DSHS HCLA Budget Forecast Administrator

About the Department

Budget Forecast Administrator: Home and Community Living Administration – Management Services Division

You will help shape how Washington invests in services that support people to live with greater choice, independence, and safety. As the Budget Forecast Administrator, you will bring together budget expertise, forecasting skills, sound judgment, and a practical understanding of how funding decisions affect programs and the people they serve.

This is a senior-level role with a broad view of the financial picture for two of the DSHS’ largest administrations: Home and Community Living Administration (HCLA) and the Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). Together, they manage a biennial budget of approximately $19.65 billion and more than 7,000 full-time equivalent staff. You will lead a team of 12 professional staff while working closely with executive leaders, program teams, the Office of Financial Management, legislative fiscal staff, the Caseload Forecast Council, and other state partners.

Every week brings something different as you move through Washington’s budget cycle. You may be helping an executive team understand funding needs, guiding a decision package, responding to questions about caseloads and expenditures, preparing a fiscal note, or helping a forecast team understand whether the numbers tell the right story. You will have room to chart a path for the team, improve how the work gets done, and build trusted relationships throughout state government.

Some of what you will do

• Lead the development, submission, implementation, and monitoring of HCLA and DDA biennial and supplemental budgets, including decision packages, allotments, spending plans, and year-end projections.
• Direct Medicaid caseload, per-capita, and expenditure forecasts for nursing home, in-home, community residential, waiver, and other services, using available data to identify trends, explain variances, and recommend adjustments.
• Supervise, coach, and develop the professional staff, providing direction on complex assignments while creating an environment where people can ask questions, share ideas, and grow their skills.
• Serve as a primary resource for executive leaders, program managers, the Central Budget Office, the Office of Financial Management, legislative fiscal staff, and other partners on budget, forecast, and funding questions.
• Guide the preparation of fiscal notes, legislative budget requests, financial reports, and other materials that clearly explain the fiscal impact of proposed legislation, policies, and program changes.
• Participate in the financial modeling for complex issues, such as Adult Family Home collective bargaining, by working with rates, labor relations, program, and budget teams to develop reliable fiscal estimates.
• Oversee budget management, modeling, and reporting for the Washington Cares Fund and respond to changing legislative, program, and agency requirements.
• Provide technical guidance and practical solutions on complex fiscal questions while looking for ways to make processes more efficient and help the team meet changing demands throughout the budget and forecasting cycles.

Fast forward one year

You have developed trusted working relationships with executive leaders, program teams, the Office of Financial Management, and legislative partners. You can confidently lead the decision package process, identify gaps and help teams determine how to address them, and guide the budget and forecast team through the demands of the state budget cycle. You understand HCLA and DDA programs and can connect funding needs to the services they provide. You have also identified opportunities to make the work more efficient and have begun putting your own ideas into practice.

Who should apply

You bring a combination of public-sector budget experience, financial expertise, leadership skills, and curiosity about how government funding supports services. We are looking for someone who can:

• Lead complex budget development, forecasting, financial modeling, and expenditure projection work.
• Supervise and develop professional staff while balancing independent decision-making with collaboration.
• Interpret legislation, policies, regulations, financial reports, and other complex information and translate it into clear recommendations.
• Communicate complex financial information clearly in writing and conversation with executives, staff, legislators, state agencies, and other partners.
• Manage multiple priorities and deadlines, particularly during the fast-changing state budget cycle.
• Research unfamiliar issues, ask thoughtful questions, and use sound judgment to develop practical solutions.
• Build productive working relationships and remain patient, flexible, and constructive when priorities or circumstances change.
• Use financial database software and business systems, including Microsoft Excel, at an advanced level.

Required qualifications: You have at least 10 years of professional experience in budget development, financial reporting, expenditure and revenue projections, and related financial practices. This experience must include at least 3 years supervising professional staff and a thorough understanding of Washington state’s financial environment. This includes experience using state financial systems related to budget, accounting, human resources, fiscal notes, bill tracking, or enterprise reporting.

A master’s degree in business, public administration, accounting, economics, statistics, or a related field may substitute for some of the required professional experience, consistent with the applicable job classification. A bachelor’s degree may also be considered with the corresponding additional professional experience.

Preferred experience includes legislative processes and fiscal notes, Medicaid or Medicare funding, long-term services and supports, grant funding, and HCLA or DDA programs. Experience working with Washington state government is also helpful, but DSHS experience is not required.

Work location

This is a hybrid role based in Lacey, with an expectation of working from the Lacey HCLA headquarters approximately two days each week. Occasional travel may be available to connect with staff and programs across the state.

DSHS partners with people to access support, care, and resources. This role is classified as Washington Management Services 3 (WMS3) and offers an opportunity to do more than manage numbers. You will help connect Washington’s resources with the services people rely on—and help a talented team find better ways to do that work.

Interested? Please list 3 professional references’ current contact information on your application and include your current resume and a letter of interest explaining how your knowledge, skills, and abilities qualify you for this role.

Questions? Please contact the Recruiter, Jenny, at [email protected] or 360-725-5810 and reference #06891. Learn more about DSHS.

The Department of Social and Health Services’ (DSHS) vision that people find human services to shape their own lives requires that we come together with a sense of belonging, common purpose, shared values, and meaningful work. It is crucial to our agency’s vision that you bring a fairness, access, and social justice commitment to your work with DSHS. We strive to support all Washingtonians, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, people with physical, behavioral health, and intellectual disabilities, elders, LGBTQIA+ individuals, immigrants and refugees, and families building financial security.

Other Qualifications

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history may be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job. This announcement may be used to fill multiple vacancies. Employees driving on state business must have a valid driver's license. Employees driving a privately owned vehicle on state business must have liability insurance on the privately owned vehicle.
  
 Washington State Department of Social and Health Services is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in any area of employment, its programs or services on the basis of age, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, marital status, race, creed, color, national origin, religion or beliefs, political affiliation, military status, honorably discharged veteran, Vietnam Era, recently separated or other protect­ed veteran status, the presence of any sensory, mental, physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability, equal pay or genetic information. Persons requiring accommodation in the application process or this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruiter at (360) 725-5810. Applicants who are deaf or hard of hearing may call through Washington Relay Service by dialing 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

Relationship and Reporting Structure (Nepotism) Disclosure: If you are selected for hire, you must disclose whether you have a relative, household member, close friend, or romantic partner within your potential supervisory chain of command. DSHS has a Relationships and the Reporting Structure policy that prohibits nepotism and can be reviewed here (Download PDF reader) (Download PDF reader). Applicants whose appointment would result in a prohibited reporting relationship are not eligible for appointment to that position. 

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Benefits

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 WAC 357-31-165(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 WAC 357-31-165(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 WAC 357-58-175, 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
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

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Agency Information

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View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504 Website http://www.careers.wa.gov