EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

State of Washington; Burien (WA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) seeks an Executive Director to lead statewide training, strategic planning, and organizational excellence. The role champions integrity, equity, and accountability while guiding collaborations with Commissioners, Tribes, legislators, and criminal justice agencies.

The ED will shape training standards, oversee budgeting, and foster innovation to improve statewide safety and public trust.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law & justice, political science, public administration, or related field.
• Graduate degree required; eight years of closely relevant experience may substitute.
• Ten years of executive-level management experience in criminal justice agencies.

Responsibilities

• Implement the direction of the Governor-appointed Commission and manage staff assignments to work groups.
• Stay abreast of legal requirements and obligations under RCW 43.101 and related laws.
• Build and maintain relationships with Commissioners, Tribes, legislators, agencies, and partners.
• Develop a current strategic plan with clear, measurable goals for all divisions and programs.
• Facilitate hiring and support a capable workforce aligned with RCW, WAC, and agency policy.
• Oversee operating and capital budgets and monitor expenditures across programs.
• Articulate capital budget needs for aging facilities and regional campuses.
• Ensure policy guidance, supervision, and compliance across all units.
• Evaluate and recognize performance across units.
• Keep informed on training best practices and accountability through certification.
• Collaborate with community partners and governmental organizations.
• Lead innovation and elevate the Commission’s visibility.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Graduate degree

Job description

The duty station for this position is in King County, therefore the incumbent will receive 5% premium pay in addition to the salary listed.

The Opportunity

The Executive Director role at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) offers an exciting opportunity for a visionary leader to shape the future of law enforcement and criminal justice training in Washington State. This position leads a multifaceted, statewide organization and champions a mission that directly impacts criminal justice professionals, criminal justice agency partners, and communities throughout the state of Washington. The Executive Director serves as the strategic force ensuring the agency’s values of Leadership, Integrity, Dignity, and Accountability exist at every level of the agency.

A strong candidate brings courageous leadership, strategic insight, and the ability to inspire excellence in others. They excel at building trusted relationships with Commissioners, Tribes, legislators, criminal justice agencies, community groups, and a wide range of partners. They are energized by innovation, committed to equity, and skilled at navigating complex legal, operational, and political landscapes. Most importantly, they are passionate about cultivating a culture that strengthens public trust and elevates the quality of training delivered statewide.

The Benefits

WSCJTC offers outstanding healthcare benefits, choice of state retirement programs including a defined benefit pension plan, advancement opportunities, and flexible/compressed work schedules.

At the WSCJTC, we value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

Duties Assigned to this Position Include

• Implement the direction of the 21 member Governor-appointed Commission associated with changes to WAC, assign WSCJTC staff to work groups on special projects or initiatives driven by the full Commission, and keep Commissioners appraised of the agency’s work, as well as its organizational capacity to carry out the mission.
• Learn and stay abreast of all legal requirements and obligations of the Commission, particularly those contained in RCW 43.101, and relevant employment and labor law.
• Build and maintain relationships with key partners including but not limited to: Commissioners, criminal justice agency leaders and representatives, Tribes and tribal enforcement agencies, community groups and their members, elected officials and their staff, other state agencies and offices such as the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and the Attorney General’s office, professional associations such as WASPC, IADLEST, and many others.
• Develop a current and relevant strategic plan grounded in the mission, vision, and values of the organization. The strategic plan should form the basis for clear and measurable goals and objectives for the entire agency whose divisions, units, and programs create and provide training and manage certification programs, and the units that support training and certification functions.
• Facilitate the hiring and support a capable workforce committed to carrying out the agency mission in accordance with RCW, WAC, state rules, agency policy, philosophy, and values.
• Facilitate the annual development of an operating and capital budget for the organization and ensure the systematic monitoring of ongoing expenditures by all agency programs and support services.
• Ensure capital budget requests clearly articulate the challenges associated with the aging headquarters facility and the risks associated with the lack of proper infrastructure and clearly outlines the specific shortcomings and needs of each of the four regional satellite campuses.
• Ensure each functional unit has clear direction, relevant and current policy and procedural guidance, along with proper supervision, and is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Ensure each functional unit is appropriately evaluated and recognized for their work.
• Stay abreast of research and best practices for training criminal justice professionals and for ensuring accountability through certification.
• Maintain strong, collaborative relationships with community partners, peer organizations and other criminal justice and government organizations.
• Facilitate and accept opportunities to take a leadership role to encourage innovation and improvement in criminal justice training and accountability.
• Facilitate and elevate the visibility of the work of the Commission.

