Director of Data and Analytics

This recruitment will be used to fill a Career Service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill vacancies that may occur within the next six (6) months.

The King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking leader to serve as our Strategic Programs Manager (Director of Data and Analytics). The successful candidate is a visionary who excels in collaboration and can navigate the county’s complex civil and criminal legal systems. They should also be aware of significant national trends in public defense.

Reporting to the Deputy Director, this role advances DPD’s mission by championing organizational effectiveness and equitable outcomes through data-driven informed analysis that impact public defense services and focuses on the impact to clients.

The Strategic Programs Manager (Director of Data and Analytics) will set the department-wide strategic direction for research, data and analytics; oversee the development and implementation of modern data systems and analytics, and evaluation frameworks; they will lead efforts to identify emerging trends in data, research, technology, and sustainability. This position translates data into actionable insights, develops performance metrics, and informs both short- and long-term organizational goals for the Department.

The position also oversees the department’s data and analytics governance, information systems and application infrastructure, and research initiatives. A key responsibility is fostering a culture where the workforce embraces and seeks to incorporate qualitive and quantitative data for continuous quality improvement to deliver high-quality, cutting-edge and evidence-based public defense services.

The Department’s Mission Statement
The King County Department of Public Defense represents indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty. Our department is an independent voice that advocates for their objectives, interests, and dignity.

DPD provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), and sex offender commitment proceedings.

DPD advocates to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty, and advances policy reforms to reduce systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

Essential job functions and duties include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide day-to-day leadership and management of the department’s research, data and analytics operations and resources. Make critical decisions related to technology procurement and implementation, and coordinate the evaluation, deployment, and management of current and future technologies.
• Oversee requirements, technical development, selection, testing, deployment, training, and operational support for the department’s information systems and applications.
• Build and maintain strong collaboration with end users and leadership to ensure information system and application needs are met or exceeded.
• Ensure research, data, and analytics operations comply with applicable laws, regulations, King County standards, and security requirements; establish and maintain effective governance structures supporting data privacy and security.
• Lead the research, collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data to assess DPDs client programs and services.
• In collaboration with Director’s Office leadership, help define assessment, research and evaluation priorities that support data driven decision-making and organizational improvement.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of information systems, applications and data collection activities.
• Lead the data and analytics team to provide high-level in-house expertise on cutting-edge public defense services.
• Advance fair and equitable data practices that reduce burden, uncover inequities, and work collaboratively with department leadership to increase access to public data whenever possible.
• Serve as the department’s liaison to internal and external partners on data presentations, as well as assessment and evaluation findings and approaches.
• Manage multiple ongoing projects in an environment of changing priorities, time constraints, and budget limitations; identify and determine scope of work for sustainability of new and existing projects.

• 10+ years of related work experience in data analytics, data science, research methods and data administration roles, or a combination of experience, education, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability to perform the essential job functions.
• Ability to travel throughout King County in a timely manner.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with data management, analysis, quality assurance, and visualization tools, such as PowerBI.
• Experience in data governance/data management and research methodologies.
• Experience managing data integrity and quality assurance review and/or testing pipelines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of quantitative and qualitative analysis.
• Deep knowledge and understanding of equity and social justice principles and practices, including the impacts of place, race and policy, and the civil and criminal legal systems-based inequities on marginalized communities and populations.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with attention to detail and meet deadlines.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external partners, including labor partners.
• Skill in consensus building, policy analysis, informed debate, and effective decision-making.
• Ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to proficiently prioritize tasks and meet deadlines within a dynamic and highly fast-paced environment.
• Have regular, reliable and predictable attendance to support timeliness and follow-through on work items.
• Travel to assigned locations as needed.

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ years of demonstrated experience working in a public defense law firm.
• 5+ years of demonstrated experience working in a unionized environment.
• Demonstrated ability to engage in long-term strategic planning.
• Experience with object-oriented program language(s).

At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?
This opportunity to join DPD is open to all applicants.Please apply at www.kingcounty.gov/careers.

To be considered for this role, submit the following documents:

• Completed King County application.
• A current/chronological resume.
• Cover letter detailing your background and what you can bring to the Department of Public Defense.

The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, references, a personnel file review going back the last three (3) years, and if applicable a background check. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience and attach the required documents to your application.

If you have questions, please contact our Talent Advisors, at dpd-hr@kingcounty.gov.

Work Schedule and Location

The Director’s Office works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location for this position is the Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:

• Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building, 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle
• Meeker Street Building, 420 West Harrison Street, Kent

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As an exempt employee, you are expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform your job and will not be eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time.

Rotations of work location and practicearea and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need. You may be required to report any of our Seattle and/or Kent locations.

DPD Policies
DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedureswill apply to employees, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Administrative Staffwill apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership
This position is not represented by a union.