ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

The Appellate Division of the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) provides comprehensive appellate representation to individuals sentenced to death.

The OSPD is seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel. The ACC will report directly to the State Public Defender, collaborate with the Chief Deputy, and lead the appellate division. The primary responsibilities of the ACC include making staffing and personnel decisions, developing and managing the budget, establishing and implementing organizational goals, policies, and procedures, improving productivity and processes, and overseeing changes within the office.

The ACC directly oversees Supervisors and Caseworkers. The ACC uses information gathered from this supervision to create policies and processes that improve the division's work and collaborates with the Director of Professional Development to identify employee training and professional development opportunities.

This role is part of the Executive and Management teams at OSPD and has agency-wide management responsibilities.

OSPD is committed to promoting a workplace rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The Assistant Chief Counsel plays a key role in this commitment by building a healthy, productive, and diverse workforce that values feedback and communication.

Please take the short recruitment survey linked below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M7N6925

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Salary

• $14,090 - $17,225/month

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements
You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

• ATTORNEY, ASSISTANT CHIEF COUNSEL

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Knowledge of California criminal law and legal principals and their application to appellate proceedings; legal research methods; rules of evidence and conduct of proceedings in trial and appellate courts of California and the United States.
• Ability to prepare, present, and handle the most complex appellate cases.
• Experience communicating with clients, including those with intellectual disabilities or mental health illnesses, in writing and in person about complex matters in an effective and client-centered way.
• Ability to plan and direct the work of high-level staff attorneys and effectively supervise their work, as well as the work of paralegals and other support staff.
• Experience identifying systemic challenges related to legal staff recruiting, hiring, training, onboarding, and professional development and implementing changes and solutions.
• Ability to, or a demonstrated interest in, change management, including identifying and evaluating agency processes; identifying areas for improvement and developing strategies to enhance productivity; and implementing improvement initiatives.
• Knowledge of State budget processes and ability to develop and track budgets for appellate division and make data-driven decisions about operational needs.
• Ability to communicate effectively, develop and maintain good working relations with all levels of staff, and work cooperatively with other departments and agencies.
• Excellent judgement and problem-solving abilities, including awareness of what can and should be handled at the ACC level and what must be elevated to the State Public Defender.
• Experience with good management practices related to feedback (both giving and receiving), supporting the best work performance and personnel rules.
• Ability to build a culture of belonging and inclusion by fostering an environment that promotes respect and collaborates to resolve issues.
• Ability to work with diverse teams and support staff from diverse backgrounds; knowledge and skills to effectively collaborate with people from different cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds while respecting their unique perspectives and practices.
• Knowledge of CalHR’s rules and regulations, including those related to employee hiring, employee development, the supervision and management of employees, equal opportunity employment, and best hiring practices to minimize conscious and unconscious bias in all hiring decisions.
• Knowledge of computer programs, including SharePoint, Excel, Microsoft Office 365 suite, and other computer databases relevant to the practice of law.

Other Information

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Department Information

The OSPD is legislatively mandated to focus its resources on postconviction appellate representation in death penalty cases and improving indigent defense in California by providing assistance and training to local public defender systems.

Diversity Statement

OSPD is committed to promoting a workplace rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. We can best serve our clients and stakeholders when we have a diverse staff that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived experiences, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our colleagues.

An inclusive culture improves the quality of our work lives and makes us better advocates for our clients and better colleagues to each other. We are continually growing and are committed to equitable, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory hiring practices.

OSPD encourages applications from all qualified individuals of any race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, and veteran status.

OSPD is recognized by the State Bar of California as a gold tier recipient of the DEI Leadership Seal Program for its on-going commitment to advancing workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion for all staff through evidence-based actions.

Department Website: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 6/8/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process.Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How to Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Office of the State Public Defender
Human Resources
Attn: Human Resources - TM
770 L Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Office of the State Public Defender
Human Resources
Human Resources - TM
770 L Street, Suite 1000
Sacramento, CA 95814
08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see the “Statement of Qualifications” section for instructions.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Working Conditions

OSPD has two regional offices located in Oakland and Sacramento.

• The Oakland office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near the 12th Street BART station, not to mention a variety of delicious restaurants.
• The Sacramento office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near SacRT Light Rail stations, Downtown Commons, and plenty of shopping.

OSPD permits full-time telework in accordance with government code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. Business travel reimbursements consider an employee's designated Headquarters Location and primary residence. The policy may be subject to change by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.

Due to the nature of the position, appellate attorneys are sometimes required to work nights, weekends, and other non-traditional schedules. Absent unusual circumstances, certain duties must be performed in person, such as oral arguments, moot courts, and visiting detention facilities. For this position, it will be the responsibility of the attorney, in coordination with their supervisor, to ensure that any remote work they perform complies with the ethical obligations of attorneys and court requirements.

This position requires travel to clients, conferences, meetings, and training events up to 10% of the time and includes occasional overnight travel, up to a week. Travel is primarily by automobile but also includes occasional train, airplane, or public transportation.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:http://www.ospd.ca.gov/

Human Resources Contact:
Twanna Moore
(916) 322-7043
Twanna.Moore@ospd.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Denise Armendariz
(916) 322-2676
Denise.Armendariz@ospd.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device. Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, and Retirement benefits. For more information on what is offered by the State of California, please visit the California Department of Human Resources CalHRwebsite and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System CalPERSwebsite.