Civil Rights Investigations Program Attorney

EXEMPT

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT

Civil Rights Investigations Program Attorney
$105,264 – $117,613 annually

Closes March 16, 2026 

The Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) seeks to fill a Civil Rights Investigations Program Attorney position. This full-time position is based in Olympia, Washington. This position may be eligible for partial to near full-time telework. Telework is a combination of in-building and off-site days. We encourage interested candidates to visit the OSPI website to gain insight into our agency.

About OSPI and our initiatives

OSPI is the primary agency charged with overseeing public K–12 education in Washington state. Working with the state's 295 public school districts and 7state-tribal education compact schools, OSPI allocates funding and provides tools, resources, and technical assistance so every student in Washington is provided a high-quality public education.

At OSPI, we recognize that our employees are the key to the success of the agency. We are committed to our work but value the balance with our personal lives. We demonstrate our commitment to employees by providing an environment that stimulates professional growth and values them for their expertise. OSPI is a great place to work and has several initiatives to help create a great working environment, including:

• We support a healthy work/life balance by offering flexible/alternative work schedules and mobile and telework options. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

• We have an Infant at Work Program that is based on long-term values of newborns and infant-parent bonding. Eligible employees who are new parents or legal guardians can bring their infant (six weeks to six months) when returning to work. (Depending on job duties and work location.)

• We value and are actively involved in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion within OSPI by way of cross-divisional, collaborative committee. The focus of the committee includes employee engagement and education; reinforcing OSPI values; and maximizing the value of diversity and identifying strategies for inclusion.

Vision, Mission, and Values
Vision: All students prepared for post-secondary pathways, careers, and civic engagement.

Mission: Transform K–12 education to a system that is centered on closing opportunity gaps and is characterized by high expectations for all students and educators. We achieve this by developing equity-based policies and supports that empower educators, families, and communities.

Values: Ensuring Equity, Collaboration and Service, Achieving Excellence through Continuous Improvement, Focus on the Whole Child

Equity
Each student, family, and community possesses strengths and cultural knowledge that benefits their peers, educators, and schools. Ensuring educational equity:

• Goes beyond equality; it requires education leaders to examine the ways current policies and practices result in disparate outcomes for our students of color, students living in poverty, students receiving special education and English Learner services, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and highly mobile student populations.

• Requires education leaders to develop an understanding of historical contexts; engage students, families, and community representatives as partners in decision-making; and actively dismantle systemic barriers, replacing them with policies and practices that ensure all students have access to the instruction and support they need to succeed in our schools.

Position Overview

The Equity and Civil Rights Office is a respectful and inclusive work environment where teamwork, professionalism, customer service, and work–life balance are highly valued. The Equity and Civil Rights Office’s work includes a diverse mix of monitoring and investigations, policy and resource development, and technical assistance. The Equity and Civil Rights Office leads some of OSPI’s most critical initiatives, including gender-inclusive schools, language access, and systemic approaches to preventing and responding to discriminatory harassment in K–12 public schools. Through these activities and initiatives, the Equity and Civil Rights Office work to build school districts’ capacity to eliminate discrimination.

The Civil Rights Investigations Program Attorney is a strong leader and skilled civil rights investigator, reporting to the Equity and Civil Rights Managing Attorney within OSPI’s Office of Legal Affairs and Equity and Civil Rights Office. This position provides leadership and coordination for OSPI’s discrimination complaint investigation process, ensuring compliance with state and federal law.

The Program Attorney leads the Equity and Civil Rights Office’s investigations work, including managing complaint intake and evaluations, overseeing quality and promptness of investigations and investigation-related correspondence, and maintaining and developing investigation procedures.

The Program Attorney engages collaboratively with Equity and Civil Rights team members who participate in investigations to provide coaching, assistance with investigation planning, and drafting and editing support, while also maintaining an investigation caseload. The Program Attorney also works closely with the Managing Attorney on strategies and decision-making.

