State, particularly those that are disproportionately impacted and historically marginalized.

There are seven (7) Equity and Social Justice Manager/Advisor positions throughout the agency. Some positions will have supervisory responsibilities. To learn more about each of the positions and the division or offices they support visit:

When our Equity and Social Justice Managers/Advisor approach any area of work, they think:

  • Who is most impacted by this?
  • How have we engaged them in our work and who is engaging with them?
  • How can we do a better job engaging them in our process?
  • What are the barriers they face and what can we do to address those barriers?
  • What does success look like to them?
  • What are the systems we need to put in place to ensure we always center on people who are most impacted?

When we talk with our ESJ Managers/Advisor about their values, they’ll see themselves in words like Human-Centered, Partnership, Equity, and Excellence. They’ll also see in these words a challenge to improve—personally and organizationally—in pursuit of a better impact on people and better business outcomes.

When we ask others about them, they’ll describe a person of remarkable capability, diligence, and focus. They’ll tell us about someone who:

  • Sees and understands the objectives and challenges of people they work as well as their impact on those people.
  • Adjusts what they’re doing based on what they learn.
  • Holds themselves accountable for helping those around them succeed, as well as achieving their own business results.

It takes personal courage, tenacity, and humility to achieve big things in this way. Our ideal candidate probably wonders whether they’re up to this challenge. But they want to take it on because they’re hungry for personal growth and hungry to help build this kind of business, team, and workplace culture at the Department of Health.

Currently, these positions may be located anywhere within the State of Washington. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, telework (mobile-work) is expected. When approved to return, the incumbent will work with their supervisor to identify an appropriate work schedule and balance including telework and reporting to the Tumwater, Washington duty station for work activities, if needed. Additionally, it is expected the ESJ Manager/Advisor positions will travel occasionally to attend community or partner meetings once it is safe to do so.
For more information, including how to apply, click here.