The Office of the Ohio Public Defender is seeking an organized, dedicated and mission-driven leader to serve as the Director of the Ross County Public Defender Office. The Ross County Office is a trial-level office with two supervising attorneys and one program administrator, ten attorneys, and five administrative professionals. The team handles almost all juvenile delinquency, misdemeanors, and felonies in Ross County, as well as felonies and misdemeanors in Jackson County.
The County Director will be responsible for the planning and strategic direction of the office. The position maintains communication and connection with the central Ohio Public Defender’s office in Columbus, directly supervises four staff members, and will carry an independent case load. You will monitor case assignments and the representation of clients by both Assistant Public Defenders (APDS) and outside counsel working as contract attorneys in cases of conflict of interest or agency workloads being at capacity.
You will work independently and in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Trial Services to establish expectations and goals for the Ross County office, including operations and management as well as client representation. As part of the Senior Leadership Team you will identify issues and solutions that impact the agency’s staff, culture, and client-centered service.
Essential duties of this position, which is classified as a Managing Assistant Public Defender, include but are not limited to:
Respond to questions and concerns and resolve problems; disseminate and interpret information, policies, procedures and best practices; provide coaching and training; complete timely performance reviews.
Represent indigent criminal defendants at trial level and establish case strategy with staff attorneys on pending cases and act as an advisor on creating trial strategies and addressing ethical matters. This will include legal research on the most complex criminal law problems; review statutes; prepare and file legal documents (e.g., briefs, memos in support, motions, and pleadings).
Negotiate contract provisions with county officials and private attorneys, and assist in budget preparation (e.g., prepares and provides information and statistical analysis on requests for additional staff and equipment).
Respond to inquiries from clients, legislators, and general public regarding agency policy and procedures. Respond to inquiries and requests for information from the private bar and contractors.
The position currently is eligible for hybrid schedule, giving you the opportunity to work from home for a portion of time after initial onboarding. The successful candidate will possess and exercise excellent skills in leadership, communication, time management and organization, and have the demonstrated ability to think creatively, collaborate, and build teams. The successful candidate will be able to apply their skills and abilities to best and most effectively support Supervising Assistant Public Defenders, Assistant Public Defenders, Program Administrator, and Administrative Professionals and ensure that the agency’s mission and values are communicated to staff, integrated into their goals, and reflected in their work on behalf of clients.
**When you submit your application, please upload a Resume and a Cover Letter indicating how you are best qualified for this position and why you feel you are the best fit at the Ohio Public Defender’s Office.**
The Ross County Office Director (Managing Assistant Public Defender) position is assigned to the State of Ohio’s E1 Pay Schedule, Pay Range 15. Unless required by legislation or union contract, starting salary will be the minimum salary of that pay range (step 1, currently $39.27 per hour) associated with this position. These ranges provide a standardized pathway for pay increases: with continued employment, new hires move to the next step in the range after 6 months and annually thereafter. The State of Ohio typically has Cost of Living Adjustments that increase wages in these ranges each fiscal year. In the event a candidate demonstrates exceptional qualifications above minimum, they may qualify for a starting salary above step 1.