The Committee for Public Counsel Services, the public defender agency of Massachusetts, is seeking applicants for a Managing Director – Operations to support the work of the Public Defender Division. The Managing Director – Operations will support the Deputy Chief Counsel in managing operations and strategic initiatives throughout the Public Defender Division. The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts.

We fight for equal justice and human dignity by supporting our clients in achieving their legal and life goals. We zealously advocate for the rights of individuals and promote just public policy to protect the rights of all.

Our Values

Courage   •   Accountability   •   Respect   •   Excellence

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MISSION STATEMENT

CPCS is committed to protecting the fundamental constitutional and human rights of our assigned clients through zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and the fullness of excellent legal representation.  We are dedicated to building and maintaining strong professional relationships, while striving to accept, listen to and respect the diverse circumstances of each client, as we dedicate ourselves to meeting their individual needs.  It is our CPCS mission to achieve these goals, and in furtherance thereof, we embrace and endorse diversity, equity and inclusion as our core values as we maintain a steadfast commitment to: (1) Ensure that CPCS management and staff members represent a broad range of human differences and experience; (2) Provide a work climate that is respectful and supports success; and (3) Promote the dignity and well-being of all staff members. CPCS leadership is responsible for ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion. The ability to achieve these goals with any level of certainty is ultimately the responsibility of each member of the CPCS community.

AGENCY OVERVIEW

CPCS is the state agency in Massachusetts responsible for providing an attorney when the state or federal constitution or a state statute requires the appointment of an attorney for a person who cannot afford to retain one.  The agency provides representation in criminal, delinquency, youthful offender, family regulation, guardianship, mental health, sexually dangerous person, and sex offender registry cases, as well as in appeals and post-conviction and post-judgment proceedings related to those matters.

The clients we represent are diverse across every context imaginable and bring many unique cultural dimensions to the matters we address. This reality creates a critical need for CPCS staff to be culturally competent and able to work well with people of different races, ethnicities, genders and/or sexual orientation identities, abilities, and limited English proficiency, among other protected characteristics.

DIVISION OVERVIEW

The Public Defender Division provides legal representation and advocacy to indigent clients who are charged with criminal offenses in both the District and Superior Courts. The PDD administrative office is in Boston.  It currently has 18 offices located throughout the state, including an Appeals Unit, and a current staff of approximately 227 attorneys and 137 other staff members, with an expectation to double in the next two fiscal years.

The mission of the Public Defender Division of the Committee for Public Counsel Services is to ensure that criminal defendants are given the fundamental protections of the United States Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the Massachusetts Constitution. We believe that every defendant should not only receive zealous advocacy but respect and dignity as they deal with the potential loss of their liberty.

The Public Defender Division is committed to meeting the needs of clients in Massachusetts in all their diversity.  We are dedicated to providing zealous advocacy, community-oriented defense, and protection of fundamental constitutional and human rights. Our staff encompasses a broad range of human differences and abilities including but not limited to: age, ethnicity, gender, geographic origin, race, faith, religion, and progressive values; and are committed to utilizing them to best serve our clients.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Managing Director of PDD Operations is a new position within the Public Defender Division that will support the Deputy Chief in managing operations, strategic initiatives, and other tasks within the Division and the broader agency. This pivotal role combines strategic vision with hands-on operational management, focusing on efficiency, effectiveness, and alignment with organizational goals. The role encompasses high-level managerial, administrative, project management, data collection, data analysis, legal analysis, stakeholder engagement, performance management, division policy development, division policy analysis, revision, and implementation in conjunction with all (PDD) regional Managing Directors and the Deputy Chief Counsel. The Managing Director of PDD-Operations will work laterally alongside the other four Managing Directors to ensure operational excellence throughout the Division.

The Managing Director of PDD-Operations reports to PDD’s Deputy Chief Counsel (PDD DCC) and is a member of the PDD Leadership Team.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS 

• Applicants for this position must have a demonstrated commitment to the representation of indigent persons, a minimum of seven years’ experience as an attorney, and four years of managerial experience;
• The Managing Director must be committed to serving a culturally diverse, low-income population and must be eligible to practice law in Massachusetts, either as a member of the Massachusetts bar in good standing or as the member of the bar of another jurisdiction eligible to engage in limited Massachusetts practice under Supreme Judicial Court Rule 3:04;
• Applicants must have access to reliable transportation in order to travel to offices, courts, and other locations throughout the state; and,
• This position is in office.

QUALIFICATIONS/SKILLS

Candidates should possess the following attributes:

• A demonstrated commitment to the principle of zealous advocacy in the representation of indigent persons in criminal cases;
• Significant experience representing indigent criminal clients at jury trial or appellate hearings strongly preferred;
• Strong interpersonal and analytical skills;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise considerable judgment and discretion;
• Strong leadership and organizational skills;
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to present information clearly and concisely.  Able to communicate effectively with all staff within the organization and with stakeholders outside the organization;
• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope and timeline;
• Ability to work independently and take initiative and to establish effective working relationships and work as a team;
• Experience with program management software tools, methodologies, and best practices;
• Proficiency in relevant software and legal technology, including case management systems and data analysis tools.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritize effectively, meet deadlines, and deliver high-quality work; and,
• Ability to work in a community and defense-oriented capacity, both independently and collaboratively.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Managing Director - Operations include, but are not limited to:

• Leading and managing complex initiatives and projects from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with objectives and deadlines and guiding others in the Division;
• Analyzing current operational workflows, identifying systemic issues in the Division, and implementing process improvements and efficiencies, including recommending changes to guidelines or performance standards;
• Providing support to the area Managing Directors to help ensure all PDD managers and staff adhere to policies and procedures and meet the quality standards as detailed in the Assigned Counsel Manual and Supervision Manual, including traveling to staff offices throughout the state;
• Supervising staff as assigned, including completing annual performance evaluations for all direct reports;
• Collaborating with the PDD DCC and the Chief of Administration and Operations to develop and execute operational strategies and initiatives with agency-wide impact;
• Collaborating with other CPCS departments to manage hiring processes, performance evaluations, professional development opportunities, and trainings;
• Working with PDD DCC, area Managing Directors and other CPCS Division leadership to develop and execute CPCS and PDD policies and strategic plans including developing and advancing legislative and policy agenda and other CPCS and cross-divisional goals and objectives;
• Leading the PDD division’s annual performance evaluations process, supporting area Managing Directors in ensuring timely completion of the process;
• Leading and managing the collection, analysis, and interpretation of operational data and metrics to assess performance, identify areas of improvement, and make informed decisions with the goal of improving delivery of services to clients within the PDD division;
• Collaborating with other members of the PDD Leadership Team and other senior leaders at CPCS on the review, development, and implementation of policies, procedures, and guidelines;
• Fostering and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including other CPCS Divisions, clients, state agencies, and vendors;
• Communicating operational plans, progress, and performance to stakeholders;
• Working with AICs, Training Department, and the Equity & Inclusion Director to ensure that PDD staff are culturally competent, sensitive to issues of diversity, and provide client-centered representation; and,
• Other duties as assigned;

EEO Statement

The Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation as required by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and other applicable federal and state statutes and organizational policies.  Applicants who have questions about equal employment opportunity or who need reasonable accommodations can contact the Chief Human Resources Officer, Sandra DeBow-Huang, at sdebow@publiccounsel.net