Chief Deputy District Attorney

Salary: $200,792.80 - $256,287.20 Annually

The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is accepting applications to fill a Chief Deputy District Attorney position in Santa Maria, California. The job classification for this position is a Legal Services Manager, class spec 8165. This is an at-will classification, exempt from Civil Service provisions. This executive-level manager reports directly to the Assistant District Attorney and District Attorney. Work locations are assigned by the District Attorney and are subject to change based on workload demands and candidate preferences. The incumbent will be expected to travel to other locations throughout the County. 

THE POSITION:  We are seeking a Chief Deputy District Attorney to represent and advance the interests and mission of the District Attorney’s Office and the District Attorney. This position offers the opportunity for a unique combination of office-wide supervision of litigation teams and special projects. This position will be required to collaborate with all units within the Office, as well as with criminal justice partners. This position serves as a part of the executive management team to assist the District Attorney in conducting long-range planning and setting policies and procedures. This position will serve the District Attorney’s Office countywide. 

About the Department:  The mission of the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office is to pursue truth and justice by employing the highest ethical standards in vigorously prosecuting the guilty, protecting the innocent, and preventing crime.   The Santa Barbara County District Attorney has offices in three locations in the County: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. The Office embodies a team approach to fighting crime, wherein Deputy District Attorneys, Investigators, Victim Witness staff, and support staff work closely together at all stages of a case. The Office is also dedicated to the ongoing training and skill development of Deputy District Attorneys, as well as fostering the development of new technologies to fight crime and achieve justice. Specialized prosecution units exist for areas of great concern to the County including gangs, vulnerable victims, and white-collar crime. In addition, specialty courts such as DUI Court, Drug Court, Mental Health Treatment Court, Restorative Justice Court, and Veterans' Treatment Court allow for collaboration between Deputy District Attorneys and other Court staff in an effort to improve the success rate of rehabilitation for criminal defendants in addition to reducing crime. 

To learn more about the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, please visit: District Attorney - Santa Barbara County

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE: The ideal candidate has the ability to successfully implement policy, projects, and directives. The Chief Deputy District Attorney is an integral part of the District Attorney’s executive team and will partner with members of the team to administer and steward the goals of the District Attorney.  The ideal candidate will have significant experience litigating complex cases that may include homicides, multiple defendant cases, gang cases, and/or vulnerable victim crimes, and post-conviction litigation. This experience must include complex legal research and writing. In addition, the ideal candidate has vast experience working closely with law enforcement agencies and possesses excellent communication and relationship-building skills. The ideal candidate must be familiar with digital evidence and committed to utilizing innovative approaches to the practice of law. Lastly, the candidate must have initiative, be organized, and work well with colleagues in a team environment. 

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: County leaders are expected to uphold the values of accountability, customer-focus, and efficiency (ACE). Incumbents lead other managers and model behaviors that exemplify quality customer service; provide effective and ethical leadership; creatively and strategically plan, develop, and implement programs that use human and financial resources to achieve results; are accountable for strategy and goal formation consistent with the County's mission and key business objectives; engage stakeholders; communicate and collaborate effectively at multiple levels; develop employees; analyze issues and data; and efficiently use public resources.

The following are functional areas that this position is currently responsible for:

1. Plans, organizes, directs, assigns and evaluates the work of attorneys engaged in prosecuting criminal and civil cases in Superior Court.  
2. Assigns and rotates staff to assure that the difficulty and complexity of cases match the skill level of assigned attorney; sets objectives and performance standards.  
3. Plans, develops and implements the Department staff training and education program which includes attorneys and other professional staff.  
4. Serves as a team member of the executive management team with the responsibility for researching and recommending long range plans and system wide projects; implements long range plans, system projects and policies and procedures.  
5. Assists with preparing and monitoring the division budget.   
6. Coordinates prosecutions with the courts, law enforcement agencies, County Probation Department, other County departments, and the Attorney General's Office.  
7. Coordinates legislative review and research.  May propose and advocate for new laws.  Draft press releases.  
8. Represents the District Attorney at meetings and conferences as assigned.   
9. Acts as a resource and internal consultant to staff, other County departments and local law enforcement agencies, prepares correspondence and reports.  
10. Attends and/or conducts meetings and conferences. 
11. Participates in the recruitment of new staff. 
12. Creates and manages employee performance reviews and disciplinary actions. 
13. Responds to public inquiries and Brown Act complaints.

These areas of responsibility may shift and evolve to best meet the needs of the office over time.

• General supervision of the Santa Maria, Lompoc and Juvenile offices.
• Supervision of Countywide prosecution teams, including Serious and Violent, Homicide and Gang Teams.
• Attorney supervision, training and development.

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be: 

Licenses and Certificates: Active membership in the State Bar of California and eligible to practice law in the State of California.

For the full scope of the knowledge and abilities for this job classification, you may view the class specification here.

SELECTION PROCESS:

• Review applications and supplemental questionnaires to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

• Selection Interview. Select finalists will be invited to an interview with a panel of subject matter experts. Interviews are tentatively scheduled for the Week of July 21, 2025.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We do require verifications of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.   

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines. 

Conditional Job Offer:  Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a background investigation, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. The appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. 

Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization. 

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.  

BENEFITS: For more information on County benefits, please visit here. In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

• Retirement reciprocity 
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 by 4:59 PM PST. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.   

Recruitment contact: Collin Graham, Senior Talent Acquisition Analyst: cgraham@countyofsb.org.