Executive Assistant

About the Department

Position: Executive Assistant

Agency: Washington State Office of Civil Legal Aid

Job Type: Permanent Full-Time

Salary: $68,000 - $75,000

Location: Washington State (location flexible; hybrid/remote work arrangements available)

Open: September 4, 2026

Close: Open until filled. Review of applications will begin on September 21, 2026.

This is primarily a hybrid/remote position, however, a regular presence in Olympia, Washington is required. In addition, this position requires occasional travel in Washington State for meetings and events.

Introduction

Agency

The Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is an independent judicial branch state agency, created with the understanding that the provision of legal aid services to indigent persons is an important component of the state’s responsibility to provide for the proper and effective administration of justice. The mission of the Office of Civil Legal Aid is to secure, invest and oversee the use of public funding for civil legal aid to low-income people in Washington State and to ensure accountability for public funds dedicated to the purpose. 

Since its founding in 2005, OCLA was established as an agency with the principal responsibility to underwrite a general civil legal aid system in Washington. OCLA has grown and changed in recent years. Recognizing OCLA’s essential contributions, and the compelling need for these services, the legislature has expanded OCLA’s mandate to support legal aid to victims of crime and domestic violence, children in foster care, kinship caregivers, indigent tenants facing eviction, Medicaid recipients being discharged from long-term care settings, and individuals reentering society following completion of their terms of incarceration. 

Find out more about OCLA here

Position Duties

Reporting to the OCLA Director, this position is part of OCLA’s central operations team. This position also works closely with the Director of Operations, and is responsible for:

Providing administrative support. This includes:

• Providing direct, confidential, executive-level administrative support to the Director including arranging meetings, drafting correspondence and presentations, and preparing and submitting reports on behalf of the Director.
• Supporting committees by preparing agendas and meeting materials; making arrangements for in-person, virtual, and hybrid meetings; taking minutes; maintaining rosters; and following up on assignments.
• Managing and evaluating all central communications to the agency and responding accordingly.   
• Assisting with responding to administrative records requests under GR 31.1, Access to Administrative Records.
• Supporting agency conferences, meetings, and events including assisting with on-site logistics (occasional travel required).
• Providing backup support for matters that can only be accomplished while in the office and/or Olympia area.

Provide human resources administrative support. This includes:

• Coordinating position postings and managing searches within the state’s recruitment system, assisting with initial applicant screening, and coordinating interviews and making all related meeting arrangements.
• Preparing personnel action forms for newly hired employees, position changes, and separations.
• Providing administrative support to the annual performance evaluation and goal setting process.

Other duties include:

• Participation in OCLA’s Race Equity and Justice Statement of Purpose.
• Working effectively as a critical member of a small team of professionals in a highly mission-driven environment. 
• Other tasks as assigned.

This position also serves as a backup to others within the agency and may complete other duties as assigned to support central operations and OCLA’s programs.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Exceptional administrative support skills with demonstrated progressive experience in office, clerical, secretarial, or general administrative work.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a wide spectrum of tasks, handle short deadlines, work independently, and adapt as new and changing demands require.
• Ability to identify problems and develop strategies to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.
• Experience with external communications, including outstanding interpersonal communication skills and the ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, both in person and virtually. This must include composing, formatting, proofreading, and editing professional correspondence, emails, memos, letters, and notes independently.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft 365 suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Teams).

Desired Qualifications

• Experience with hiring processes and related software.
• Experience with complex meetings or event coordination and development, including in-person and virtual events.
• Experience working within a remote environment.
• Experience working with diverse populations including racial, ethnic, linguistic, LGBTQIA2S+, disability, immigrant, and houseless communities.
• A strong desire to learn and grow personally and professionally.

Other Qualifications

How to Apply

Applications for this recruitment will only be accepted electronically. Click the green “Apply” button in the upper right-hand corner to get started.

To be considered for this position you must include the following with your online application:

• Resume
• Cover letter which addresses qualifications as listed above
• A list of three (3) professional references

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

Agency Information

EmployerState of WashingtonAddress View Job Posting for Agency Information

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