Operations Manager - Management Analyst 5 - Olympia (Internal Only)

$74,724 - $100,524/Yr

State of Washington - Olympia, WA

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - Olympia, WA

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Operations Manager - Management Analyst 5 position within the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is a critical role aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of children and families in Washington State. This position is located in Olympia, WA, and is part of a flexible hybrid work environment. The primary responsibility of the Operations Manager is to oversee the Public Disclosure Unit, which is tasked with processing and handling public records requests in compliance with various federal and state laws. This includes managing sensitive information and high-profile cases that may involve media inquiries, legal actions, and community controversies. The Operations Manager will play a vital role in maintaining confidentiality and discretion while ensuring that the unit operates efficiently and effectively. In this role, the Operations Manager will be responsible for leading a team that handles complex disclosures, including requests related to child fatalities or near fatalities due to abuse or neglect. The position requires a strong focus on change management, as the manager will guide the team through process improvements and adaptations to new laws and regulations. The Operations Manager will also be responsible for setting performance expectations, providing feedback, and fostering a culture of innovation and engagement among staff. This includes developing procedures for public records requests, analyzing data to identify trends, and collaborating with other agency departments to enhance the overall effectiveness of public disclosure processes. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in forms and records management, public disclosure, and supervisory experience. They will be expected to stay current on relevant laws and regulations, ensuring that the unit complies with all legal requirements while providing excellent service to the community. This position is integral to the mission of DCYF, which is to protect children and strengthen families, and it offers an opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of Washington's youth and families.

Responsibilities

• Manage and provide reliable direction to the unit's teams.
• Provide ongoing feedback to employees regarding their performance.
• Create a team culture that engages staff to be innovative in program processes and supports change.
• Provide supervisors and staff with the tools, training, and mentoring needed to be successful.
• Set performance expectations for supervisors and hold them accountable, including counseling and corrective action.
• Lead the unit through change management using change management practices.
• Maintain communication channels throughout the unit to support staff and be available when staff needs assistance.
• Develop procedures and implement process improvement efforts for public records requests.
• Identify changes to process procedures and interpretations based on changes in law, rules, court decisions, and available resources and technology for public disclosure.
• Track and analyze data, identify trends, and make recommendations to improve procedures and strategies.
• Collaborate across the agency in improving our records and public records requests.
• Work with the records office and privacy officer to ensure compliance with laws and rules.

Requirements

• Equivalent of education and experience totaling six years in forms and records management, public disclosure, or other clerical duties associated with records/customer service AND one (1) year of supervisory experience.
• Six (6) years of experience in forms and records management, public disclosure, or other clerical duties associated with records/customer service AND one (1) year of supervisory experience (can be obtained concurrently).
• An Associate's degree in business administration, accounting, social services, law, paralegal, or a related field AND five (5) years of experience in forms and records management, public disclosure, or other clerical duties associated with records/customer service AND one (1) year of supervisory experience (can be obtained concurrently).
• A Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting, social services, law, paralegal, or a related field AND four (4) years of experience in forms and records management, public disclosure, or other clerical duties associated with records/customer service AND one (1) year of supervisory experience (can be obtained concurrently).

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in leading teams during process improvement and change environments.
• Experience in mentoring staff and providing guidance for employee development.
• High level of understanding of Children's Welfare records and the Public Records Act.
• Previous experience with the Public Records Act.
• Ability to stay current on court rulings and changes to public disclosure laws.
• Knowledge of computer systems including FamLink, Outlook, AX, Agency Records Requests Tracking System (ARRTS), and redaction software.
• Advanced skill utilizing Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Attention to detail and good organization skills.
• Ability to interact and correspond professionally with internal and/or external customers.
• Ability to work in a high volume, diverse, and stressful environment.

Benefits

• Flexible/Hybrid work environment
• Competitive salary range of $6,227 - $8,377 Monthly
• Opportunity to make a significant impact in the community
• Supportive team culture
• Professional development opportunities
• Comprehensive health benefits
• Retirement savings plan options
• Paid time off and holidays