Initial Posting Date:

02/19/2025

Application Deadline:

/

Agency:

Oregon Public Defense Commission

Salary Range:

$12,076 - $17,836

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Trial Support & Development Manager (General Counsel)

Job Description:

The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is seeking a dedicated and experienced Trial Support & Development Manager to join our team. If you possess a robust understanding of legal principles, have outstanding communication abilities, and are dedicated to excellence – come and join our team and help us drive meaningful change in public defense services!

Position: Trial Support & Development Manager (General Counsel) 

Location: Salem, Oregon 

Salary Range:  $12,076 - $17,836 

* This recruitment will remain open until the position is filled and may close at any time after the first 10 days of posting.

What’s in it for you: 

You will become part of an innovative and strategic group of professionals and enjoy a competitive salary and benefits package!  

•  OPDC supports and encourages work/life balance and overall wellness and offers a generous benefits package including, employer-paid health insurance, vacation, and sick leave, eleven paid holidays, three paid personal days, flexible spending accounts, and an employer contribution retirement plan (PERS).  

• The posted salary range is the total possible range for the classification. If you are already a participating PERS member or once you become PERS eligible, the salary range will increase by 6%. The top candidate will be screened through a Pay Equity process that evaluates various factors. Please see the Pay Equity website for more information.  

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Graduation from an accredited college of law

• Be a member in good standing of the Oregon State Bar

• Any combination of eight (8) years full-time experience of law and AT LEAST five (5) of which must be in the practice of criminal, juvenile defense, or related field.

What you will do: 

The Trial Support & Development Manager will lead the Trial Support & Development team in advancing the quality and effectiveness of public defense representation in Oregon. This role provides strategic oversight, policy development, and direct support to public defense providers, ensuring adherence to performance and qualification standards. The position is responsible for developing and implementing training programs, monitoring compliance, and managing public defense contracts to maintain constitutionally competent legal representation across the state. Additionally, the role involves engaging with stakeholders, analyzing legislative and case law developments, and contributing to the continuous improvement of public defense practices through data-driven decision-making and collaboration with agency leadership.

Application Guidance & Requirements:  

• Current State of Oregon Employees: Apply via your employee Workday account.  

• External applicants: View this application instructional video. A PDF is also available by clicking here.  

• REQUIRED: Attach your most up-to-date Resume. Please ensure your Workday profile matches your submitted resume.  

• REQUIRED: Attach a cover letter that details how you meet the desired attributes for this position. Your cover letter should be no more than 2-pages. (A Cover Letter that does not meet the required criteria will be graded as ineligible.) 

  

**APPLICATIONS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE THE ABOVE DOCUMENTS WILL NOT MOVE FORWARD IN THE RECRUITMENT**  

Duties: 

Public Defense Contracting & Oversight

This role oversees public defense contracts, ensuring compliance with policies and regulations, supervises program analysts, develops contract execution policies, and collaborates with General Counsel and Procurement. It also establishes compliance metrics, conducts reviews, and approves co-counsel assignments, case weight adjustments, and specialized case billing exceptions.

Quality Assurance & Performance Oversight

This role ensures public defense competency by developing attorney standards, reviewing qualifications, and investigating complaints. It aligns policies with national standards, develops attorney training programs, manages a data-driven quality assurance system, and reports on public defense performance to leadership.

Assignment of Counsel

This position directs staff in coordinating public defense assignments, develops strategies to address attorney shortages, oversees the THIP administration, manages assignments for complex cases, and engages with judicial stakeholders to assess and address public defense needs statewide.

Personnel Management

This job entails planning, assigning, and approving work, conducting performance reviews, and recommending personnel actions. It supervises staff recruitment, training, timesheet approval, and addresses personnel issues. Additionally, it incorporates affirmative action and diversity strategies, fosters a respectful work environment, and ensures all stakeholders are treated with dignity and respect.

Workgroups, Committees, & Meetings

Another important function of this position includes promoting effective public defense services by representing the agency in various forums, building relationships with key stakeholders, and developing initiatives to educate and inform about public defense policies and improvements.

Ongoing

On an ongoing basis, the Trial Support & Development Manager will monitor legal trends, evaluate proposed legislation for fiscal impact, review billing requests for compensation, and participate in reconsideration reviews.

The Top (9) Desired Attributes for this Role:

1. Leadership and Supervision:

Capability and experience supervising and effectively managing attorneys and staff.

2. Operation and Management:

Proficient in project planning, programmatic development, assigning, approving work, and managing administrative tasks such as timesheet approval and leave requests.

3. Legal Expertise:

Knowledgeable of public defense policies, regulations, and national standards, with the ability to develop attorney standards and training programs.

4. Analytical and Compliance Skills:

Skilled in establishing compliance metrics, conducting reviews, and managing data-driven quality assurance systems.

5. Problem-Solving Abilities:

Ability to effectively address complaints, investigate issues, and implementing corrective measures.

6. Communication and Collaboration:

Must have strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience in building and maintaining relationships across all divisions within the agency, and with stakeholders, courts, and advocacy organizations.

7. Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:

Incorporates affirmative action and diversity strategies, fosters a respectful work environment, and promotes cultural awareness.

8. Representation and Advocacy:

Representing the agency in various forums, promoting effective public defense services, and developing educational and outreach initiatives.

9. IT Program Knowledge

Must have experience with project management software and maintaining data.

Who we are:

The Oregon Public Defense Commission (OPDC) is an agency governed by a 13-member commission appointed by the Governor, which serves as the governing body for Oregon’s public defense system. The Commission provides policy direction and oversight for the administration of the system. The legal services provided by OPDC represent an essential component of Oregon’s public safety system. 

  

OPDC’s mission is to ensure constitutionally competent and effective legal representation for persons eligible for a public defender.  Its office includes the Executive, Appellate, Trial, Trial Development & Resources, and Administrative Services Divisions. 

OPDC negotiates contracts with trial level public defense providers and administers and distributes funds for representation and related services for cases during the biennium for criminal, juvenile, and civil commitment cases. The Agency provides compliance and oversight to the trial community providers through quality assurance practices, training, and education. Financial Services processes all expenses related to representation in public defense cases. The Appellate Division provides direct legal representation in the state appellate courts in criminal cases, juvenile dependency and termination of parental rights cases, and parole cases. Other services in the Agency include, Data Collection and Analysis, General Counsel, Human Resources, Information Technology Services, Internal Audit, and Policy Development.   

Recruitment Timeline: 

*These dates are approximate and may change. *  

Recruitment Closes: Open until filled and may close at any time.

Recruiter Screening for Minimum Qualifications: On-going  

Hiring Manager Screening for Desired Attributes: On-going  

Interviews: Ongoing, beginning the week of March 3, 2025 (Candidates will be notified and contacted for scheduling.)

Veterans Preference: 

Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given veterans' preference. If you checked that you are a veteran, be sure to submit your documentation prior to the close date of this posting. For more information, please go to the State website: https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/Veterans.aspx  

  

OPDC is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and is strongly committed to enhancing the diversity of its workforce. Assistance will be provided in the recruitment, application, and selection process to applicants with disabilities who request such assistance.  Please call (503) 991-2274 as early as possible regarding any assistance you may require.