Conflict Resolution Center Manager

Securing Bellevue’s future as a livable, inspiring, vibrant and equitable community.

The mission of Bellevue’s Conflict Resolution Center is to build up the problem-solving capacity of Bellevue’s community.  Bellevue’s Conflict Resolution Center is a Dispute Resolution Center formed under Chapter 7.75 of the Revised Code of Washington to provide equal access to justice for all people in Washington. BCRC receives funding and professional guidance from Resolution WA, a state-wide consortium of 22 dispute resolution centers. Services provided are confidential, voluntary, and free, available to people who live, work, or go to school in Bellevue or the City of Kirkland. 

Ideal candidates will demonstrate aptitude in conflict resolution, conciliation and mediation practices, have experience working directly with multicultural and multilingual communities, a background in program and volunteer management and possess strong listening skills and discernment. The Bellevue Conflict Resolution Center Manager is supervised by the Assistant Director for Neighborhood Services, a division of the Community Development Department.   

Performs duties and responsibilities commensurate with assigned functional area which may include, but are not limited to, the following tasks and roles:

• Provide management oversight of Bellevue’s Conflict Resolution Center, including case management, staff and volunteer management, strategic program development, fiscal stewardship, community engagement, and community partnerships.
• Supervise a team of four program staff while overseeing the daily operations of the Conflict Resolution Center, ensuring services are delivered effectively and efficiently while maintaining a team ethic. 
• Exercise sound discernment handling complex conflict resolution cases, including mediation, conciliation and facilitation and ensuring a high-resolution rate.
• Provide coaching and skill building training for BCRC staff and volunteers in cross-cultural conflict resolution skills for neighbor-to-neighbor disputes, landlord tenant disputes, community-business disputes and other various conflicts.
• Oversee development of Housing Accord Program supporting housing stability for landlords and tenants in Bellevue and the City of Kirkland.
• Maintain effective partnership with Resolution Washington and other dispute resolution centers, participate in statewide meetings, the work of a committee, provide oversight of pertinent contracts and grants and data collection on key performance metrics.  
• Ensure compliance with standards of the Uniform Mediation Act, the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and RCW Chapter 7.75. 

• Integrate guiding principles of equity, access, inclusion, belonging and cultural competence into BCRC programming.

• Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers who assist with conciliation, mediation, facilitation and other services.
• Engage with the community to promote the center’s services, including providing training sessions and organizing workshops and on conflict resolution, listening, and skill building.
• Work collaboratively with other city departments, community organizations, and stakeholders to address community needs and enhance service delivery.
• Manage the center’s budget, including securing funding and managing expenditures.

• Prepare and deliver presentations to Council, city leadership, neighborhood, community and decision-making groups.

• Create and/or manage communication program materials, website content, distribution lists, newsletters, reports and presentations relating to program development.

• Track key performance measures for case resolution, community engagement and programming to evaluate program relevance and effectiveness. 
• Be a collaborative member of the department management team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Working knowledge of the Uniform Mediation Act, the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and RCW Chapter 7.75.
• Ability to mediate and conciliate disputes with considerable knowledge of landlord-tenant law, foreclosure mediation, immigration issues and neighbor to neighbor disputes. 

• Servant leader with discernment, listening skills and practiced ethic of honoring confidentiality.

• Strong understanding of housing stability issues and equity principles.
• Cultural awareness particularly in conflict circumstances.

• Team-builder, people person, curious and lifelong learner.
• Proven experience in volunteer management and training. 
• Program design, implementation, and management experience.

• Adept at communication, facilitation, and public speaking to various audiences.
• Ability to create curriculum and conduct complex training in conciliation and mediation processes.
• Sense of humor.
• Advance Bellevue’s One City core values of Exceptional Public Service, Commitment to Employees, Innovation, Collaboration, Stewardship and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Core Competencies

• Manages Conflict – handling conflict situations effectively with a minimum of noise
• Understanding Cultural Competence – produce equitable policies and practices by developing skills and knowledge that facilitate effective interactions across diverse cultures
• Builds Effective Team – building strong teams that apply their diverse skills and perspectives to achieve common goals
• Courage – Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said
• Collaborates – building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives
• Global Perspective—Taking a broad view when approaching issues, using a global lens.
• Values Differences – recognizing the values that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization
• Strategic Mindset – seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies

Education and Experience

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in social studies, communications, English, education, political science or a related field. 
• Five or more years of professional-level experience in conflict resolution, mediation and conciliation   
• Three or more years of professional related experience in people management or leadership with interdepartmental or cross functional teams.
• Or any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Multilingual skills preferred.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position or that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is performed in a hybrid work environment (both at City Hall and remote work from home) with an expectation of three in-person workdays at City Hall, and a considerable number of meetings outside the office environment.
• Travel to and from meetings at various local locations.
• Attend evening and weekend meetings and events as required.

Salary : $104,225 - $143,865