Public Disclosure Officer, Strategic Advisor 1

City of Seattle; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

Life insurance

Public transportation

Job summary

The City of Seattle is seeking a Public Disclosure Officer within the Seattle IT Department to support timely responses to PRA requests. This role focuses on transparency, collaboration, and accurate record handling for City departments in compliance with state law.

Responsibilities include processing requests, performing complex searches, applying exemptions, and coordinating with legal, communications, and city partners to deliver records and updates.

Qualifications

• Experience as a public disclosure officer as a primary function.
• Experience performing electronic records search and retrieval across digital media.
• Knowledge of the Washington State Public Records Act and related rules.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Pro, and SharePoint or similar tools.
• Strong knowledge of electronic management systems and eDiscovery platforms.

Responsibilities

• Receive and interpret public disclosure requests and coordinate responsive records.
• Locate and gather large volumes of records and datasets.
• Create search terms for electronic searches in City systems.
• Communicate with stakeholders clearly and timely.
• Identify exemptions, apply redactions, and log exemptions.
• Use GovQA to track requests and provide updates to requestors.
• Conduct complex searches with eDiscovery tools and review records.
• Provide organized tracking and status updates.

Skills

Public disclosure

Electronic records search

PRA knowledge

MS Office/SharePoint

eDiscovery tools

Tools

Nuix

Relativity

Disco

Sightline

Job description

The City of Seattle is seeking candidates for Seattle IT Department’s Public Disclosure Officer role. If you are interested in building public trust through transparency and collaboration, this role could be for you!

The Program Public Disclosure Officer performs a wide range of duties that support accurate and timely responses to public disclosure requests fulfilled by city departments in compliance with the Washington State Public Records Act, or PRA (RCW 42.56)

The City of Seattle believes in the diversity of our people, ideas, and experiences and is committed to building an inclusive culture that is representative of the community we serve. Seattle Information Technology (IT) plays a crucial role in enabling smart, equitable, and responsive services for City employees, Seattle residents, and local businesses. We work to unleash our people and community through technology solutions, infrastructure, and well‑executed projects that are secure and resilient. We invest in open access to City information, privacy and responsible technology use, digital access, collaboration, customer service, and strategic planning. We are a leader in local government progress towards responsible AI adoption. These are Seattle's values in action.

Seattle IT Department’s Public Disclosure Officer intakes, manages, communicates, and delivers on all public disclosure requests received by the department. The role includes the following responsibilities:

• Receive and interpret public disclosure requests, and coordinate collection, review and release of responsive records in accordance with state law and City policy.
• Locate and gather large volumes of records and/or datasets.
• Interpret requests and generate search terms for Boolean and other electronic searches in City systems and databases.
• Communicate with department subject matter experts, leadership, records custodians, requestors, members of the media, the City’s Attorney’s Office, other public disclosure officers, and various agencies or third parties in a clear and timely manner.
• Identify applicable exemptions during record review,apply redactions, and generate exemption logs.
• Use GovQA to track requests, connect with and invoice requestors, and provide records and timely updates via the Public Records Request Center.
• Conduct complex searches using Microsoft eDiscovery, and leverage additional technology solutions, such as Nuix, to identify and review responsive records.
• Provide organized tracking and timely updates on the status of requests.

Required Qualifications

• Prior experience as a public disclosure officer as a primary function
• Experience performing electronic records search and retrieval, and mining data across various digital media
• Current knowledge of the Washington State Public Records Act and other statutes, case law, rules and regulations governing public records requests
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, SharePoint or other public recordsrequest management tools
• Proficiency and strong working knowledge of all software or electronic management systems, eDiscovery platforms, used for collection, redaction, production of public records

Your effectiveness in this role will depend on your ability to:

• Have strong critical thinking and analytical skills
• Engage in ongoing learning, training, and professional development
• Work efficiently both independently and collaboratively
• Manage high volume of tasks and projects with shifting deadlines and connect with requesters accordingly
• Work as a collaborative partner who exercises tact,good judgment,discretion,diplomacy, and the ability to build cooperative working relationships with diverse groups.
• Understand the importance of responding with appropriate urgency to situations and events that require quick turnaround
• Think creatively and be proactive in solvingproblems
• Possess strong organizational skills
• Have great attention to detail while still meeting tight deadlines
• Work with a high level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling confidentialinformation
• Communicate effectively on high profile and sensitive matters including with members of themedia
• Be adept in using technology solutions and tools to effectively process workload

Desired Qualifications:

• 1 year of experience working in a public disclosure position
• Current Washington State Certified Public Records Officer (WaPRO), or the ability to obtain certification within 12 months of hire.
• Experience and knowledge of principles and standard methodologies of public disclosure in a public sector environment
• Familiarity with databases and various electronic records formats, including metadata.
• Experience with electronic review tools such as Nuix, Relativity, Disco, Sightline, etc.

Additional Information

Salary

The full salary range for this classification is $51.88 - $77.82 per hour.

Benefits

The City offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City’s website at https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits. Additionally, we provide free public transportation options.

Telework Expectations

This position offers flexibility of a hybrid work schedule. Hybrid telework schedules have a minimum requirement of three days onsite per week, which is subject to change at any time at the Mayor’s discretion. Individual schedules are based on operational needs and agreement between the employee and their supervisor.

Who May Apply

This position is open to all qualified candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The City encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experience.

Background Check

This hiring process involves a background check of conviction and arrest records in compliance with Seattle's Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information.

Why Join the City of Seattle

The City of Seattle recognizes that every City employee must play a role in ending institutional and structural racism. Our culture is the result of our behavior, our personal commitments, and the ways that we courageously share our views and encourage others to do the same. To cultivate an antiracist culture, we seek employees who will engage in the Race and Social Justice Initiative by working to dismantle racist policies and procedures, unlearn the way things have always been done, and provide equitable processes and services.

Accommodation

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment.

For questions regarding this recruitment or if you require an accommodation, please contact Alfreda Wilson at [e-mail].