Education Ombuds Manager

Education Ombuds Manager

Salary

$110,000.00 - $120,000.00 Annually

Location

Thurston County - Olympia, WA

Job Type

Exempt

Remote Employment

Flexible/Hybrid

Job Number

2026-09053

Department

Office of the Governor

Division

Office of the Education Ombuds

Opening Date

11/03/2026

Closing Date

11/17/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Please note: The starting salary offer will be determined based on the successful candidate's qualifications within the starting annual salary range of $110,000 - $120,000.

The Office of Education Ombudsman is a hybrid office, and Washington State residency is required. Client services are primarily provided remotely; however, employees must be able to travel throughout Washington State for in-person events, staff meetings, outreach activities, and other business needs. Employees must also maintain a private workspace and reliable high-speed internet access to support confidential staff work and client conversations.

Why work for OEO

The Office of the Education Ombuds (OEO) works with families, communities, and schools to address problems together so that every student can fully participate and thrive in Washington's K-12 public schools. The OEO is a statewide agency within the Office of the Governor that:

• Listen to concerns and address questions about the K-12 public education system.
• Use informal conflict resolution tools to support collaborative problem-solving and promote education justice.
• Provide coaching, facilitation, and training about family and community engagement and systems advocacy.
• Collect data and identify trends to guide our education policy recommendations.

For more information, visit our website. We are committed to anti-racism and anti-ableism, and have created a team and workplace that respect and value difference. We are also committed to equal opportunity employment.

The job opportunity

Be a leader, advocate, and catalyst for positive change in education. As the Education Ombuds Manager, you'll provide leadership and oversight for key OEO programs and staff, helping ensure students, families, and communities receive high-quality, responsive support. You'll mentor and develop team members, promote excellence and consistency in ombuds services and community outreach, and drive solutions that advance educational equity and access.

This dynamic role combines leadership with direct impact. In addition to supervising staff and guiding program delivery, you'll manage your own caseload, working directly with students, families, educators, and community partners to navigate complex concerns and resolve challenges. If you are a collaborative leader, skilled problem-solver, and passionate advocate for student success, this is an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful difference every day.

What you'll work on

Personnel Management

• Daily management and support for direct reports.
• Assures appropriate and optimal use of the team's resources and enhances the effectiveness of employees through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities.
• Promotes clear communication, collaboration, and accountability throughout the team.
• Addresses and resolves personnel conflicts and performance issues in a timely and appropriate manner, in consultation with the Director as needed.
• Approves direct reports expenditures for training and in-state travel of team staff, as well as approves small purchases.
• Oversees management and resource allocation, mainly staff time and capacity, to achieve organizational goals and ensure responsive, high-quality service to clients and community members.

Case Management and Community Outreach Work

• Manage an independent caseload of Ombuds cases and provide direct ombuds services to clients.
• Support clients in identifying concerns, navigating systems, exploring options, and developing solutions consistent with the OEO's role and responsibilities.
• Maintain the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct while working with clients and on OEO cases and interactions.
• Manage and oversee the daily operations of the community outreach specialist position and ensure outreach activities align with OEO priorities and organizational goals.
• Support outreach activities and work with leadership and staff to create a strategy around outreach.
• Represent OEO on policy committees and other agency or community workgroups, as assigned.

Leadership

• Consult with the director to provide strategic and tactical project planning and resource utilization.
• Lead and implement innovative approaches to team structure, processes, and service delivery to strengthen OEO's ability to meet the needs of clients and community members.
• Identify opportunities to improve organizational effectiveness, service quality, collaboration, and operational efficiency.
• Serve as part of the agency leadership team, including partnering on conversations around strategic direction, staff management, organizational priorities, and resource allocation.
• Provide leadership that promotes a collaborative, equitable, client-centered, and solutions-oriented approach across OEO.

