State of Washington
Executive Director, Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO)
State of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States, 98168
Please Note:
The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $101,508 - $168,000 annually. This position is also subject to King County premium pay, per WAC 357-28-203. Our physical office is located in Tukwila, WA and is a hybrid position with the ability to telework. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.
In order to make an application, simply read through the following job description and make sure to attach relevant documents. Terms of Appointment:
Per RCW, the governor shall appoint an ombuds, with consent of the senate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, shall be a person of recognized judgment, independence, objectivity, and integrity, and shall be qualified by training or experience, or both, in family and children's services law and policy. The appointed shall hold office for a term of three years and shall continue to hold office until reappointed or until his or her successor is appointed. Why work for the
Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds
? Our mission is to protect children, youth and families from harmful agency action or conduct. We also ensure agency officials and state policy makers are aware of system-wide issues and recommendations in the child protection and child welfare system to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children and youth. If you believe every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and protected—and you’re ready to hold systems accountable when that doesn’t happen—this role may be for you. The job opportunity We’re looking for a new Director to lead the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO). It’s a big job with a big purpose: to identify system issues and recommendations to improve outcomes for children and families involved in state systems, investigate complaints, push for change, and make sure no one falls through the cracks. This office is independent, and your voice will carry weight in policy conversations that directly impact vulnerable communities across the state. You’d be stepping into a leadership role where your work influences child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and family services. You’ll lead a team of passionate professionals who care deeply about fairness, justice, and safety. You’ll also work with state agencies, lawmakers, the governor’s office, and community groups to fix systemic problems and promote better outcomes. In your day-to-day, you’ll guide investigations into complaints—especially those involving safety risks to children. You’ll make decisions about how to resolve problems and push for improvements. Sometimes that means recommending changes in policy. Sometimes it means intervening in a specific case. You’ll also take a broader look at systems—reviewing facilities, analyzing trends, and keeping watch over how agencies serve children, youth, and families. This role involves a lot of collaboration and a lot of responsibility. You’ll need to navigate government systems while maintaining independence and advocating for what’s right. You’ll represent the office in the media, with lawmakers, and in public conversations about child safety and family well-being. You’ll also take care of your team—providing leadership, oversight, and the support they need to do this challenging and important work. You'll be part of the Governor’s Small Agency Cabinet and help shape the state’s approach to protecting children and strengthening families. You might have a background in child welfare, social work, law, advocacy, or public policy—or another path that’s helped you understand systems and how they impact real people. What matters most is that you’re grounded in equity, and ready to speak up on behalf of those who can’t always speak for themselves. It’s a chance to lead with heart, act with integrity, and make real, lasting change. The Director Ombuds is accountable for the OFCO’s duties and responsibilities as set forth in RCW 43.06A and include: Reviewing complaint investigation findings and determines OFCO’s response to prevent or correct harmful state action impacting a child or family involved with the child welfare system. Engaging with the DCYF administrators to resolve problematic issues identified in OFCO complaint investigations. Developing recommendations to improve our child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation systems. Directing OFCO’s participation in the DCYF’s Executive Child Fatality and Near Fatality Reviews. Periodically reviewing the facilities and procedures of state institutions, including juvenile rehabilitation facilities serving children, youth and families and state-licensed facilities or residences to ensure compliance. Developing policy recommendations to the Governor, legislature, and agency officials to improve the state child welfare system, juvenile rehabilitation, and protect children and youth, and strengthen families. Producing annual and special reports describing OFCO’s work, investigation findings, and recommendations. Testifying before the legislature regarding OFCO’s recommendations and child welfare issues. Engaging with stakeholder groups, the governor’s office, legislators, state agencies and the media regarding proposed changes to law, policy, or practice to improve state services for families, children and youth. Reporting to the DCYF Family Oversight Board on systemic child welfare issues. Providing administrative oversight for all office administrative matters, including human resources, complaint data management, budgetary and contract management, program development, public education and outreach, research, training, technical assistance, and information technology. What we need you to bring Required Qualifications: Extensive knowledge of the Washington State child welfare system, juvenile rehabilitation, court process, and experience interpreting laws, agency rules, policies and procedures governing the DCYF. Understanding of the independent and neutral role of an ombuds. Organizational management experience including budget, workflow, projects, and supervising and managing staff including directing and evaluating the work of others. Experience analyzing and evaluating complex child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation issues often involving child safety and conflicting policy goals and facilitating effective solutions. Understanding of the disparate impact of child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation involvement on BIPOC families. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Experience producing written reports, and communicating with policymakers, stakeholders and the media. Desired Qualifications: Master’s degree in social work or Juris Doctorate. Experience working with senior agency executives and policy makers. Experience implementing continuous improvement practices to increase efficiency and effective services to constituents. Two years or more of management experience in child welfare related field. Strong strategic planning, policy development and program management skills. 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. 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. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer: An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging Tuition reimbursement 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. 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidates’ qualifications within the starting salary range of $101,508 - $168,000 annually. This position is also subject to King County premium pay, per WAC 357-28-203. Our physical office is located in Tukwila, WA and is a hybrid position with the ability to telework. However, you will need to travel to in-person activities, meetings, and events according to business needs.