This role requires strong leadership, legal analysis, investigation planning and coordination, oral and written communication, and coaching skills to ensure consistent, effective, and legally sound management of the Equity and Civil Rights discrimination complaint workload.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads and supports overall project management of OSPI investigations into alleged discrimination and violations of state nondiscrimination law, rules, and guidelines in Washington K–12 public schools. This includes overseeing internal processing procedures; planning, organizing, and managing the ongoing work of investigators; establishing goals and internal timelines; overseeing the complaint intake process; and establishing and maintaining templates and legal standards.

• Provides leadership and coordination for OSPI’s discrimination complaint investigation process, including coaching and assisting Equity and Civil Rights staff members with investigation planning, strategy, and writing. Consults with and provides recommendations to Managing Attorney on appropriate actions related to investigations, including advising on scope, questions of evidence, and application of law and appropriate resolutions.

• Responds to allegations and complaints of discrimination in Washington K–12 public schools by coordinating and conducting investigations, including identifying legal issues, reviewing data, conducting interviews and on-site visits, developing reports, negotiating voluntary resolution agreements, and recommending and monitoring corrective action.

• Conducts legal research and analyzes nondiscrimination laws, rules, case law, and guidance.

• Participates in the Equity and Civil Rights Office’s work to develop, implement, and revise legally enforceable rules and guidelines to eliminate discrimination in public school employment, counseling and guidance services for students, recreational and athletic activities, access to course offerings, and in textbooks and instructional materials, as required under chapters 28A.640 and 28A.642 RCW.

• Develops and disseminates accurate and professional technical assistance, guidance, and resources related to civil rights in Washington K–12 public schools.

• Designs, facilitates, and provides trainings and workshops for school districts and other interested parties regarding state and federal civil rights laws, district responsibilities, student and family rights, and complaint procedures.

• Participates or assists in other Equity and Civil Rights Office work as needed, including preparing bulletins, newsletters, and other reports that support the work of the division and agency; providing information, reports, and recommendations to the legislature regarding civil rights in Washington public schools; and assisting in maintaining the Equity and Civil Rights website.

• Collaborates with other OSPI departments on issues related to civil rights and other legal issues, including assisting with investigations, research, or other assignments for the Office of Legal Affairs division, as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree.

• 3 years investigation experience, including experience applying regulations and legal standards.

• Ability to conduct legal research and analyze complex legal issues.

• Ability to articulate ideas and complex legal concepts clearly and effectively, in both written and oral form, to a variety of individuals, including public speaking before a range of audiences.

• Knowledge and experience in effective program planning and training development.

• Strong skills in the use of technology for communications, presentations, and work planning and coordination.

• Ability to travel throughout Washington State.

• Ability to travel to OSPI on a semi-regular basis, as well as for mandatory meetings.

Desired Qualifications: 

• 5 years of experience with legal analysis and conducting investigations, preferably in discrimination, equal access, or disability rights.

• 5 years of experience responding to parent and student concerns, preferably in regard to issues of discrimination, equal access, or disability rights.

• Experience with providing constructive feedback, coaching, and training to colleagues.

• Experience with leading projects or initiatives, including setting priorities, tracking progress, facilitating meetings, and ensuring successful work completion.

• Knowledge of the responsibilities of state education agencies and the roles and responsibilities of other similar local, state, and federal agencies.

• Demonstrated conflict resolution skills

• Ability to maintain effective communication with OSPI colleagues working remotely, as well as effective external communication with parents, LEA staff, and other interested parties. 

Compensation
The annual compensation for the position is $105,264 – $117,613 per year and depends upon experience, educational background and qualifications. Geographic differentials may be applied based on work location of successful candidate. Washington State offers a generous benefit package including health, dental and life insurance, retirement and an optional deferred compensation program. Please visit Health Care Authority for information regarding health benefits and the Department of Retirement Systems for retirement plan information. This position serves at the pleasure of the Superintendent and is Civil Service Exempt. This position is not represented by a bargaining unit.

Application Process

Those interested in this position must apply through Careers.wa.gov. Applications must include the following documents in MS Word or PDF format:

• A letter of interest specifically addressing the qualifications listed in this announcement; 

• A current résumé, and;

• A list of three or more professional references.

NOTE: Your resume and letter of interest must be attached to your application. Please confirm they are attached before you submit.

Please address any questions to: