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Strategic Business and Operations Manager
State of Washington
Dept. of Corrections
Location
Washington, 98504
Salary
$123,816 - $130,320
per year
Type
Full Time
More Management & Supervision jobs →Closes
January 29, 2026More State jobs →
SES Pay Grade
Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900
Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading efforts to improve how projects are managed and operations run in a state corrections department, focusing on creating standard tools, training teams, and ensuring projects align with big-picture goals.
It's a great fit for someone who loves coaching others, stays calm during changes, and has experience making processes more efficient in a team setting.
The role offers flexibility with telework from anywhere in Washington state.
Key Requirements
- Experience in project management, including developing methodologies, templates, and processes
- Strong skills in coaching, mentoring, and training staff on project management and continuous improvement
- Knowledge of Lean principles and fostering communities of practice
- Ability to lead change management and implement innovative tools for efficiency
- Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and building collaborative team cultures
- Experience supporting enterprise-level project prioritization and stakeholder engagement
- Reliable internet for telework and willingness to travel as needed
Full Job Description
Strategic Business and Operations Manager
Full Time | Permanent
Location: Headquarters | Tumwater, WA
Salary Range: $123,816 - $130,320 Annually
This is a telework eligible position. The candidate of choice may be eligible to work from anywhere within the state of Washington with a reliable internet connection. Travel may be required.
The Washington State Department of Corrections is looking to fill the critical role of Strategic Business and Operations Manager within the Office of Strategy and Innovation (OSI).
The ideal candidate is a people-focused leader who excels at coaching and mentoring, inspiring teams to grow and succeed.
Valuing and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion, our candidate communicates with purpose and clarity. Calm and grounded during times of change, they lead with confidence and care.
Their thoughtful, strategic approach empowers others and builds a culture of authenticity, shared ownership, and teamwork.
The Strategic Business and Operations Manager is responsible for building and sustaining a best-practice operating environment for OSI by strengthening and standardizing project management and continuous improvement practices across the agency.
This role ensures that consistent, high-quality methodologies, templates, communication systems, and documentation are used from project initiation through closure to support effective delivery and strong stakeholder engagement.
The candidate of choice will lead the development and delivery of project management training by providing ongoing coaching and mentorship to OSI staff and agency project managers.
By monitoring performance and fostering communities of practice focused on project management and Lean principles, the role supports team effectiveness and promotes a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
This position also supports enterprise-level project management, helping guide agency-wide prioritization, decision-making, and project oversight to ensure alignment with strategic goals and resources.
Additionally, you’ll provide hands-on guidance during project startup to ensure that tools, methodologies, and processes are applied effectively.
The role also researches and implements innovative project management and process-mapping tools, leading training and rollout to improve efficiency, visibility, and consistency across projects.
If you are excited about the possibility of setting the the direction for project management best practices, process improvement, and change management at DOC, ensuring the organization is equipped to deliver high-quality, sustainable results, we encourage you to review this job posting and apply!
A completed application packet will include:
- A cover letter regarding your interest in this position with our agency
- A detailed resume
- Three professional references
Requirements
We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service, committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence, while promoting innovation, engagement, and safety, leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population, our agency, and our community.
As a Strategic Business and Operations Manager, some of your duties will include:
- Implementing a project management best practice methodology for OSI which includes updating and creating new project management best practice templates, tools, and processes; and training OSI staff in the methodology and providing mentorship to OSI project managers in real time
- Leading and mentoring your team to grow the skill sets of project managers throughout the agency
- Providing mentorship and guidance to DOC staff on project management, continuous improvement and process mapping. Lead the project management "community of practice" at DOC
- Demonstrating, modeling and coaching project managers in advanced communication, facilitation, lean-based thinking, and collaboration skills to support agency leaders and project teams in identifying what they want to accomplish, how to develop key project outcomes, and how to measure the work
- Leading and implementing the effort to effectively store and monitor formal project documentation and all project artifacts using MS Teams and SharePoint
- Collaborating with OSI staff to build an innovative look, feel, and use of Sharepoint and Teams sites for customers
- Collaborating with the OSI director, the BST Assistant Secretary, and other agency leaders to establish and staff the DOC Project Governance Committee
- Managing the DOC project register and supporting the development of an agency-based project dashboard in collaboration with the OSI Performance Analyst
- Engaging sponsor(s), steering committee(s), and agency stakeholders across authority lines to ensure project plans support desired outcomes and are attainable
- Interacting and communicating regularly with executive management
- Providing leadership, coaching and direction to OSI and project teams to continually improve processes and performance related to the implementation of projects
- Managing high risk and highly visible projects across the enterprise using a best-practices approach
- Supporting continuous improvement activities for OSI. Contributes to developing the framework for continuous improvement and improving process, scheduling, and progress reporting
- Managing staff, providing leadership and direction
- Identifying opportunities for professional growth for staff
- Developing and managing project budgets and expenditures in collaboration with Budget staff
Qualifications
What we need (required qualifications):
- High school diploma or equivalent
AND
- A minimum of five (5) years of experience in developing, managing and implementing large, complex, multi-disciplinary projects impacting large organization(s)
AND
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
In addition to the above education and experience, the below knowledge, skills and abilities are required:
- Excellent communication skills, ability to work effectively with both employees and executive leaders and customers
- Ability to coach and mentor team members and staff in project management methodology and best practice applications
- Strong influence, change management, and relationship building skills
- Ability to develop and maintain business relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Advanced experience in process mapping and employing lean based methodologies to support organizational continuous improvement
- Experience managing and mentoring staff
What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications):
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business, administration, social science or closely allied field from an accredited institution whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the County of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or a foreign equivalent
- LEAN certification
- Change Management certification
Additional Information
Vision: Working together for safer communities.
Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.
Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.
DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position.
- A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
- Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
- Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
- DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application.
A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies.
If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.**Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws.
A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.
When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application.
You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9.
The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form.
https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
Telework Details
This position may be allocated for telework.
Work may be performed from your home or another offsite location within the state of Washington using a reliable internet or cellular hotspot service at that time.
Employees are expected to perform assigned duties in a safe manner, to take proper care all state-issued equipment, and maintain confidentiality of all information in possession while working offsite.
Employees will be required to commute to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business requires, to potentially include components of the onboarding process.
Some offices will have a “drop in” area available, however, a dedicated workspace within a DOC facility will not be provided.
What We Offer:
As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority.
Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation.
Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:
- Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
- Up to 25 paid vacations days a year
- 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
- 12 paid holidays a year
- Generous retirement plan
- Flex Spending Accounts
- Dependent Care Assistance
- Deferred Compensation and so much more!
PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email mackenzie.conley@doc1.wa.gov or call us at 509-630-9160. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.
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