Are you looking for career opportunities that provide top-notch benefits including paid vacation and sick leave, parental leave, outstanding health, vision, and dental insurance, an on-site health clinic for you and your dependents, a generous retirement plan, and much more? Then bring your talents to Travis County!
Serves under general policy direction from the Commissioners Court. Provides operational and administrative support and advocacy for the office of the Chief Public Defender (PDO), the Office of Parent Representation (OPR), the Office of Child Representation (OCR), and the Travis County Law Library to ensure successful delivery of high-quality holistic legal representation and services to residents of Travis County. Is an experienced leader with cultural competence and a diverse background of lived experience.
Provides administrative assistance and liaison services for the Chief Public Defender; Operates as the direct supervisor for department heads within OPR, OCR, and the Law Library; but shall not advise, participate in, or interfere with the direct legal representation and services provided to clients by licensed attorneys in any of these functional areas.
This position will be in the Community Legal Services Department.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This is a job classification within the County Executive job family; appointed by the Commissioners Court, this role serves as the County Executive for the Community Legal Services functional areas and as the liaison between the Commissioners Court and these functional areas. The County Executive for CLS serves as a member of the county’s executive management team.
Areas of Management
Fiscal, administrative and operational integrity of the functional areas that provide direct legal representation and/or services to low-income residents.
Oversight of various grants, contracts, and funding agreements.
Community engagement and outreach to ensure public awareness of, engagement in, and efficacy of the legal services and programs available to low-income residents.
Any other areas assigned by the Commissioners Court.
Duties and Responsibilities
As the County Executive in the Community Legal Services functional areas, they are responsible for:
Administrative, operational, and budgetary support for each functional area
Budget development, review, implementation and management.
Grant applications, negotiations, development, and monitoring.
Planning, directing, and reviewing the operational management of multiple offices, collaboratively with Chief attorneys or department heads to improve communication among the departments and their stakeholders, and the effectiveness of overall operations.
Ability to interpret data analysis and use it to shape each program and make recommendations to the Commissioners Court and county executives for policy changes and budget allocation.
Hiring authority, firing authority, performance management, policy adherence, and grievance matters for OPR, OCR, and the law library.
Provides assistance to the Chief Public Defender regarding hiring, firing, performance management, policy adherence, and grievance matters for the PDO.
Support and advocacy for the resources and needs of each office within the functional areas.
Compliance with Federal, State, and Local codes, county policies, and directives from the Commissioners Court.
Performs other job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
Bachelor’s Degree and Juris Doctor degree with Texas State Bar License to practice law or ability to obtain Texas State Bar License within one year; AND at least ten (10) years' experience practicing law, with experience in providing holistic legal representation and services to indigent clients.
AND,
Eight (8) years combined senior professional management and leadership experience at the executive level of state or local government, or public sector management/administration, including supervision of managerial and professional level work activities with responsibility for developing, implementing, and managing goals and objectives with significant organizational impact; developing work plans and/or strategic plans, and developing operating and capital budgets.
Licensed, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
Valid Driver’s License. If out-of-state license, must acquire Texas Driver’s License within 30 days of hire date.
Preferred Requirements:
Previous experience in a Public Defender’s office or legal aid organization.
Experience working in family law legal services.
Previous experience leading a diverse team with cultural competency and building an inclusive culture.
Understanding and thorough familiarity with the provision of legal services and holistic representation to indigent and other eligible residents.
Knowledge of:
Theory, principles, policies, practices and techniques relating to public administration at the executive level including budgeting from various funding sources, complex contract negotiations and administration, communication and presentations, research and program planning.
Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, codes, rules, regulations and guidelines.
Skill in:
Leadership of, and collaboration with, diverse, cross-functional teams, including dispute resolution and negotiation.
Organizational change management.
Critical thinking, such as problem-solving, decision-making, and exercising independent judgment and business acumen.
Data analysis and performance management to improve outcomes and accountability.
Ability to:
Lead and manage diverse teams respectfully at all levels within span of control.
Lead others in their development of awareness, knowledge and skills along the cultural competence continuum.
Develop short range and long-term plans to meet and facilitate the vision and/or goals set by the Commissioners Court.
Maintain professional ethics and personal integrity, representing the County in a professional manner.
Direct and interpret quantitative, financial and systems analysis of business problems.
Develop or lead others in development of programs which foster increased efficiency and effectiveness.
Evaluate impact of a policy, procedure, plan and/or program, by itself and in relationship to other policies, procedures, plans or programs.
Effectively present information to Commissioners Court, senior management, employees and public groups, including the State Legislature utilizing tact and diplomacy.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County Executives, Commissioners
Court and staff, Elected and Appointed Officials, Attorneys, Judges, other Department Heads, media, representatives of multiple outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 10 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
Work Hours: 8 AM - 5 PM; Monday through Friday.
Location: 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701
Department: Community Legal Services
Criminal, Education and Employment History Check Required.