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.
Job Duties
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
Requirements
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
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.
