Job Posting: Director of Professional Development

Office of the State Public Defender

JC-476287
-
Director of Professional Development
ATTORNEY SUPERVISOR

$12,223.00 - $16,408.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.

Final Filing Date: 6/18/2025

Job Description and Duties

Are you looking for a vibrant, team-oriented job where you can use your talents to make a difference? This position provides a unique and rewarding opportunity to provide first-class legal training that inspires excellence and affirms the potential of each Attorney and Caseworker at the Office of the State Public Defender (OSPD).

The Director of Professional Development works alongside the Executive Management Team to provide appropriate training for legal staff at all points of their development and to promote a culture of learning and professional growth. The person in this role will also supervise OSPD's fellows and interns and be responsible for working collaboratively with the Intern and Fellowship committees at OSPD. The goal is to provide a strong basis of training to new legal staff and to provide training and professional development opportunities in a consistent, ongoing and transparent manner that allows OSPD legal staff to maintain the highest quality legal representation for its clients. 
 

Please take the short recruitment survey linked here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M7N6925

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

OSPD has two regional offices located in Oakland and Sacramento.

 

  • The Oakland office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near the 12th Street BART station, not to mention a variety of delicious restaurants.
  • The Sacramento office is located downtown in a modern high-rise building near SacRT Light Rail stations, Downtown Commons, and plenty of shopping.


OSPD permits full-time telework in accordance with government code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California. Business travel reimbursements consider an employee's designated Headquarters Location and primary residence. The policy may be subject to change by the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR). All commute expenses to the headquartered location will be the responsibility of the selected candidate.
 

Due to the nature of the position, appellate attorneys are sometimes required to work nights, weekends and other non-traditional schedules. Absent unusual circumstances, certain duties must be performed in person, such as oral arguments, moot courts, and visiting detention facilities. For this position, it will be the responsibility of the attorney, in coordination with their supervisor, to ensure that any remote work they perform complies with the ethical obligations of attorneys and court requirements.

This position requires travel to clients, conferences, meetings, and training events up to 10% of the time and includes occasional overnight travel, up to a week. Travel is primarily by automobile but also includes occasional train, airplane, or public transportation.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-476287
Position #(s):
426-015-5749-024
Working Title:
Director of Professional Development
Classification:
ATTORNEY SUPERVISOR
$12,223.00 - $16,408.00 A

Individuals appointed to the Attorney Supervisor classification are eligible to receive the designated hiring-Above-Minimum (HAM) rate. The Attorney Supervisor classification HAM rate is set at $13,568.00.

New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
Telework
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time

Department Information

The OSPD is legislatively mandated to focus its resources on postconviction appellate representation in death penalty cases and improving indigent defense in California by providing assistance and training to local public defender systems.

 

Mission Statement

OSPD's mission is to advocate zealously for the underrepresented, particularly those facing capital sentences, while empowering the broader defense community to ensure effective and equitable representation for all.

Diversity Statement

 

OSPD is committed to promoting a workplace rooted in the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. We can best serve our clients and stakeholders when we have a diverse staff that affirms and celebrates the backgrounds, learned and lived experiences, whole identities, and individual perspectives of our colleagues.

 

An inclusive culture improves the quality of our work lives and makes us better advocates for our clients and better colleagues to each other. We are continually growing and are committed to equitable, inclusive, and nondiscriminatory hiring practices.

 

OSPD encourages applications from all qualified individuals of any race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, disability, age, and veteran status.

 

OSPD is recognized by the State Bar of California as a gold tier recipient of the DEI Leadership Seal Program for its on-going commitment to advancing workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion for all staff through evidence-based actions.

Department Website: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/

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: 6/18/2025

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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 www.CalCareers.ca.gov. 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 below 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.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
  • A demonstrated commitment to criminal justice, the Sixth Amendment, racial equity, and the belief that everyone deserves excellent representation. 
  • Knowledge of California substantive criminal law, specifically the law and practice of capital appeals.
  • Knowledge of best practices in legal training and practices for adult learners is preferred. 
  • Experience preparing and presenting training materials, legal outlines, practice guides, and/or advisories as well as building organized and consistent training modules for professionals at different points in their careers. 
  • Demonstrated ability to plan and direct the world of law clerks and fellows (new attorneys) and support their early professional development, training and integration. 
  • Experience reviewing, evaluating, and monitoring training programs for efficacy and reach, and presenting data clearly to internal and external audiences. 
  • Knowledge of inclusive recruitment and hiring practices. 
  • Experience working collaboratively and communicating effectively with multiple stakeholders, including but not limited to public defender offices, appellate projects, professional associations, working groups, law schools, and partner agencies. 
  • Ability to work with others, including attorneys and other legal staff, business services, human resources, and executive management to improve and coordinate OSPD's resources, guidelines, and policies in order to provide excellent service to its employees and clients. 
  • Ability to maintain security and confidentiality of privileged information in compliance with applicable laws. 
  • Ability to be flexible, creative, and self-driven while working with the Executive Management team to meet internal and external needs for learning and professional development opportunities. 
  • Knowledge of learning tools such as virtual meeting spaces, learning management systems, and SharePoint as well as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Excel, and Adobe, and the ability to use such programs in an efficient and effective manner. 

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 CalHR website and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System CalPERS website.

Contact Information

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

Department Website: http://www.ospd.ca.gov/
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

Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) Instructions: Please provide detailed responses to the questions below. Your response must be single-spaced, written in narrative form, and no longer than 5 page(s). Please note that SOQ also serves as documentation of each candidate’s ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

  1. Why do you want to be the Director of Professional Development for the Appellate Division of OSPD?
  2. Describe how your professional experience is relevant to the Director of Professional Development role of OSPD’s appellate division. Please include in your answer a description of your experience in capital defense and any training programs you have developed and implemented for any public defender office, defense organization, or academic institution.
  3. How should success in training programs be evaluated?

 

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


Attorney Supervisor Exam/Assessment

Please Note: You must take and pass the Attorney Supervisor examination to establish list eligibility before a job offer. Please visit https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/ Exams/ExamBulletin.aspx?ExamControlId=1586

Equal Opportunity Employer

The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
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