Lieutenant

Washington County Sheriff's Office Lieutenant

We envision Washington County as the safest urban county in Oregon by building strong community partnerships, providing excellent customer service, practicing prudent fiscal operations, and embracing excellence.

The Washington County's Sheriff's Office is currently looking for skilled law enforcement professionals that can effectively lead a variety of Sheriff's Office (SO) operations and unit/division activities. Ideal candidates will have proven administrative skills that can also manage complex projects to successful completion. Must have the ability to navigate interpersonal relationships with individuals and groups that have competing interests. Finally, candidates must be skilled at managing personnel issues effectively and in a way that demonstrates SO core values: Do your best; Do the right thing; and Treat others the way you want to be treated.

As a Lieutenant, you will lead, plan, organize, and manage a variety of law enforcement operations and unit/division activities within the Washington County Sheriff's Office. These activities include: investigations, patrol, jail operations and administration, criminal records, internal services, and a variety of general administrative leadership roles. Incumbents perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility.

This position is not represented by a Union. This position is part of the Management Administrative Personnel System (MAPPS). To review the MAPPS policy, use this link. To review the county personnel rules and regulations visit HERE.

Ideal Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Use active listening when conversing with others.
• Use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of various issues and develop effective solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
• Motivate, develop, and lead people.
• Evaluate performance and make improvements or take corrective action.
• Effectively lead and manage projects.
• Assist in preparing and administering a budget.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate assigned staff.
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals and groups who come from diverse backgrounds and represent members of the public, coworkers, and/or vendors.

To review the complete classification, including the full list of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) associated with this position, use this link: Lieutenant

Minimum Qualifications:

• Possession of a Master's Degree in police science or a related field and at least six (6) years of work experience in law enforcement, of which three (3) years of this work must be in direct supervision of certified law enforcement professionals; OR
• Bachelor's Degree in police science or a related field and at least eight (8) years of work experience in law enforcement, of which three (3) years of this work must be in direct supervision of and administration of personnel functions for certified law enforcement professionals; OR
• Associate's Degree in police science or a related field and at least ten (10) years of work experience in law enforcement, of which three (3) years of this work must be in direct supervision of and administration of personnel functions for certified law enforcement professionals; OR
• Twelve (12) years of work experience in law enforcement, of which three (3) years of this work must be in direct supervision of and administration of personnel functions for certified law enforcement professionals.

Additional Requirements:

• Must have or be able to obtain a passing score on practical pistol course.
• Must possess a driver's license valid in the State of Oregon and have an acceptable driving record.
• Must be able to pass an extensive background check.
• Must possess an advanced certificate from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) or meet published DPSST requirements for advanced certification at time of appointment.
• Must possess a supervisory certificate from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) or meet published DPSST requirements for supervisory certification at time of appointment.

About the Department/Division:

The Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is a full-service law enforcement agency located in Hillsboro, Oregon, serving the county's urban and rural residents. WCSO enhances public safety by fostering professionalism, compassion, and trust within its team and the communities it serves. WCSO is the primary first responder for unincorporated residents, offering services from routine patrol and crime investigation to specialized teams. The WCSO also operates the county's only jail and provides contract services to cities within the county.

Supplemental Information:

• Applicants must submit an online employment application which includes thorough answers to the supplemental questions.

Information Session: Join WCSO Leadership & Human Resources for a candidate information session. Highly recommended to attend just one session before completing the application. Join virtually or in-person.

• Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 8:00 AM
• Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM.

In-person Location: 215 SW Adams Ave, Hillsboro, OR 97123, Services Conference Room

Virtually: Microsoft Teams Meeting Link

Join:

Meeting ID: 255 945 405 668 661

Passcode: Jf7ne7W9

Join:

Meeting ID: 274 820 391 645 339

Passcode: Cj9qL7ms

3. Minimum Qualification Review: An evaluation of education, training and work experience of submitted application packets will be performed by Human Resources.

4. Mandatory Lieutenant Candidate Orientation (by invitation only): Once you are notified by HR that you meet the minimum qualifications, you will be invited to attend one of the orientations. The Lieutenant Candidate Orientation will provide information to assist applicants with the Lieutenant Assessment Center (as described below).

Orientations are expected to occur on:

• Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM
• Wednesday, October 28, 2026, 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

Invitations will be sent directly to qualified candidates only.

• Failure to attend this mandatory orientation will result in disqualification. Please notify Human Resources if you are unable to attend to make alternative arrangements.

5. Mandatory Lieutenant Assessment Center (by invitation only): The assessment center will consist of multiple elements/exercises that will be evaluated in four parts. Details about the Lieutenant Assessment Centers and the types of exercises will be covered in the Mandatory Candidate Orientation Workshops. Each exercise will be evaluated by a group of subject matter experts (SME's) consisting of WCSO leadership, representatives from other County departments, and representatives from jurisdictional/community partners.

The Assessment Center will be held on the following dates, with times to be determined:

• Wednesday, November 4, 2026
• Thursday, November 5, 2026

The final schedule will depend on the number of candidates being assessed.

Selection Process:

You can review our standard selection process here.

Our commitment to you: Washington County is an equal opportunity employer committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on knowledge, skills, and abilities. Our organization embraces innovation, collaboration, and work-life harmony. We promote employee development and offer an award-winning benefits and wellness program as well as an opportunity to serve and support our vibrant community.

Veterans' Preference: If you are a Veteran and would like to be considered for Veterans' preference for this recruitment, please review the instructions using this link: Veterans' Preference Points. Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: Reasonable accommodation is available to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in the selection process for this recruitment. To obtain confidential