What we need you to bring

Required Qualifications

• Experience managing individuals and a team in an education, social service, or related setting and holding individuals and teams accountable to the job.
• Demonstrated experience supervising, coaching, or providing leadership to staff, including supporting employee development, performance, and accountability.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex cases or client concerns, including problem-solving, conflict resolution, and navigating complex systems.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, and apply professional and ethical standards when working with clients and sensitive information.
• Experience developing and maintaining effective relationships with diverse clients, families, community members, agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Experience working with diverse racial and ethnic communities, and socio-economic groups, language-based communities, and people with diverse disabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in written, spoken, and interpersonal communication, especially in a remote work environment.
• The ability to learn and grow: Curious about themselves and others, who take responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, and who use their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
• The ability to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people we work with and serve.

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of Washington State K-12 policies, rules, and practices.
• Progressive experience providing ombuds, dispute resolution, advocacy, case management, education, community engagement, or other closely related services.
• Customer service background.
• Conflict resolution experience.

Special Requirement

• Must be able to travel statewide.
• Maintain a valid driver's license when driving is an essential function of the position or otherwise have an approved accommodation that allows the employee to meet the position's travel requirements.
• As an all-remote office, you will be responsible for providing and maintaining reliable, high-speed internet that can support video calls and a confidential place to work.

We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one from a less traditional background. Don't let doubts stop you from applying for this position. If you have transferable experience, please tell us about it or contact us with questions about the required qualifications and how your experience relates to them.

Supplemental Information

What we offer:

At OEO, we foster a culture of integrity, innovation, inclusion, and belonging. We value both learned and lived experiences, believing that diversity makes us stronger. To support your health and well-being, we offer a variety of benefit programs for our employees.

Please visit our Recruitment Page for a full list of benefits available to employees. Here's a quick glance at some of the unique benefits that OFM offers:

• An environment of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
• 12 paid holidays, 14 paid vacation days (minimum), and 12 days of sick leave per year
• State retirement programs

Application Process: Once you've decided to apply for a state government job, you'll complete an online application to showcase your qualifications. Keep in mind that once you submit the application, a real person will read it. We do not use AI or other technology to screen your application and reject it. Please provide clear, detailed information about your work history so your qualifications can be accurately assessed. We will contact the top candidates directly to schedule interviews. If you need reasonable accommodation in applying, please call 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6384.

For your application to be considered complete and sent to the hiring teams for review, you must submit all of the following:

• Cover letter: describing your qualifications for this specific position
• Resume: that details your applicable experience and education.
• References: at least three professional references and their phone numbers.

Questions: Office of Financial Management (OFM) Staff ASL interpreter is available to all deaf and hard-of-hearing applicants. For questions about this recruitment or to request a reasonable accommodation in the application or interview process, please email us at TalentAcquisition@ofm.wa.gov.

The Governor's Office of the Education Ombuds is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, persons over 40 years of age, and disabled and Vietnam-era veterans are encouraged to apply.

This position is exempt from civil service rules.

For more information, please see WAC 357-19-195.

More than Just a Paycheck!

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. Thats why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:

The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits

Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation

State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security

All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays

Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave

Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)

Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave

Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave

Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave

Leave Sharing

Parental Leave

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

01

The application process requires that you attach a cover letter detailing how you meet the qualifications of this position and a resume. Please check your attachments and click below to indicate you have attached the required documentation.

• Yes, I have attached a cover letter and a resume.
• No, I have not attached a cover letter and a resume.

02

Briefly in one to two paragraphs tell us about a time you managed a staff conflict. What steps did you take, and why? What was the outcome?

03

Describe in one to two paragraphs what you see as the most important responsibilities and qualities of an Ombuds, and how your strengths align with those expectations.

04

Describe in one to two paragraphs how you approach building awareness, trust, and engagement with the communities you serve, and what strengths you would bring to this aspect of the role.

05

Describe your knowledge of Washington State K-12 education policies, rules, and practices, and summarize your relevant professional experience in ombuds services, dispute resolution, advocacy, case management, education, or community engagement. Provide examples that demonstrate your experience and responsibilities.

Required Question

Employer State of Washington

Address View Job Posting for Agency Information

View Job Posting for Location, Washington, 98504

Website http://www.careers.wa.gov