Ross County Office Director

Intentional omission of relevant information, falsification, or misrepresentation of information on the application will disqualify the applicant. In addition, such intentional acts are grounds for immediate termination of an employee.

The final candidate tentatively selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration. 

All final applicants tentatively selected for this position will be required to submit to urinalysis to test for illegal drug use prior to appointment. An applicant with a positive test shall not be offered employment.

This position serves at the pleasure and discretion of the State Public Defender. This position serves in a fiduciary relationship to the State Public Defender and will have an unclassified status per Ohio Revised Code 124.11 (A) (9).

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender (OPD) is the state agency responsible for providing legal representation and other services to people accused or convicted of a crime who cannot afford to hire an attorney.

Our Mission: Advocating. Fighting. Helping.
Our Vision:    A Fair Justice System.
Our Values:   Compassion. Dignity. Equity. Integrity. Service. Community.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:  Our commitment to inclusion is inseparable from our commitment to a fair justice system. We strive to ensure inclusive spaces and services for our staff, our clients, and Ohio’s diverse communities. We are committed to building a work environment where all our team members have a voice and can embrace our differences to innovate service to the public. We can best meet our public defense mission through a diverse workforce and an inclusive workplace, where employees thrive, our mission is accomplished, and Ohioans are served. #TeamOPD is grounded in diversity, equity, inclusion as we work together to pursue fairness and justice for all people. 

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About the Position and What You’ll Do:

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. 

The Office of the Ohio Public Defender complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact our Human Capital Management Department at 614-466-5394 or HCM@opd.ohio.gov.

Admission to Ohio Bar pursuant to Section 4705.01; 5 yrs. exp. as licensed attorney practicing criminal law; 6 mos. exp. or 6 mos. trg in supervisory principles & techniques. Note\: Prior to representing a client in federal court or U.S. Supreme court, attorney shall obtain admission to practice law in that court; prior to appointment as appellate counsel for an indigent defendant in a capital case pursuant to Appt.Coun.R. 5.02 & 5.03, an attorney shall obtain certification from the Commission on Appointment of Counsel in Capital Cases. Note\: Eligibility to practice under a Certificate to Practice Law Pending Admission in Ohio, under Rule I, Section 19 of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, or eligibility to practice under a Temporary Certification for Practice in Legal services, Public Defender, and Law School Programs under Rule IX of the Supreme Court Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio, may be accepted in lieu of admission to the Ohio Bar pursuant to R.C. Section 4705.02.

Job Skills: Attorney/Legal, Management, Client Advocacy, Adaptability, Verbal Communication, Analyzation, Performance Management, Organizing and Planning