Administrative & Operations Support Specialist

We Want You to Join Our Passionate Public Defense Team!

The Washington State Office of Public Defense is seeking a full-time Administrative & Operations Support Specialist to provide leadership and coordination for administrative staff, as well as support for agency and building operations.

Mission: Upholding the rights of all people who are facing the loss of liberty or family by providing statewide leadership, administration, and support to the multidisciplinary public defense profession.

Vision: Public defense clients, everywhere in the state, receive truly equitable and client-centered representation from fully supported professionals.

Values: Justice
* Service
* Equity
* Excellence

The Washington State Office of Public Defense is an independent judicial branch agency mandated to implement the constitutional and statutory guarantees of counsel and to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of indigent defense services funded by the state.

We administer a variety of programs, including systemic improvement programs and programs providing direct representation. To learn about OPD’s programs . We are dedicated to excellence in public law and indigent defense, and we seek talented candidates who share this commitment to client-centered service. We value employees who bring diverse backgrounds in education, employment, community activities, and life experiences to enhance our office.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. We vigorously pursue diversity in the workforce. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons over 40 years of age, LGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities, formerly incarcerated, people with prior child welfare involvement, and military veterans are encouraged to apply. Pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion means that as an agency, and as individuals, we are committed to ensuring that all employees enjoy a respectful, safe, and supportive working environment.

• Coordinate regular administrative staff meetings.
• Create and execute an onboarding plan and provide continuous mentorship and support to administrative staff.
• Provide or coordinate training on agency administrative practices and procedures, including use of relevant computer applications.
• Coordinate training for administrative staff with Financial Services subject matter experts on policies, procedures and practices relating to OPD budget, accounting, and contract management activities.
• Serve as first point of contact administrative staff questions or concerns that are not directly HR, program, or Financial Services related.
• Participate in developing, implementing and improving administrative processes and procedures.
• Assist with records management and archiving.
• Coordinate training and development in addition to mandatory agency requirements.
• Ensure coverage for front office functions.
• Provide general administrative support to the Deputy Director of Operations.
• Track operational goals, initiatives and deadlines.
• Assist with preparation of reports and presentation materials.
• Support implementation of agency-wide policies and operational changes.
• Participate in continuity of operations planning.
• Primary contact for questions and concerns related to agency leased office space, including building representatives and service providers.
• Ordering / sourcing from state surplus for furniture and non-IT equipment.
• Surplus supplies and equipment no longer needed by the agency.
• Work with HR and Operations regarding office logistics and space planning.
• Manage staff parking.

• Able to develop and sustain respectful professional relationships with individuals from a diverse background.
• Demonstrate understanding of and experience advocating against the impact of race, bias, discrimination, and differential treatment of communities disproportionately composed of Black, Indigenous, and people of color, individuals who identify as LGBTQIA+ or other sexual minorities, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, limited English speaking persons, and others who have been historically disproportionately over represented in the child welfare and related law and justice systems.
• Have the ability to prioritize tasks, and to function independently as well as part of a team in a collaborative environment.
• Experience in administrative, program support, or project coordination roles, with a proven track record in managing day-to-day operations and providing comprehensive support to teams.
• Experience coordinating and supporting multiple tasks, including meeting logistics, project coordination, and communications using tools such as Zoom, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Experience coaching, mentoring, training and/or teaching people in a professional setting.
• Proven ability to navigate and utilize technology platforms and handle document management systems and shared digital tools to ensure seamless collaboration.
• Ability to lead staff, manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal…