Strategic Public Safety Policy Leader

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,…