Deputy Ombuds - King County Council

Full Job Description

The Office of the Ombuds is looking for a new Deputy Ombuds!

We want and need your passion for engaging with the community and assisting with the important work of local government oversight to help make King County work better.

This role will be a resource for people who are having difficulty resolving complaints or have concerns with King County agencies and will focus primarily on working with residents in the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention.

The Deputy Ombuds is our entry level position and is responsible for performing initial screening and preliminary investigation of complaints involving King County government.

The successful candidate's role will be dedicated to increase the Ombuds office's outreach and visibility in the community, especially for community members having difficulty accessing our services.

About the King County Office of the Ombuds The King County Office of the Ombuds is an independent office within the legislative branch of government that reports to the King County Council.

We are committed to equity, social justice, and ensuring that King County is an accountable, inclusive, and anti-racist government.

Our work improves the quality of life for all King County residents in a number of areas, including public health and safety, the environment, transportation and infrastructure, and equity and social justice.

This independent office is located in the King County Dexter Horton Building.

Requirements

Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all King County employees.

You will apply equity and social justice principles that exemplify shared values, behaviors, and practices to all aspects of the work. General responsibilities include:

• Investigate and make determinations on routine complaints about the County’s operations, including some ethics, whistleblower, and lobbyist disclosure allegations.

• Develop multi-faceted preliminary case research, define scope of inquiry, conduct equity analyses, and develop investigative plans for review by the Ombuds Director or designee.
• Conduct routine and complex intake calls from DAJD residents.
• Execute investigative plans, collect and review evidence, conduct analyses, apply appropriate legal and evidentiary standards. Research and evaluate issues, policies, laws, and procedures.
• Draft formal written reports for review and issuance by the Ombuds Director or designee that include well-supported findings, conclusions, and recommendations.

For a full description of the job duties and responsibilities: please email Arlecier.west2@kingcounty.gov

Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have a minimum of four years of successful diverse and robust work experience in performing professional-level investigative, analytical, legal, and dispute resolution work within a public agency.

An advanced degree in alternative dispute resolution, law, public administration, human resources, or related discipline and any relevant experience including lived, volunteer, professional OR a combination of experience and education that demonstrate the ability to perform the work will be considered.

A master's degree is preferred and may substitute for some experience. Investigative experience with a focus on writing detailed analytical findings is strongly desired.

Desired Experience and Knowledge:

• Dedication to objectivity, integrity, accuracy, and transparency.
• Strong ability to manage ambiguity, conflict, and complexity while remaining flexible and professional.
• Commitment to building and maintaining effective internal and external working relationships and contributing to positive office culture. Instills trust within this process.
• Professional knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques used in the research and investigation of complaints.
• Well-developed quantitative and qualitative analysis skills, including sufficient math skills to develop and interpret statistical and operating information.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities, especially related to King County government.
• Excellent organization, project management, and communication skills.
• High emotional intelligence and public relations skills to adapt to diverse and sometimes challenging personalities and styles, gain trust while working with others in sensitive and difficult situations, resolve conflict, and employ lines of questioning for fact finding.

Additional Information

Application and Selection Process If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully.

Applications will be screened for completeness, writing accuracy, and competitiveness.

The most competitive candidates may be invited to participate in a skills assessment test and one or more panel interviews.

Candidates invited to participate in a final interview must agree to complete a reference check before the final interview. To apply for this position, you must submit:

• A completed job application.
• A cover letter detailing your background and describing how you meet or exceed the requirements (Supplemental question #1, no more than 500 words).
• A resume.
• A writing sample demonstrating complex detailed analytical findings. This can be a writing product produced in a previous professional role.
• Response to supplemental questions

NOTE: Online applications are preferred; however, if you are unable to apply online, visit www.kingcounty.gov/jobs for other options.

Failure to submit all required forms and materials may prohibit further consideration. Who May Apply This position is open to all qualified applicants.

Acceptable proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States are required by federal immigration law.

The successful candidate must be able to pass a Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and CJIS background check.

Work Schedule This is a salaried, represented, overtime-exempt position that is not eligible for the county Career Service system. The standard workweek is 40 hours.

Non-traditional work hours and travel throughout King County may occasionally be required. Union Representation The Deputy Ombuds position is represented by a bargaining unit.

A $2.00 per hour contribution to the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Trust Fund is mandatory for all represented employees in this union.

The pension contribution is reflected in the stated wage rates on this announcement.

Telework The work associated with this position will be performed predominantly in a hybrid work environment, working in the office and at home.

Employees must reside in Washington State and within a reasonable distance of their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

If selected for this position, you must be available for periodic in-person work.

This position will also meet with customers and stakeholders in person.

You must have a secure and reliable internet connection for remote work-a minimum of 30 megabits per second download speed to accommodate video meetings.

All staff must commit to standards related to independence, ethics, code of conduct, team engagement, and telework.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to a hybrid environment.King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex(including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

Please contact Arlecier West, Sr.

HR Business Partner at arlecier.west2@kingcounty.gov if you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process.

Job Code 007150 Deputy Ombuds This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by Teamsters Local 117