Program Assistant - Behavioral Health
Listed compensation
$27.15-$31.25/hr
The week · per this posting · Monday – Friday
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations and nights and shift pattern.
Job Description
- Level: Experienced
- Job Location: Tukwila-Upper Bldg-15455 65th Ave. S. - Tukwila, WA
- Position Type: Full Time
- Salary Range: $27.15 - $31.25Hourly
- Position: Program Assistant
- Compensation: $27.15 - $31.25 per hour
- Location: Tukwila, Washington
- Schedule: Monday – Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, or Monday – Thursday 9:00 am - 6:00 pm and Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm, depending on business needs
Closing Date: Open Until Filled Hiring Preference If you are an American Indian/Alaska Native and/or a Veteran and would like this to be considered a preference in hiring, please upload documentation with your resume and cover letter. Acceptable documentation includes a Tribal Enrollment card, a letter from your Tribe stating your enrollment, or a BIA 4432 and/or DD214.
Why Join Our Team? Competitive pay with opportunities for professional growth and ongoing development. Work alongside a dedicated interdisciplinary team committed to whole-person care. Serve a mission-driven organization where culture, community, and compassion guide everything we do.
Benefits Medical, dental, and vision insurance, with multiple no-cost options for employees. Retirement benefits Employees accrue (13) paid vacation days, (13) paid sick leave days, and (15) paid holidays in their first year.
Position Summary Ensures the efficient and effective operations of the clinic’s front office and lobby. Creates a welcoming environment and directs callers, clients, and visitors to appropriate personnel. Maintains professionalism in all interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
Honors and represents the mission, vision, and values of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Health and Human Services department.
Key
Responsibilities
Checks in arriving clients for intake/assessment in an efficient manner and notifies staff of patient arrival; verifies insurance information; collects fees and payments; directs clients to appropriate locations for services requested.
Answers incoming telephone calls, determines purpose of the call, and forwards calls to appropriate personnel or department. Processes messages and voicemails per program procedure.
Monitors access to the building by visitors and delivery persons, checking in arriving visitors and issuing a visitor identification badge, directing visitors to the appropriate locations for meetings or business contacts.
Conducts urinalysis (UA) collections, including directly observed collections for male clients in accordance with same-gender observation requirements and program protocols; manages urinalysis requisitions and chain-of-custody documentation.
Qualifications: Minimum
Required Education & Certifications Must be able to perform directly observed UA collections for male clients, which requires the staff member to be of the same gender as the client. Knowledge of patient registration and front office responsibilities in a healthcare setting. Three years of related experience. High School Diploma/GED. Obtain and maintain BLS/CPR and AED certifications. A valid driver’s license.
Key Skills & Abilities Skill in operating various word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software programs in a Windows environment, including electronic health care systems. Knowledge of policies and procedures related to HIPAA, Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance programs.
Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships and contribute to the creation of an inclusive environment. Knowledge of office functions, procedures, and policies. Ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
Preferred
Qualifications
Knowledge of basic medical terminology. Experience working within American Indian and/or Alaska Native communities. Work Environment Work is generally performed in an office/clinical setting with a moderate noise level. Employees may be exposed to bodily fluids, bloodborne pathogens, and infectious diseases.
Situations may occur where PPE (personal protective equipment) is needed. Evening and/or weekend work may be required. Tight time constraints and multiple demands are common. Additional
Requirements
Pre-employment drug screen. Personal and professional reference checks and employment verification. Federal, state, and/or tribal criminal history and sanction checks, including fingerprint verification.
Has not been found guilty of, charged with, received a deferred sentence, received a conditional discharge of, or entered a plea of not contest to, or entered a plea of guilty to any one felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence, sexual assault, molestation, exploitation, or sexual contact; prostitution; or crimes committed against person(s) or children.
Please note: The Cowlitz Indian Tribe is NOT covered by Washington State’s Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) program. Physical Demands While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to sit, stand, use hands and fingers for a variety of tasks, talk, and hear.
The employee occasionally is required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 20 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and clarity of vision at long distances.
Apply Today If you are passionate about helping individuals access treatment and delivering compassionate healthcare services in the community, this role may be right for you!
We appreciate being able to review your resume via third-party job sites, but a full application will need to be completed at cowlitz.org for your candidacy to be considered.
Key Responsibilities
The Program Assistant manages front office operations, including client intake, insurance verification, and directing visitors. They also perform clinical tasks such as observed urinalysis collections and maintain accurate documentation in compliance with program protocols.
Requirements
Candidates must have at least three years of related experience and a high school diploma or GED. The role requires the ability to perform directly observed urinalysis collections for male clients and maintain BLS/CPR/AED certifications.
Qualifications
- Experience
- 2+ years of experience
Key Skills
Healthcare Administration Career Context
The cost-of-living index for Washington is 107.0 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$61k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $57k in an average-cost state. 59.8% of Washington clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
Healthcare Administration pay on WeekdayDoc is up 6.1% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$57k in purchasing power | Washington index 107.0 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| All healthcare administration listings in Washington | 53 active | 1,271 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US healthcare professional listings (all specialties): 6% state a sign-on bonus (median $3k) · 5% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
| Healthcare Administration pay trend (all specialties) | +6.1% vs prior quarter | —through Oct 2026 |
Location & Logistics
Washington has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states. At the posted ~$61k midpoint, that is roughly $2k–$4k a year versus a typical 4–7% state rate.
