Public Records Program Specialist

Title: MCSO Public Records Program Specialist

Location: Portland United States

Job Description:

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

Pay Range:

$38.00 - $46.70 Hourly

Department:

Sheriff

Job Type:

Regular Represented

Exemption Status:

United States of America (Non-Exempt)

The Opportunity:

OVERVIEW:

Join the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and become part of a dynamic team where your commitment to justice and community safety can make a real difference. We are seeking individuals who are dedicated to serving the community, passionate about helping others and inspired by a strong sense of purpose. MCSO is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce and investing in professional development opportunities throughout your career.

This position within MCSO will be responsible for managing and coordinating most of MCSO's public records requests. Your work will directly support transparency, legal compliance, public trust, and timely access to information for community members, media, and others.

This role requires a self-directed, highly organized, and detailed-oriented professional who can independently manage competing deadlines, apply legal and policy requirements, and exercise sound judgement when reviewing, redacting, and releasing records in accordance with Oregon law and MCSO policies.

We are looking for someone who can:

• Be an analytical thinker,
• Interpret legal statutes, including knowing about what records may be exempt from disclosure,
• Conduct balancing tests to evaluate public interest,
• Communicate well with internal and external stakeholders.

This position will play an essential role in ensuring MCSO meets its legal obligations while protecting sensitive information as it relates to Oregon public records. If this describes you, please review this posting thoroughly and follow the application instructions listed in Screening and Evaluation. Only fully completed applications will be evaluated for further consideration.

About the Job

This position within MCSO's Communication Unit is responsible for leading and coordinating all public records requests for MCSO, to include public records requests related to body-worn camera footage. The role serves as MCSO's subject matter expert on public records and will be expected to work with all MCSO divisions as a single point of contact to support receiving public records requests, carefully reviewing them, conducting applicable redactions, and then releasing them in accordance with Oregon law, MCSO policy, and to make sure the documents protect sensitive information while also providing community members, including media, with appropriate access to public records.

Primary duties of a Program Specialist include:

• Serves as the subject matter expert and program lead for the Sheriff's Office public records and BWC disclosure program, providing strategic oversight on public records requests. Responsible for supporting the day-to-day operations of MCSO's public records and BWC release program providing direction, policy guidance, and operational oversight.
• Develops, implements, and maintains program policies, procedures, and training materials to ensure compliance with Oregon public records law, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), and other applicable statutes.
• Conducts thorough research and retrieval of records, including BWC video in Evidence.com, Versaterm, and other platforms, and performs redaction or review processes when needed and in accordance with applicable rules, policies, and laws.
• Works with MCSO leadership to identify grant funding or alternative funding sources for BWC public records and other day-to-day public records requests. Will be asked to use subject matter expertise to draft proposals to secure funding to help secure upgrades and software licenses to ensure MCSO is staying updated on best technology practices as it relates to receiving, tracking, and producing public records requests.
• Works with the Communications Unit to produce public-facing information, such as infographics, or FAQs, explaining public records processes.
• Serves as MCSO's primary contact for most public records inquiries from media, attorneys, and community members.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

To Qualify

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application about how your background is relevant.

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. In lieu of a degree, additional

qualifying experience will be considered on a year-for-year basis.

• Required: One (1) year of responsible work in a program which must include:

• Advanced knowledge of Oregon's public records laws and exceptions to provide nuanced legal analyses of exemptions, balancing tests, and case law precedents to defend release decisions.

• Advance understanding of criminal case workflows, investigative timelines, and digital evidence handling.

• Ability to research and retrieve video records in Evidence.com, Versaterm, Oregon eCourt, and other platforms, and to review and redact records in accordance with applicable rules, policies, and laws.

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid driver's license by time of hire.

• Must pass a criminal records and employment references check.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Related public sector experience.
• Demonstrated experience processing public records requests within a public agency.
• Experience reviewing, redacting, and releasing sensitive records, including police reports, audio/video files, and other digital evidence.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage high request volumes, competing deadlines, and detailed documentation for record purposes.
• Resilient and able to manage pressure in a professional manner.
• Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

Additional Information:

Only apply once for this opportunity.

This recruitment may be used to fill full-time, part-time, temporary, limited-duration, and on-call positions.

Pay Range: $38.00 - $46.70 per hour

Type of Position: Hourly, represented by the AFSCME Local 88 union.

Hybrid Telework: This position is designated as "hybrid telework," meaning you will have the option, based on manager approval, to work both remotely (from home) and in person at an onsite location. Opportunity for telework (1-2 days per week) will be evaluated around six months after hire. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Work Location: This position works onsite at the Multnomah Building, 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd. Suite 350.

The County offers a competitive total compensation package including:

• Holiday Leave: You are eligible to receive 12 paid holidays per fiscal year. This includes 10 county observed holidays and 2 floating holidays.
• Paid Sick Leave: You will accrue paid sick leave at the rate of .05 hours for each hour worked (for a full-time/40 hours per week employee, it is approximately 104 hours per year).
• Vacation Leave: You will start accruing paid vacation leave at 4.67 hours per pay period as long as you remain in paid status and a full-time employee (approximately 112 hours per year for full-time employee).
• Paid Increases: Local 88 employees are considered for an annual step increase each year on their progression date until they reach the top of the range. They are also eligible for annual COLA increases when approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
• Deferred Compensation: All new employees in regular and limited duration Local 88 positions will be automatically enrolled in the County's Deferred Compensation program, at the rate of one percent (1%) of their pre-tax wages, unless they choose to opt out.
• Comprehensive health and dental packages with most full-time employees paying only 5-10% of the monthly cost of the coverage, depending on plan selection and bargaining unit.
• Retirement contributions of 12% to the State's retirement system (PERS/OPSRP) and no financial contributions from the employee.
• Free TriMet pass.

Equal Pay: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Every day, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.