Director, Office of Community-Based Police Accountability (OCPA)
City of Portland
Job Appointment: Full-Time, At Will
Job Location: City Hall 1221 SW 4th Ave., Portland, OR 97204
Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, in-person
Compensation: $160,784 – $233,729
ABOUT THE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY-BASED POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY (OCPA):
The Office of Community-Based Police Accountability (OCPA) is a newly established, independent oversight body created following voter-approved changes to the Portland City Charter and Code. This office represents a significant evolution in how the City ensures accountability, transparency, and community-centered oversight of the Portland Police Bureau (PPB). OCPA operates independently to conduct investigations of sworn employees and supervisors thereof
within the Portland Police Bureau, ensure fair and impartial review processes, and elevate community voice in accountability systems.
The office works in partnership with the Community Board for Police Accountability (CBPA), a volunteer governing body composed of community members, which holds decision-making authority regarding findings and discipline. This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a new public institution at the intersection of public service, justice, and community trust.
OVERVIEW OF THE OCPA DIRECTOR:
The Director serves as the executive leader of OCPA and is responsible for establishing, leading, and sustaining a credible, independent police accountability system for the City of Portland.
This role combines institution-building, executive leadership, and public accountability. The Director will oversee all administrative and operational functions of the office, including staffing, investigations, community engagement, and policy development. They will work in close partnership with the CBPA while maintaining the independence and integrity of the office’s work.
The Director must navigate a highly visible and politically complex environment, balancing the expectations of community members, City leadership, law enforcement, and labor organizations. This leader will be responsible for building trust across diverse stakeholders while ensuring that investigations are conducted fairly, thoroughly, and transparently.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OCPA DIRECTOR :
Leadership & Operations
• Establish and lead the Office of Community-Based Police Accountability, including building systems, structures, and operational processes from the ground up
• Plan, organize, and evaluate the work of professional and investigative staff, including complaint navigators and administrative personnel
• Foster a workplace culture grounded in integrity, accountability, transparency, and employee well-being
• Hire, develop, and retain a diverse, highly competent, and service-oriented team; to include hiring of complaint navigators to help complainants navigate their cases
• Ensure staff are supported in conducting complex and sensitive investigations, while maintaining independence and objectivity
Investigations & Oversight
• Ensure due process and procedural integrity by overseeing complex administrative investigations into police misconduct, applying rigorous legal and administrative standards to produce clear, defensible findings
• Evaluate investigative quality and ensure findings meet legal, evidentiary, and administrative standards
• Ensure investigations are conducted promptly, fairly, impartially, and in compliance with applicable laws and timelines
• Review investigative findings and present recommendations to the Community Board for Police Accountability (CBPA)
• Participates in and monitor Internal Affairs Division (IAD) investigations as appropriate
• Identify trends in complaints and recommend policy or practice changes to improve policing outcomes
• Will work within the oversight System to develop rules and procedures for receiving and processing complaints, conducting investigations, reporting of findings, conclusions and recommendations and taking of disciplinary action consistent with any binding disciplinary rules
and applicable collective bargaining agreements or statewide standards
Strategy, Policy & Governance
• Advise and support the CBPA by maintaining clear boundaries between decision and recommendation authority, while building trust through transparency, consistency, and role clarity.
• Uphold governance boundaries while managing competing expectations from the CBPA Board, City leadership, and community stakeholders
• Develop and implement strategic plans, annual work plans, and performance measures aligned with OCPA’s mission
• Establish and maintain policies, procedures, and operating protocols in accordance with City Code and Charter
• Partner with the CBPA to support governance processes, including meeting facilitation, agenda setting, and reporting
• In collaboration with the CBPA, assist in providing recommendations regarding police practices, policies, and directives to the Portland Police Bureau
• Contribute to the evolution of the City’s police accountability framework through data, policy analysis, and continuous improvement
Community Engagement & Public Accountability
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community members, particularly communities most impacted by policing
• Conduct outreach, attend community meetings, and facilitate listening sessions to ensure community voice informs the work
• Promote transparency through regular reporting, including public presentations, quarterly updates, and annual reviews
• Serve as a public-facing leader, engaging with media, stakeholders, and City Council as needed
• Create accessible, trauma-informed systems that support individuals navigating the complaint process
• Ensure accessibility of the accountability process for diverse communities, including non-English speakers and historically underrepresented populations
Stakeholder & Political Navigation
• Collaborate effectively with City leadership, legal counsel, law enforcement representatives, and labor organizations
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently from political, community, and law enforcement influence
• The ability to resist external pressure while maintaining credibility and trust across all stakeholder groups
• Communicate clearly and credibly in high-pressure, highly scrutinized environments
• Ensure decisions are grounded in data, policy, and fairness, and can withstand external scrutiny and challenge
Minimum Qualifications for the Director:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in criminal justice, public administration, public policy, business administration, or a related field
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience conducting, reviewing, or supervising investigations, oversight functions, or related work
• Experience leading teams and managing complex organizational functions, including personnel and budget oversight
• Experience directly navigating disciplinary outcomes within union or collective bargaining environments, including constraints impacting accountability decisions
• Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and administrative processes
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex issues and develop sound, defensible recommendations
• Experience working within or alongside public sector or government organizations, including high-scrutiny, politically complex environments
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage effectively across diverse communities and stakeholders
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in both written and verbal formats
Preferred Qualifications:
• Juris Doctor (JD) or advanced degree in a related field
• Experience in police accountability, civil rights, administrative investigations, or public oversight systems
• Familiarity with labor relations, collective bargaining environments, and union dynamics
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE:
The ideal candidate is a principled, resilient leader who can build trust, lead with integrity, and operate effectively in complex and highly visible environments.
• Demonstrate unwavering integrity, objectivity, and commitment to fairness
• Brings experience navigating politically sensitive or high-stakes environments with confidence and composure
• Design and lead scalable accountability systems, including complaint tracking, data dashboards, and reporting tools, using data and feedback loops to drive policy, operational improvements, and long-term system evolution
• Skilled at building and sustaining trust across diverse communities and stakeholders
• A strong communicator who can clearly articulate decisions, even in moments of tension or disagreement
• Leads with humility, emotional intelligence, and a willingness to listen and learn
• Capable of making difficult decisions and standing by them under scrutiny
• Experience publicly explaining complex or controversial decisions
• Deeply committed to equity, anti-racism, and community-centered approaches
• Demonstrate trauma-informed leadership with the ability to remain emotionally grounded, navigate sustained public scrutiny, and effectively manage conflict and criticism
About Motus Recruiting and Staffing, Inc.
Founded in 2006, Motus is an award-winning recruiting and staffing firm based in the Pacific Northwest, specializing in executive search, professional services, and technology solutions. We are committed to building diverse, inclusive talent pipelines and helping organizations make intentional hiring decisions that strengthen representation and leadership. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.