Courtesy Posting - Office Manager

POSITION INFORMATION

***This is a courtesy posting for the Colorado State Public Defender***

Salary: $4,542 Monthly

MISSION STATEMENT

Colorado’s Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) maintains a reputation as one of the top organizations in the nation specializing in the delivery of indigent criminal defense. We operate as an independent agency within the Judicial Branch of Colorado State Government with nearly 1,000 dedicated employees assigned to twenty-one Regional Trial Offices, a centralized Appellate Division, and a centralized Administrative Office. The mission of OSPD is to defend and protect the rights, liberties and dignity of those accused of crimes who cannot afford to retain counsel. We do so by providing constitutionally and statutorily mandated representation that is effective, zealous, inspired and compassionate.

We seek to hire professionals who are dedicated to furthering our mission and demonstrate compassion in their service to our clients. We are a fast paced, team-oriented environment, where self-motivation and a personal commitment to high performance are important attributes for success.

STATEMENT OF DUTIES

This is a full-time Office Manager position responsible for performing management and administrative duties to support daily operations of the office and staff. The Office Manager assists the Managing Attorney/Office Head in coordinating day-to-day activities and work flow of the office; provides administrative support to attorneys; and, supervises administrative staff. The individual assigned to this position must have strong customer service skills and be patient with and supportive of indigent people charged with crimes. The working environment is fast-paced and has a high volume of telephone calls, client interaction, and frequent interruptions.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

How to Apply:

Please e-mail your resume and cover letter to:

Candace Gonzales, Assistant to Senior Management, Candace.Gonzales@coloradodefenders.us

No later than October 7, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (Mountain Time).

Your credentials should address how your skills and experience meet the qualifications for the position, and your interest in working for the Office of the State Public Defender.

(Please note: Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.)

BENEFITS

For a summary of employee benefits (health, dental, life and disability) please visit: https://stateofcoloradobenefits.com/. Other benefits include retirement plan options through Colorado PERA www.copera.org, eleven paid holidays a year, and paid-time-off for personal and sick leave. Additional information about the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender can be found at: http://www.coloradodefenders.us/

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Office of the Colorado State Public Defender provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability or other protected status, in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. Consistent with this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including the application and selection process. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation, please contact Laura Darrow at, laura.darrow@coloradodefenders.us.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• The office manager must be able to perform the full-range of routine to complex administrative and clerical work, including but not limited to, providing client support; processing eligibility applications; managing case files from opening through closing and file destruction; and, maintaining and updating information in the case management system. In an office with a larger administrative staff, the office manager performs routine administrative support work on an infrequent basis.
• Serves as a liaison with the centralized State Office to coordinate administrative responsibilities related to personnel actions, leave tracking, state vehicles, mandated costs, travel and mileage reimbursements, purchasing supplies, and to ensure compliance with statewide and policies and procedures. Serves as the primary contact for matters related to building maintenance.
• In conjunction with the State Office, assists in onboarding new employees and processing personnel and payroll forms.
• Assists in developing and implementing regional office procedures in accordance with statewide rules and policies.
• Assists in training regional office staff and interns on in-house office and court processes, utilizing the data access and case management database systems, and related office procedures.
• Assists in coordinating training and conference attendance for regional office staff; assists with completing training approval forms and submits to State Office for processing and approval.
• Assists the Office Head in administrative duties such as leading meetings; serving as a resource or technical expert to other staff including recognizing and answering ethical questions and identifying conflict determinations.
• As a member of the regional office management team, participates in strategic planning related to staffing resources, staff assignments, scheduling, and case management to ensure office activities and operations are effective and efficient.
• Runs reports and compiles case management data as required for statistical tracking and reporting. Provides auditors with information required for office operations.
• Supervises administrative support staff to include: prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring employees are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures; and, making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

(Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.)

Required Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.), supplemented by legal secretarial or college courses in a related field.
• Progressively responsible experience providing administrative and clerical support and quality client service such as, managing electronic and hard copy files/records and preparing and processing documents and forms. Experience in a law office, the State Public Defender’s Office, or other comparable environment; and,
• Demonstrated experience, skills and training in leading others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Training, education or experience that provided a knowledge of court systems and legal terminology.
• Experience working in an environment serving indigent populations.
• Spanish-speaking skills.