Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $180,000 - $231,813 annually. Our physical office is located in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework. However, you will need to travel throughout Washington State to attend in-person meetings or community events as required by the position.
Terms of Appointment: Per RCW, the Council shall employ an executive director. The executive director shall be appointed by the governor from a list of three names submitted by the Council. However, the governor may request, and the Council shall provide, an additional list or lists from which the governor shall select the executive director. The governor may dismiss the executive director only with the approval of a majority vote of the Council. The Council, by a majority vote, may dismiss the executive director.
Organization Summary
The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) is a cabinet-level state agency responsible for expanding access to postsecondary education opportunities, advancing educational attainment and increasing student success for all Washingtonians. WSAC actively supports all pathways to postsecondary education, including Career and Technical Education (CTE) and apprenticeship programs.
Through strategic planning, policy leadership, research, advocacy, and program administration, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) serves as Washington's catalyst for educational attainment and workforce success. The Council is committed to advancing equitable pathways to education, training, and career advancement for all Washingtonians while fostering a shared statewide commitment to opportunity and economic mobility. By convening leaders across education, workforce, business, philanthropy, government, and community sectors, WSAC builds consensus, aligns strategy, and drives collective action to ensure that every learner has access to high-quality pathways beyond high school and the support needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving economy.
WSAC administers and oversees a broad portfolio of programs and initiatives, including the Washington College Grant, State Work Study, College Bound Scholarship, GEAR UP, Washington's 529 college savings programs (GET and DreamAhead), Career Connect Washington, and a variety of college access and support programs. The agency also serves as a leading source of education research, data analysis, and policy recommendations that help shape the future of Washington's postsecondary education system. In addition, WSAC provides policy, research, and administrative support to several statewide statutory initiatives, including the independent Workforce Education Investment Accountability and Oversight Board (WEIAOB). Through this partnership, the agency helps advance statewide workforce education priorities while supporting legislative accountability and cross-sector collaboration.
With over 150 employees and responsibility for approximately $590M in financial aid and education investments, WSAC plays a critical role in helping Washington meet its long-term educational attainment and workforce development goals.
Position Summary
The Executive Director serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Washington Student Achievement Council and is responsible for leading the agency's strategic vision, policy agenda, operations, partnerships, and statewide impact.
This role represents a unique opportunity to shape the future of education in Washington State. The Executive Director serves as a trusted advisor to the Governor, the Council, legislators, educational leaders, and community partners while advancing policies and initiatives that increase educational attainment, improve affordability and access, strengthen workforce readiness, and create greater economic opportunity for Washingtonians.
The Executive Director leads one of Washington's most influential education agencies in an environment where collaboration is essential and formal authority is intentionally distributed. Because the state's K–12, higher education, and workforce systems are governed by multiple independent entities, success depends on the ability to build trust, align diverse stakeholders, shape policy through influence, and inspire collective action in pursuit of Washington's educational attainment and workforce goals.
Building upon a strong organizational foundation, this leader will guide the next chapter of WSAC's evolution as Washington’s leading voice for educational attainment, student success, and systems innovation. The Executive Director will bring together leaders from education, workforce, business, government, philanthropy, and community organizations to develop shared strategies, navigate complex policy challenges, and advance durable solutions that expand opportunity for all Washingtonians.
Through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and a steadfast commitment to equity, the Executive Director will ensure that WSAC's priorities reflect broad stakeholder engagement and are recognized as statewide commitments rather than the positions of any single agency or institution. In doing so, this leader will help shape a stronger future for Washington's students, families, employers, and communities.
Washington is at a pivotal moment in expanding educational opportunity, strengthening workforce readiness, and improving economic mobility. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of educational attainment and workforce opportunity in Washington—creating lasting impact for students, families, employers, and communities while ensuring every Washingtonian has access to meaningful pathways beyond high school and the opportunity to thrive.
What we offer:
We foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.
Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer:
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An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
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Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
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12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
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State retirement programs
Application Process: Once you’ve decided to apply for a state government job, you’ll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person is going to read it. We do not use AI or other technology that screens your application and rejects it. So please be sure to provide clear and detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.
When completing your application, we encourage you to attach all of the following:
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Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
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Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
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References: at least three professional references and their contact information.
Questions:
Our Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard of hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at [email protected].
The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.
