Position InformationTHIS RECRUITMENT IS PROMOTIONAL ONLY. YOU MUST PRESENTLY BE A FULL- OR PART-TIME REGULAR OR PROBATIONARY COUNTY OF SONOMA, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION, SONOMA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, OR SONOMA COUNTY WATER AGENCY EMPLOYEE IN ORDER TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION.
The Public Defender's Office has requested a
department promotional certification to fill an Assistant Public Defender position.
Only qualified permanent and/or probationary Public Defender's Office employees on the eligible list may be eligible for referral to the department for the advertised position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time or part-time positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Reporting directly to the Public Defender, the Assistant Public Defender will be responsible for the overall day-to-day administration and management of professional legal staff and functions of the Public Defender’s Office. As the second-in-command at the Public Defender’s Office, the Assistant Public Defender has authority to make office-wide decisions, but sometimes that may require approval of the Public Defender. Duties of the position include:
- Directly supervising the Chief Deputy Public Defenders
- Conferring with the Public Defender regarding policies and procedures and implementing new office-wide programs
- Making attorney assignments and ensuring courts are properly staffed
- Assisting the Public Defender in hiring, planning, and coordinating the work of subordinate supervisory legal personnel
- Overseeing the orientation, training, and performance evaluation of departmental employees
- Acting as a liaison between the Public Defender’s Office, the Courts , and other County departments
The ideal candidate will be committed to the concepts of holistic and client-centered representation. They will be adept at leading, teaching, training, coaching, and mentoring other deputy public defenders to the highest standard of the practice. The ideal candidate will also possess:
- Experience in supervising teams, working in management, and navigating issues with criminal justice partners
- Experience with labor relations issues, including discipline and leaves
- Training in litigating serious/violent felonies
- Completed classes or coursework on leadership development/skills or management classes through County training, California Public Defender’s Association, or other educational entities
- A thorough understanding of how to utilize case management systems, including implementing modifications to that system and producing necessary reports from that system
- Exceptional analytical skills and a strong command of the spoken and written word
- A willingness to facilitate consensus and inclusion where appropriate
- A cultural competence and sensitivity to the diversity of our office, our client base, and the community
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.
Minimum QualificationsExperience: Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and activities listed. Normally, six years of legal experience with emphasis on the preparation and trial of felony cases, including two years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity would provide this opportunity.
License: Must be a current active member of the State Bar of California. Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesExtensive knowledge of: the duties, powers, limitations, and authorities of the office of the Public Defender; the principles of criminal law, principles of trial procedure, rules of evidence; legal research methods and judicial procedures; the statutory and constitutional laws of the State of California.
Considerable knowledge of: modern public personnel administration; effective supervisory techniques; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition.
Ability to: research, analyze and apply legal principles, facts, evidence and precedents to legal problems; plan, assign, coordinate and review the work of subordinate professional, specialized and supportive personnel; effectively orient, train, supervise and evaluate subordinate personnel; effectively maintain work productivity through the supervision of subordinate professional staff; consistently prepare and present statements of law, fact and argument clearly, logically and persuasively in written and oral form, including the most complex legal matters; establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff members, departmental representative, county officials, the courts, law enforcement agency officials, and the general public; and understand and accept differences in human behavior, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A background investigation may be required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician:EV
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: MANAGEMENT*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan :Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan :Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: 7/10/2024 11:59 PM Pacific
