Trial Services Director

You will provide the vision, leadership, strategic direction, personnel, and operations management for our growing Trial Services Division, which includes the Multi-County Program (covering Adams, Athens, Brown, Fayette, Jackson, Pickaway, Pike, Ross and Washington counties), the Trumbull County Office, and the Columbus-based Trial Department. One of the primary functions of the Trial Division is to provide client-centered representation to indigent clients facing criminal charges in state and federal courts. You will work closely with all levels of OPD staff and various external stakeholders in the county indigent defense community and justice system. Internally, you will report to the Director (the Ohio Public Defender) and help advance the agency’s mission, vision, and objectives and inform policy decisions that impact the indigent defense community in Ohio. You will supervise three attorneys in the Trial Department and directly manage the Directors of the Athens, Ross, Washington, and Trumbull County Offices. You will communicate regularly with the agency Director, Deputy Directors, Chief Fiscal Officer, Human Resources Director, and other members of the leadership teams. You will also work directly with external members of the justice system (judges and prosecutors, for example), private attorneys serving as contractors, and county commissioners. You may also do carry a limited caseload of direct client representation. You will be instrumental in assisting the Director with adopting the recommendations of the Ohio State Bar Association Indigent Defense Workgroup and those from the HB150 legislative task force, examining the present funding and structure of indigent defense in Ohio.