Project/Program Manager IV (Coordinated Discharge Program Manager)

 

The Coordinated Discharge Manager (Project/Program Manager IV) is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Jail Health Services' reentry program. This position translates program priorities into effective operations and leads the internal systems that support successful transitions from jail to community-based services.
 
The Coordinated Discharge Manager directly supervises clinical supervisors and administrative staff and is responsible for establishing clear expectations, supporting staff development, ensuring accountability, and building a collaborative and healthy team culture. A key priority for this position will be providing stability, direction, and support to a team navigating significant transition.
 
The Coordinated Discharge Manager will support the continued implementation of the Reentry Demonstration Initiative (RDI), which launched in July 2026, by overseeing the programmatic work and requirements of the Coordinated Discharge team. This includes assessing current workflows, identifying and addressing implementation challenges, supporting staff through change, and establishing sustainable processes to support the initiative moving forward. They will also work closely with the RDI Project Manager to collaborate on implementation of successful processes and partnerships.
 
The position works closely with Jail Health Services programs and jail management to coordinate operations, resolve barriers, and improve workflows. The Coordinated Discharge Manager may represent the program and participate in workgroups, committees, planning efforts, and other meetings related to reentry services.
The Coordinated Discharge Manager also oversees the program's budget, contracts, reporting requirements, and administrative operations and may support the pursuit of grant and other funding opportunities.

Background

JHS provides needed health and social services to the incarcerated population located in the King County jails – King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle, WA and Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent, WA. The primary services we provide include medical, dental, mental health, social and release planning services, treatment of substance use disorders, and pharmaceutical services. We care about the patients we serve and their health outcomes. Our division includes over 250 employees and an annual budget of over $60 million.

The purpose of JHS is to assure that high-quality health and human services are available to the incarcerated population in the King County adult correctional facilities: the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent. The JHS vision is Opening doors to healthier, happier lives, and the mission is to assess and stabilize serious health problems for the detained population of the King County Correctional Facility and the Maleng Regional Justice Center with a focus on transition from jail.  

Staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year, JHS provides a broad range of health care to all individuals booked into the jails. For patients with serious mental health or medical conditions, special housing units (psychiatric and infirmary) along with a higher level of services and medical monitoring are provided. Since the patient population varies both in numbers as well as in acuity of health conditions, staffing is adapted and flexed to meet the constantly changing needs of the population.

JHS staff manage the complex health needs of underserved populations, many of whom come to the facility without access to care in the community and with decompensated acute and chronic health conditions.

Note: This recruitment will be used to create an eligibility pool to fill additional Career Service, Term-Limited Temporary (TLT), or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) vacancies that may occur over the next six months.

Commitment To Equity and Social Justice

Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.

The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.

We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.

To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 40 hours a week

Work Location 

King County Correctional Facility at 500 5th Ave in Seattle, WA and the Maleng Regional Justice Center at 620 W James St in Kent, WA

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. 

• Manage the day-to-day operations of the reentry/coordinated discharge program and translate program priorities into effective workflows and practices.
 • Supervise clinical supervisors and administrative staff; provide direction, coaching, performance management, and support.
 • Provide stability and clear direction during periods of change and operational uncertainty.
 • Build an accountable, collaborative, and inclusive team culture that supports staff engagement, wellbeing, and retention.
 • Establish priorities, direct work, remove operational barriers, and ensure timely completion of program deliverables.
 • Support the continued implementation and stabilization of the Reentry Demonstration Initiative, while overseeing project deliverables specific to your team.
 • Assess workflows and implementation challenges and lead improvements to support sustainable program operations.
 • Work closely with Jail Health Services teams and jail management to coordinate services and address operational challenges.
 • Participate in reentry-related workgroups, committees, planning efforts, and meetings as appropriate.
 • Oversee program budgets, contracts, grants, data collection, and reporting requirements.
 • Use data and staff feedback to monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
 • Support coordination with community partners and identify opportunities to strengthen reentry services.
 • Promote trauma-informed, anti-racist, equitable, and patient-centered practices.
 • Effectively communicate program needs, risks, and recommendations to division leadership
 • Other duties as assigned

The successful candidate is a strong people, project, and operations manager who can provide clear direction while navigating complex and changing environments. They are comfortable making decisions, managing competing priorities, and addressing conflict directly and constructively.

