Public Safety Lead Policy Advisor

King County; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Professional development

Job summary

King County seeks a Public Safety Policy Lead Advisor to support Executive Zahilay. The role steers policy for public safety, partners with departments and community organizations, and translates policy into actionable programs that reduce crime and promote equity.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Innovation, this leader will guide policy direction, manage major initiatives, and build trust with a broad range of stakeholders across the county.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in policy or public policy roles impacting public safety.
• Experience with criminal legal system collaboration and victims advocacy groups.
• Ability to facilitate challenging conversations with multiple perspectives.
• Proven track record translating policy into measurable results.
• Commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Executive’s broader public safety policy priorities.
• Lead key public safety projects, including gun violence prevention and alternative response programs.
• Align policy development with discharge, re-entry, and community care systems.
• Build trusting relationships with community-based organizations and partners.
• Represent the Executive in community safety policy meetings and working groups.
• Coordinate policy work with CSR and the Community, Service and Response Director.
• Translate policy into implementation and measurable results.

Skills

Policy leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Facilitation

Analytical skills

Written & verbal communication

Relationship building

Project management

Equity & accessibility

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in public policy / related field

Job description

King County is launching an ambitious effort to ensure that government delivers high quality, efficient and equitable services to every resident. To support this work, we are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and deeply knowledgeable Public Safety Policy Lead Advisor to Executive Zahilay.

The Public Safety Policy Lead Advisor will be a member of the Policy and Innovation team. This role will serve with a team of policy leads, each representing a specific priority of Executive Zahilay. This position will work in partnership with the new Criminal Legal System Policy Lead Advisor and will be part of the Breaking the Cycle policy team within the Executive office.

Reporting to the Director of Policy and Innovation, the Public Safety Policy Lead Advisor will help guide policy direction for their portfolio and work closely with County departments and partners to integrate and align policy priorities involving public safety across the enterprise. This leader will provide policy analysis and recommendations to support innovative program development.

The ideal candidate brings not only policy subject matter expertise, but also a strong understanding of how to translate policy to implementation. Success in this role requires subject matter expertise, familiarity with community and government relations, and the ability to lead policy solutions that advance the Executive’s goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Work in close partnership with the Criminal Legal System Policy Lead Advisor to develop and implement the Executive’s broader policy priorities across public safety and the criminal legal system.

• Lead, manage, and support the Executive’s work on key public safety projects and initiatives, including alternative response programs, gun violence prevention and reduction, neighborhood-based safety strategies, diversion efforts, and more.

• Lead policy development on prevention efforts and systems alignment intended to break cycles of incarceration, crisis care, emergency medical care and homelessness. Included in that work is a focus on youth and young adult population.

• Research policies to provide clear guidance of evidence informed strategies that help reach the desired results and outcomes.

• Coordinate policy development across legal system partners that is focused on the appropriate systems of care, as well as the necessary system for discharge and re-entry.

• Work to build and maintain trusting relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders, including community-based organizations and others.

• Participate in efforts around the Executive’s “Breaking the Cycle” Initiative with a focus on public safety.

• Work in close partnership with the Community, Service and Response Director and CSR team in the Executive office to coordinate community-based gun violence prevention initiatives.

• Represent the Executive in meetings and working groups related to community safety policy.

• Work with the Director of Policy and Innovation, Deputy Director of Policy and Innovation, other policy leads and members of the Executive’s Office on strategies to integrate policy priorities into broader organizational strategy and cross-functional initiatives.

Expectations

• A focus on being out in the county to connect and build relationships with those we serve and those with whom we partner.

• In the office a minimum of 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday). There will likely be additional in-person days required Meetings may not have a call-in option for required in-person days, and the expectation is to be in the office.

• Be on time, respectful of others’ time, and responsive when needed.

• Bring an urgency to the work. We will start fast. The work will be intense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding.

• Meetings will have written expectations, including an agenda with the goals and outcomes. Owners and next steps will be clear.

• Processes and work will continuously improve.

Our Values

• Accountable

• Collaborative

• Timely

• Impactful

• Value Employees

• Accessible

• Trusted

• Equitable

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a Public Safety Policy Lead Advisor who can collaborate across diverse organizations and communicate King County’s values and priorities effectively. The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience (8+ years) working in policy, public policy, or related roles impacting public safety, including experience working in or collaboration with the criminal legal system.

• A willingness to work with all legal and public safety partners, including victim advocacy groups, prosecutors, public defenders and community-based organizations.

• Strong ability to facilitate challenging conversations where there are multiple perspectives and competing interests.

• A proven record of leading and facilitating efforts to translate policy into measurable results.

• A deep commitment to transparency, equity, and service excellence in government.

• Experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including law enforcement, community-based organizations, and community members impacted by gun violence.

• Strong relationship-building skills with experience engaging elected officials, senior leaders, and strategic partners.

• Excellent analytical and written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational skills with a demonstrated record of follow-through, attention to detail, and accountability in managing deadlines and deliverables.

Key Attributes

• Strategic and Analytical: Sees the big picture, uses data to inform decisions, and can develop and deploy effective strategy.

• Equity-Centered: Embeds fairness, inclusion, and community impact into policy work.

• Collaborative: Works across departments and builds strong partnerships to drive the policy agenda.

• Results-Oriented: Connects policy to action, driving measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

Why Join Us

This is a rare opportunity to shape how King County delivers for its residents. The Community Safety Policy Lead Advisor will help bring Executive Zahilay’s vision to life—turning bold ideas into accountable, transparent, and effective government action.

The King County Executive Office serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with integrity, transparency, and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and frugal stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve.

We will work in the office at least three days a week to foster connection and responsiveness, arrive prepared and on time, and structure meetings with clear goals and next steps. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive executive-level salary, commensurate with experience
• Comprehensive health, retirement, and leave benefits
• Professional development and leadership growth opportunities
• Ability to make a meaningful impact on how King County delivers for its residents