Required Education

• A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, law & justice, political science, public administration, or related field is required due to the complex nature of the job, and the need to thoroughly examine criminal justice related concerns, make decisions to benefit the profession at large, and communicate those decisions clearly to internal and external partners including the public.
• A graduate degree in the areas of criminal justice, political science, public administration, organizational psychology, organizational leadership, or related field is required to ensure the incumbent understands and is able to navigate state and local government systems. PLEASE NOTE:Eight years of closely relevant experience may substitute for graduate education. Relevant experience may include: law enforcement or corrections leadership positions, public safety legislative or board experience, or police accountability and oversight.

Required Experience

• At least ten years of executive-level management experience with criminal justice agencies is required due to the complex nature of organization.
• At least five years of experience in roles where you were required to speak on behalf of criminal justice agencies with the Legislature and/or the media.
• At least five years of experience managing, coaching, and mentoring mid-level managers to prepare them for executive level management.
• Demonstrated strong criminal justice leadership experience including various specialty assignments, multi-agency task forces, multi-disciplinary programs, investigative or regulatory programs, project teams, or the like is required to understand the interconnected roles of the fields for which training is provided and the way in which the criminal justice system operates.

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Profound understanding of the purpose, nature, and mission of the criminal justice system within the broader context of Washington state government. The ED must make decisions for this agency and affect criminal justice agencies statewide guided by that broader view and in the interest of public safety for all Washington’s community members.
• Demonstrated high level communication skills and experience are critical to perform duties such as working both proactively and reactively with internal and external partners, the legislature, the media, and social media platforms.
• Budget development, management, and oversight.
• Government affairs and political processes.
• Tort and litigation oversight.
• Enterprise risk management.
• Personnel management including investigation and disciplinary processes.
• Fundamentals of information technology.
• Strategic planning.
• Ability to facilitate cooperation and collaboration between disparate groups, and the ability to inspire trust and dedication in an organization.
• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• Practice self-awareness reflecting on personal strengths, growth areas and biases.
• Consider and incorporate new information and different perspectives.
• Adapt to change and apply new approaches.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Welcome and value different identities and perspectives. Adapt communication and approaches to different communities and individuals. Support people and communities from all backgrounds
• Develop mutually beneficial relationships. Collaborate with others to overcome challenges and find solutions. Increase access, opportunities, and positive outcomes for others.
• Possess the skills to multi-task, set priorities among competing factors, and establish standards, policies, rules, and guidelines for WSCJTC and for the criminal justice community.
• Possess the knowledge and skills to work effectively within the legislative process as well as build upon acceptable standards to ensure compliance with outside audits and accreditation bodies for law enforcement training within the state.

Desired Qualifications

• Understanding or experience with criminal justice related research as well as deep understanding of US history related to criminal justice reform.
• Experience serving on professional boards or commissions, issue-based task forces, and other community engagement endeavors to build trust and confidence between criminal justice professionals and the people served.
• Experience in the oversight or development of training, adult education, and/or curriculum.

Veteran's Preference

Applicants who meet the required qualifications for the position and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, or other verification of military service. Please black out any personally identifiable data such as social security numbers. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

WSCJTC is an equal opportunity employer. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the listed recruiter. WSCJTC does not use the E-Verify system. For more information, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/.