Job Description

Job Description and Duties

The Appellate Division of the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD) provides comprehensive appellate representation to individuals sentenced to death.

The OSPD is seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel. The ACC will report directly to the State Public Defender, collaborate with the Chief Deputy, and lead the appellate division. The primary responsibilities of the ACC include making staffing and personnel decisions, developing and managing the budget, establishing and implementing organizational goals, policies, and procedures, improving productivity and processes, and overseeing changes within the office.

The ACC directly oversees Supervisors and Caseworkers. The ACC uses information gathered from this supervision to create policies and processes that improve the division's work and collaborates with the Director of Professional Development to identify employee training and professional development opportunities.

This role is part of the Executive and Management teams at OSPD and has agency-wide management responsibilities.

OSPD is committed to promoting a workplace rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The Assistant Chief Counsel plays a key role in this commitment by building a healthy, productive, and diverse workforce that values feedback and communication.

Please take the short recruitment survey linked below:

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Application Instructions

Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.

Final Filing Date: 6/8/2025

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:

Address for Mailing Application Packages

You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:

Office of the State Public Defender

Human Resources

Attn: Human Resources - TM

770 L Street, Suite 1000

Sacramento , CA 95814

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Office of the State Public Defender

Human Resources

Human Resources - TM

770 L Street, Suite 1000

Sacramento , CA 95814

08:00 AM - 05:00 PM

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - Please see the “Statement of Qualifications” section for instructions.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, and Retirement benefits. For more information on what is offered by the State of California, please visit the California Department of Human Resources  website and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System  website.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website:

Human Resources Contact:
Twanna Moore
(916) 322-7043
Twanna.Moore@ospd.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Denise Armendariz
(916) 322-2676
Denise.Armendariz@ospd.ca.gov

California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

Statement of Qualifications Instructions

Please provide detailed responses to the questions below. Your response must be single-spaced, 12pt, font, written in narrative form, and no longer than 4 pages. The SOQ also serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

1. The Assistant Chief Counsel has broad management responsibilities over a division that aims to provide excellent legal representation to incarcerated clients. Please describe the relevant experience you would bring to this role and explain how those experiences would help you succeed. 
2. What are the key qualities that make a supervisor of supervisors effective, and what strategies would you prioritize to excel in that role? 
3. Describe a specific example of when you led an effort to implement a new practice, policy, or system change for a multidisciplinary team. 

Applicants who fail to submit a SOQ will not be considered for interview.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time,

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