 This person builds trust, follows through on commitments, and creates an environment where supervisors and staff have the clarity and support, they need to succeed. They understand the importance of team health and retention and can bring a calm, steady leadership presence during periods of uncertainty and change.

REQUIRED:
• Master's degree in Social Work, Counseling, Psychology, or another closely related behavioral health field 
• Independent clinical license in a behavioral health field (LICSW, LMHC, etc.), 
 • Extensive experience supervising behavioral health/social services staff or managing social services teams
 • Experience supervising behavioral health/social services staff or managing social services teams
 • Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
 
 Applicants must also demonstrate experience in:
 • Leading teams or complex operational work
 • Establishing priorities and ensuring accountability
 • Managing competing priorities and ambiguity
 • Developing or improving workflows, policies, or operational processes
 • Working collaboratively across teams and disciplines
 • Using data, reporting, budgets, contracts, or other administrative systems to support program operations

DESIRED:

- Experience working in co-occurring facilities, carceral settings or behavioral health institutions
 -Has working knowledge of substance use and mental health disorders and experience working with MOUD populations
 -Dual credentialing in behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment.
 -Bi or multilingual language skills
 -Experience supervising supervisors, clinical leaders, and/or multidisciplinary teams.
 -Experience in jail health, corrections, reentry, forensic behavioral health, or the criminal legal system.
 -Knowledge of behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and community-based services.
 -Experience managing budgets, contracts, grants, or grant reporting.
 -Experience working with correctional agencies, government systems, and community-based organizations
 -Experience leading organizational change, implementing new initiatives, or improving complex workflows.

-Ability to provide approved supervision to employees who are clinical licensure candidates.

Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

King County's Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values unite us.

King County serves residents with a relentless sense of urgency, delivering on commitments with transparency and accountability. We are action-oriented, creative problem solvers who collaborate across roles, engage directly with communities, and challenge the status quo to achieve meaningful impact. As a unified team, we uphold high ethical and stewardship standards, embrace change, stay curious, and continuously improve. Across all interactions, we listen first, act quickly, and stay aligned as a team to earn and sustain public trust. Learn more about our Vision, Mission, and ACTIVATE Values here and visit our Why work at King County page here.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on sex, race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age except by minimum age and retirement provisions, pregnancy, status as a family caregiver, parental status, marital status, military status or status as a veteran who was honorably discharged or who was discharged solely as a result of the person's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression, citizenship or immigration status, genetic information, or other protected class. However, to the extent that distinction or differential treatment on the basis of citizenship or immigration status is authorized by either federal or state law, regulation, or government contract, it is not an unfair practice.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

Application Process

Who May Apply

Whoever qualifies for the role

The following items are required to be considered for this vacancy:

• NEOGOV Job Application (The responses on your job application should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Supplemental Questions (The responses to the supplemental questions should be thorough and complete and will be used in the screening process)
• Resume

(Please note: Cover Letter and additional attachments will not be reviewed as part of the evaluation process if not outlined as a required application material as outlined above).

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state "see my resume" or "see my personnel file" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

If you are interested in pursuing this position and supporting King County’s vision for unified, equitable, and high-performing government, please follow the application instructions carefully. Provide us with your work history as applicable, ensuring that you provide details that highlight your ability to fulfill the requirements for this position.

If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, or you would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process, please contact the Recruiter.

Additional Information 

Public Health - Jail Health Services follows and maintains federal and state requirements standards including, but not limited to, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards which apply to all public and private institutions that house adult or juvenile offenders. PREA standards preclude the department from hiring or promoting anyone who has engaged in, or been convicted of any conduct which would violate PREA standards related to sexual assault including:

• Sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other institution.
• Convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or,
• Has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described above.

Additionally, PREA standards require that the department consider any incidents of sexual harassment involving an inmate or detainee in determining whether or not to hire or promote anyone.
  
 The above is in compliance with PREA and its implementing regulations, 28 C.F.R. Part 115, Subpart A, Section 115.17, Hiring and Promotion Decisions.

Union Membership

Non-represented