The County of Santa Cruz Public Defender’s Office is seeking a Managing Director of Holistic Defense to oversee and lead the Holistic Defense Division. This division is central to the agency’s whole-person defense approach, which integrates strong courtroom advocacy with holistic support services to meet the legal and social needs of clients. The Managing Director will implement and lead the division’s work around four key pillars of holistic defense: seamless access to services, dynamic interdisciplinary communication, skilled advocates, and strong community connections.
The role includes managing a team of advocates (such as social workers and client advocates), developing and implementing policies and procedures aligned with the agency’s mission, sustaining innovative advocacy programs, and ensuring the division’s resources are effectively allocated. Responsibilities also include managing the division’s budget, handling contracts, procuring and managing grants, and staff development, among other duties.
Any combination of education and experience which would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying, unless otherwise specified. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Training and experience equivalent to a Master’s Degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, or a related discipline
AND
Four years of social casework, holistic defense, or client advocacy experience with a human services department, public defense agency, or community-based organization that includes at least one year at a supervisory level.
Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of functions and services of a public defense agency that provides interdisciplinary services using a holistic defense model; laws, regulations, and policies related to public defense, including holistic defense; principles and practices of supervision and training; principles and practices of public administration, program planning, and evaluation; organization and management. Working knowledge of program budgeting and fiscal management; contract monitoring and evaluation; grant procurement and management; the application of data processing to program operations; provision of culturally-responsive services; model practices for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in a public agency.
Ability to: Plan, organize, direct, supervise, train, and evaluate the work of staff assigned to the Holistic Defense Division, including social workers and client advocates; maintain cooperative and effective working relationships in dealing with other divisions and units in the agency, the Court, other County departments, public and private organizations, and the general public; make public presentations to groups on the functions and mission of the Office of the Public Defender and Holistic Defense Division and represent the office with a demeanor consistent with the dignity of the office; communicate effectively both orally and in writing; prepare clear and concise reports and correspondence; prepare and monitor the division’s budget; provide training to agency staff on holistic defense and related topics; create policies and procedures for the division; seek grants and partnerships and assist with grant applications and management; and provide holistic defense services, including client-facing services, case planning, and written and oral advocacy on behalf of clients of the Office of the Public Defender.
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