Investigative Operations Manager (Internal Only)

Full Job Description

Please note: This job opportunity is only open to current OII employees.

Who We Are
In response to deaths resulting from encounters with law enforcement and the community’s demand for change, the Washington State Legislature created a new, first-of-its-kind agency: the Office of Independent Investigations (OII). This new agency was formed in 2021 and operates under the requirements of the law, in which investigations involving the use of deadly force must be truly independent of the involved law enforcement agency. Our mission is to conduct fair, thorough, transparent, and competent investigations of incidents involving the use of deadly force. This approach to investigations will remove conflicts of interest, improve accountability and transparency, and renew the public’s confidence. Through these efforts, we hope to strengthen the relationships between police and the community, build public trust, and promote effective policing. To help us carry out this mission, we are looking for Investigators of all levels to join our growing team who trust us and promote effective policing. To help us carry out this mission, we are seeking Investigators of all levels to join our growing team.

The Investigative Operations Manager represents and leads the OII in overseeing the acquisition, logistics, and operational implementation of the OII regional field offices, working in coordination with the agency’s training director to determine necessary training for experienced and inexperienced criminal investigators, coordinating equipment, and ensuring staff have the equipment and technology necessary for success.

As the Investigative Operations Manager, you will develop agency safety plans and lead the development and maintenance of the COOP (Continuity of Operations Plan) — ensuring critical services in the event of an emergency or government shutdown.

You'll develop and lead processes for standardization and investigative assessment to ensure best practices and efficiencies.

Due to the nature of these positions, OII conducts a pre-employment background investigation prior to hire. Background investigations include a psychological evaluation, fingerprinting, and a polygraph.

Requirements

Responsibilities include but are not limited to…

Respond to critical incident scenes that OII is investigating. May serve as Incident Commander at the scene.

Leads OII’s Operational Implementation

• Work with the fleet coordinator to identify the business needs for all vehicles used by the investigative and evidence technician staff.
• Operational implementation of OII’s regional field offices by partnering with the Office of Financial Management to identify specific locations.
• Develop and manage timelines, coordinate equipment, and ensure staff have the resources necessary to carry out the mission for OII.
• Participate in the requirements gathering and the development and implementation of the Records Management System (RMS) Mark43.
• Troubleshoot bottlenecks or escalated cases requiring intervention or reallocation.
• Offer recommendations to leadership for process improvement and strategic growth.

Standardization

• Develop a system of standardization to ensure, to the extent possible, that regional offices operate and conduct investigations in accordance with established OII protocols and methods.
• Monitor and conduct inspections of regional offices to verify consistency and report findings to the Director of Investigations.
• Provide input for performance reviews and appropriate training programs.

Investigation Assessment

• Facilitate and/or conduct post-investigation assessment to identify emerging trends, new best practices, investigation highlights and shortcomings, unanticipated obstacles, and lessons learned, and report findings to the Director of Investigations.
• Assist in reviewing investigative reports for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to agency standards.
• Ensure all investigative activities comply with state and federal laws
• Maintain evidence handling protocols and chain-of-custody integrity.
• Conduct internal audits of processes and report findings to the Director of Investigations.
• Recommend certification and continued education for investigative personnel.
• Maintain the tracking of scheduling, rotations, and on-call assignments.

Recruitment

• Assist with recruiting and outreach activities for all levels of investigative positions used by OII.
• Assist with screening, interviewing, and recommending candidates for Investigator, Senior Investigator, and Regional Investigations Supervisor positions and other positions as needed.
• Interview panel participant when interviewing for Senior Investigator and Regional Supervisor positions.

Qualifications

Required / Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience conducting criminal investigations, including knowledge of criminal law, investigative techniques, evidentiary rules, and chain-of-custody protocols.
• Experience in a progressively responsible leadership or operational management role, preferably in a law enforcement, investigative, or regulatory environment.
• Skill in operational planning and implementation, including coordinating facilities, equipment, technology, and timelines across multiple locations.
• Ability to develop and monitor standard operating procedures to ensure consistency and compliance across regional operations.
• Experience conducting audits, inspections, or quality-assurance reviews of investigative or operational processes.
• Skill in analyzing investigative reports and operational data to identify trends, risks, and areas for improvement.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to recommend and assess training needs, certifications, or continuing education for investigative staff.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive information appropriately.
• Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking and sound judgment in complex situations.

Desired Qualifications:

• An advanced degree in law enforcement, criminal justice, public administration, or Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Knowledge of Washington State public records, open meetings, ethics, and contracting/procurement laws and rules.

Additional Information

How to Apply
Interested? We would love to hear from you. Click “Apply” at the top of this page to start your application (you can save the application and come back to it, if needed). In your submission, please include the following:

1. A letter of interest that describes how you specifically meet the qualifications of the position.
2. A current resume that details your applicable experience and qualifications.

We will review all applications as they are received and contact the top applicants to interview for this position.

Because we base our selection on the information you provide, we recommend submitting a tailored resume outlining the knowledge, skills, and abilities you possess that address the qualifications described above.

To be considered for this position, candidates must meet the required/minimum qualifications.

Questions?
For questions about this recruitment or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email the Recruitment Team at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

The Office of the Governor is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that values and respects diversity in terms of culture, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disability, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply. If you require accommodations or assistance with the application process, or if you prefer to receive this job announcement in an alternative format, please call 1-800-833-6384 or dial 711 to access the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf system.