In order to make an application, simply read through the following job description and make sure to attach relevant documents. Terms of Appointment:
Per RCW, the governor shall appoint an ombuds, with consent of the senate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the governor, shall be a person of recognized judgment, independence, objectivity, and integrity, and shall be qualified by training or experience, or both, in family and children's services law and policy. The appointed shall hold office for a term of three years and shall continue to hold office until reappointed or until his or her successor is appointed. Why work for the
Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds
? Our mission is to protect children, youth and families from harmful agency action or conduct. We also ensure agency officials and state policy makers are aware of system-wide issues and recommendations in the child protection and child welfare system to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children and youth. If you believe every child deserves to feel safe, heard, and protected—and you’re ready to hold systems accountable when that doesn’t happen—this role may be for you. The job opportunity We’re looking for a new Director to lead the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO). It’s a big job with a big purpose: to identify system issues and recommendations to improve outcomes for children and families involved in state systems, investigate complaints, push for change, and make sure no one falls through the cracks. This office is independent, and your voice will carry weight in policy conversations that directly impact vulnerable communities across the state. You’d be stepping into a leadership role where your work influences child welfare, juvenile rehabilitation, and family services. You’ll lead a team of passionate professionals who care deeply about fairness, justice, and safety. You’ll also work with state agencies, lawmakers, the governor’s office, and community groups to fix systemic problems and promote better outcomes. In your day-to-day, you’ll guide investigations into complaints—especially those involving safety risks to children. You’ll make decisions about how to resolve problems and push for improvements. Sometimes that means recommending changes in policy. Sometimes it means intervening in a specific case. You’ll also take a broader look at systems—reviewing facilities, analyzing trends, and keeping watch over how agencies serve children, youth, and families. This role involves a lot of collaboration and a lot of responsibility. You’ll need to navigate government systems while maintaining independence and advocating for what’s right. You’ll represent the office in the media, with lawmakers, and in public conversations about child safety and family well-being. You’ll also take care of your team—providing leadership, oversight, and the support they need to do this challenging and important work. You'll be part of the Governor’s Small Agency Cabinet and help shape the state’s approach to protecting children and strengthening families. You might have a background in child welfare, social work, law, advocacy, or public policy—or another path that’s helped you understand systems and how they impact real people. What matters most is that you’re grounded in equity, and ready to speak up on behalf of those who can’t always speak for themselves. It’s a chance to lead with heart, act with integrity, and make real, lasting change. The Director Ombuds is accountable for the OFCO’s duties and responsibilities as set forth in RCW 43.06A and include: Reviewing complaint investigation findings and determines OFCO’s response to prevent or correct harmful state action impacting a child or family involved with the child welfare system. Engaging with the DCYF administrators to resolve problematic issues identified in OFCO complaint investigations. Developing recommendations to improve our child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation systems. Directing OFCO’s participation in the DCYF’s Executive Child Fatality and Near Fatality Reviews. Periodically reviewing the facilities and procedures of state institutions, including juvenile rehabilitation facilities serving children, youth and families and state-licensed facilities or residences to ensure compliance. Developing policy recommendations to the Governor, legislature, and agency officials to improve the state child welfare system, juvenile rehabilitation, and protect children and youth, and strengthen families. Producing annual and special reports describing OFCO’s work, investigation findings, and recommendations. Testifying before the legislature regarding OFCO’s recommendations and child welfare issues. Engaging with stakeholder groups, the governor’s office, legislators, state agencies and the media regarding proposed changes to law, policy, or practice to improve state services for families, children and youth. Reporting to the DCYF Family Oversight Board on systemic child welfare issues. Providing administrative oversight for all office administrative matters, including human resources, complaint data management, budgetary and contract management, program development, public education and outreach, research, training, technical assistance, and information technology. What we need you to bring Required Qualifications: Extensive knowledge of the Washington State child welfare system, juvenile rehabilitation, court process, and experience interpreting laws, agency rules, policies and procedures governing the DCYF. Understanding of the independent and neutral role of an ombuds. Organizational management experience including budget, workflow, projects, and supervising and managing staff including directing and evaluating the work of others. Experience analyzing and evaluating complex child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation issues often involving child safety and conflicting policy goals and facilitating effective solutions. Understanding of the disparate impact of child welfare and juvenile rehabilitation involvement on BIPOC families. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Experience producing written reports, and communicating with policymakers, stakeholders and the media. Desired Qualifications: Master’s degree in social work or Juris Doctorate. Experience working with senior agency executives and policy makers. Experience implementing continuous improvement practices to increase efficiency and effective services to constituents. Two years or more of management experience in child welfare related field. Strong strategic planning, policy development and program management skills. 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. 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. Here’s a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that we offer: An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging Tuition reimbursement 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. 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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr