Director of Policy, Governance & Strategic Compliance - Charter School Commission

State of Washington•Thurston County – Olympia, WA

26d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington State Charter School Commission (Commission) seeks a strategic, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused Director of Policy, Governance & Strategic Compliance to strengthen the agency's policy development, governance practices, contract administration, regulatory coordination, and organizational risk management capacity. The Commission operates within a complex public accountability environment requiring sound governance, transparent decision-making, effective oversight, and strong administrative systems. Through charter contracts, oversight decisions, corrective action processes, renewals, relocations, closures, rulemaking, public records, and public meetings requirements, the agency must consistently balance innovation, accountability, equity, and stewardship of public resources. This position serves as the Commission's lead coordinator for policy, governance, regulatory, and legal-support functions. The role strengthens organizational consistency, improves administrative readiness, supports risk identification and response planning, and helps ensure agency processes are well-documented, transparent, and aligned with applicable laws, regulations, and Commission policies. The Director of Policy, Governance & Strategic Compliance serves in a strategic, administrative, policy, governance, and legal-coordination capacity. The Director of Policy, Governance & Strategic Compliance will: Coordinate agency policy, governance, and regulatory activities Support consistent administration of charter contracts and oversight processes Strengthening internal procedures, documentation, and decision-making frameworks Improve organizational readiness for legal review and regulatory compliance Support development and implementation of agency policies and administrative rules Coordinate strategic engagement with the Attorney General's Office when legal review is necessary Promote transparent, equitable, and well-documented agency practices Enhance stewardship of public resources through strong governance and risk awareness. This position does not provide legal advice on behalf of the Commission, issue formal legal opinions, establish legal interpretations binding upon the agency, represent the Commission in litigation or legal proceedings, or replace, supplant, or duplicate the authority of the Washington State Attorney General's Office. All legal advice, legal representation, litigation strategy, and formal legal opinions are provided through assigned Assistant Attorneys General. The position supports effective utilization of Attorney General resources by improving issue identification, documentation, coordination, and preparation of matters requiring legal review.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Experience in public administration, public policy, governance, regulatory affairs, contract administration, education systems, or related fields.
Experience working with complex regulatory frameworks and public accountability systems.
Demonstrated experience supporting policy development, governance, compliance, or risk-management initiatives.
Ability to translate complex legal, regulatory, and policy concepts into practical operational guidance.
Experience collaborating with attorneys, regulators, governing boards, or executive leadership teams.
Strong relational and analytical skills to translate complexity into shared understanding and action.
Skilled communicator and facilitator, able to guide complex decisions with empathy, clarity, and accountability.
Must maintain residency in Washington State.
Occasional statewide travel will be required to attend commission meetings and other official business.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within Washington State government.
Familiarity with charter school law, public education systems, or public-sector oversight functions.
Experience with administrative rulemaking and regulatory processes.
Experience supporting governing boards or commissions.
Knowledge of public records, open public meetings, procurement, ethics, and public accountability requirements.
Demonstrated commitment to equity, transparency, and public stewardship.
Admission to practice law in Washington State preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Serve as the agency's primary coordinator for governance, policy, and regulatory activities.
Monitor statutory, regulatory, and policy developments that may affect Commission operations.
Support development, revision, and implementation of Commission policies and procedures.
Coordinate cross-functional review of policy proposals and governance initiatives.
Develop decision-support tools and procedural guidance to promote consistency and transparency.
Support consistent administration and implementation of charter contract provisions.
Coordinate contract amendment, renewal, relocation, corrective action, and closure processes.
Identify issues requiring legal review and facilitate timely coordination with assigned Assistant Attorneys General.
Strengthen administrative documentation and recordkeeping practices.
Promote consistency in contract administration across the Commission portfolio.
Conduct early-stage issue identification related to oversight, governance, operational, and regulatory matters.
Support agency leadership in evaluating risks, potential impacts, and response options.
Develop procedural frameworks and administrative safeguards that promote consistency and accountability.
Coordinate documentation and preparation of matters requiring legal or regulatory review.
Track recurring organizational risks and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
Coordinate internal review of rulemaking and policy materials.
Support compliance with the Washington Administrative Procedure Act.
Facilitate collaboration among staff, leadership, stakeholders, and legal counsel during rulemaking processes.
Maintain documentation supporting administrative rule development and implementation.
Promote consistency between Commission policies, administrative rules, and operational practices.
Support agency compliance efforts related to public records, open public meetings, ethics, contracting, and procurement requirements.
Assist in preparation of Commission materials that are well-documented, procedurally aligned, and prepared for legal review when appropriate.
Promote strong administrative recordkeeping practices.
Support agency transparency and accountability initiatives.
Assist leadership in maintaining governance systems that support public trust.
Serve as the primary coordinator for Attorney General engagement.
Prepare and organize matters for legal review to support efficient use of Attorney General resources.
Coordinate requests for legal review, legal guidance, and litigation support.
Track legal-support requests and identify opportunities for process improvements.
Promote proactive issue identification and preparation to improve organizational readiness.