Deputy Director, Office of the Corrections Ombuds

Full Job Description

Please Note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $120,000- $136,000 annually.

Our physical office is located in Olympia, WA. This is a hybrid position with the ability to telework two days a week.

However, you will need to travel to DOC facilities statewide, attend in-person meetings or community events as required by the position.

Why work for the Office of the Corrections Ombuds?

At the Office of the Corrections Ombuds (OCO), we are driven by a powerful mission: to create a more humane, transparent, and equitable Washington Corrections system.

As an independent and impartial agency established by the Legislature, we are committed to advocating for incarcerated individuals, resolving conflicts, and fostering systemic improvements within the Department of Corrections (DOC).

Our vision is to empower those impacted by incarceration to raise their concerns, reduce harm, and influence positive change across the system.

Our work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

We provide crucial information to incarcerated individuals and their families, raising awareness about their rights and responsibilities, and ensuring that our services are equitable and inclusive.

Diversity and lived experience are at the heart of our mission as we work to build a corrections system that serves everyone fairly.

The job opportunity

As Deputy Director, you will help lead the OCO in its day-to-day operations, advancing a more humane and transparent corrections system in Washington. You will work closely with the Director and step in as their delegate when needed, ensuring the agency runs smoothly, ethically, and effectively.

This work is highly visible, and you’ll regularly interact with legislators, government officials, executive branch agencies and members of the public.

You’ll also represent the agency in written and verbal negotiations, including high-level investigations and complex policy matters involving physical and sexual safety, medical care, deaths, and classification or security concerns.

Additionally, you will oversee fiscal management, risk and safety, policy development, and compliance.

This includes analyzing data to identify trends, assess outcomes, and recommend evidence-based improvements that address systemic concerns.

As a leader, you will mentor operational staff, shape budgets and legislative strategies, and represent the agency in hearings or interagency discussions.

We are looking for someone who leads with integrity, values accountability, and believes in fair and respectful treatment for all people. If you are motivated by public service and ready to lead with courage and compassion, we encourage you to apply.

Requirements

What you’ll work on

• Prevent and resolve operational issues related to fiscal management, staffing, personnel matters, risk, safety, needs assessments, and the development, implementation, and adherence to policies.
• Direct all preparation and publication of OCO public reports in accordance with RCW 43.06C.040.
• Lead foundational administrative operations and assist the OCO Director in responding to resolution of problems identified by the Governor's office, the legislature, other governmental agencies, and community organizations involving policy and program operations.
• Serve as a liaison with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and other agencies providing budget, accounting, internal policy, human resources, legal, IT, contracting, ethics, public disclosure, and other administrative support to the agency.
• Consult with the OCO Director in the preparation, analysis, development and implementation of budget, grants, legislative, and other major policy issues affecting the OCO.

Qualifications

What we need you to bring

Required Qualifications:

• Experience building and leading high-performing teams, including hiring, onboarding, setting clear performance expectations, providing coaching and feedback, and supporting employee growth and development.
• Experience teaching and supervising undergraduate or graduate students.
• Experience and knowledge of corrections systems (consideration of academic, lived, and professional background/experience will be given; combination preferred).
• Knowledge in research and data development and data-driven decision-making.
• Experience representing a state agency in inter-agency workgroups.
• The ability to learn and grow.
• The ability to meet the needs of others.

Desired Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school or Ph.D.
• Prior publication in peer reviewed journal.
• Experience representing a state agency in inter-agency workgroups.
• Experience navigating Washington state budget, accounting, contracts, procurement, and hiring processes.
• Experience with writing budget decision packages, conducting legislative bill analysis, and hiring processes.
• Experience with supplier diversity and working with disability-owned businesses (DOBE), minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses in Washington state.
• Senior level experience leading the administrative activities of an organization.
• Experience coordinating with the OFM and legislative committee staff on policy and budget related issues.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don’t let doubts stop you from applying for this position.

If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

Additional Information

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:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• 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:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position.
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their contact information.

Position requires the ability to obtain unescorted access to DOC facilities and access clearance for DOC's OMNI.

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 TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

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.