Public Defender Central Services Division Coordinator

To be considered for OPD positions, applicants must complete and submit their application online, as well as upload any required application materials.

Our Mission

To Provide the Most Compassionate and Expert Defense of Clients and the Constitution 

Our Vision

Creating Expert Teams of Advocates for Justice, Bringing Respect and Dignity to our Clients to Achieve Holistic and Equitable Outcomes

Reasons to work for the Office of the Public Defender: Our work changes lives! The work OPD does, makes a difference for the people in our communities.   Public Defenders work for their clients, protect constitutional rights and ensure the system remains fair.   We are proud of the work we do, to find out more about OPD visit our website HERE.

Benefits of working for OPD: The ability to work and play in the beautiful state of Montana is one of the benefits you will love about this opportunity! Montana, offers theaters, museums, fairs, rodeos, a high-quality educational system, and many recreational opportunities.  Montana's mountains, rivers and lakes provide year-round opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts. Fishing, hiking, camping, boating, biking, hunting, skiing, and snowmobiling can be accessed throughout our great state.

Other fantastic benefits include:

• Health Coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave and Holidays
• Work/life balance
• Flexible schedules
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Telework (when applicable)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness- Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive loan forgiveness- click HERE to learn more!

Materials Required of Applicants:  

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• References: Please provide contact information for (2) current or former supervisors and (1) professional peer.
• Supplemental questions (if applicable)

About this Opportunity!

Job Overview:  

The Central Services Division Coordinator provides leadership, management, and support to the Director and the Central Services Division Administrator to advance organizational effectiveness, efficiency, and agency goals. This position is responsible for the identification, documentation, planning, development, communication, and coordination of various and multiple agency development projects that seek to improve effectiveness of agency-wide operations and ensure stability, consistency, and accountability within the agency’s operations. The position conducts analysis and evaluations and presents alternative approaches to areas such as agency development, operations platforms, and program management. This position performs analysis, documentation, development, and operational guidance and support on functions that have agency-wide implications.

This position reports to the Central Services Division Administrator.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):

A.     Business Analysis & Requirements Management (70%)

·         Provide direction and establish processes for business-analysis activities

·         Participate in pre-project activities and business-planning efforts that depict current and future business views, conduct business research, and write reports to support business decisions

·         Collaborate with stakeholders, including through in person meetings and site visits, to elicit, identify, define, prioritize, and document business requirements, trends, opportunities, inefficiencies, and/or problems for new development projects, business process redesign, current business application enhancement, or current business problems/issue resolution

·         Analyze business projects and processes that impact multiple, related business units within the agency

·         Develop and review business cases that document the business need or problem, solution, cost/benefit analysis, strategic alignment with organization's mission, and business risks

·         Develop business cases, scopes, schedules, resources, stakeholders, and budgets, and maintain agency adherence to any project objectives

·         Translate business requirements into functional specifications for information technology or other solutions and manage specification changes

·         Assist with documenting solutions, ensuring usability of solutions, and provide post-implementation review and assessment

·         Develop, document, and execute test plans to ensure that business requirements have been satisfied and manage project change requests and problem-resolution activities

·         Identify, manage, monitor, and respond to requirement gaps, conflicts, and risks

·         Present and communicate technical and business concepts to technical and nontechnical audiences both in person, by video, and in writing

·         May assist in delivery of critical project documentation, such as project plans, test plans, and other project deliverables as required

·         Communicate project status, expectations, needs, and resolution to different, related business units through written reports, meetings, and communication with stakeholders

·         Perform project post-implementation activities such as soliciting feedback from stakeholders, preparing a report, and archiving of information

B.     Policy & Administrative Operations (10%)

·         Coordinate and evaluate an agency’s policy and planning recommendations from Governor, State Legislature, directors, and other officials, and recommend changes

·         Conduct research and gather data to evaluate existing policies, their effectiveness, and identify areas for change or improvement

·         Assist with developing agency regulations, policies, and standard operating procedures

·         Review, interpret, and provide policy and planning information, background, and responses to legislators, auditors, and stakeholders

·         Review industry-specific rules, regulations, and statutes to determine if the entity or individual complies with requirements, the nature of any violations or discrepancies, or the type of action to be taken

·         Interpret and implement administrative rules, laws, and policy matters and their impact on operations

C.    Performs other duties as assigned (20%)

•             Maintain Central Services Division functions and perform other tasks as assigned by the Director or Central Services Division Administrator

Physical and Environmental Demands: Typical office environment, utilizing a computer, telephone system and other office equipment.  Work may frequently require longer than 40 hours per week to complete. Travel may be required approximately 20% of the time.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (Behaviors):

Required for the first day of work:

·         Knowledge of Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, organizational awareness, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

·         Knowledgeable in the Public Defender arena and general business applications including contracting, procurement of services, and quality control.

·         Knowledgeable in legal and court policies, procedures, practices, terminology and systems as well as municipal, state, and federal laws, rules and regulations.

·         Knowledge of policy analysis and development.

·         Knowledge of management principles and practices.

·         Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports.

·         Knowledge of budget preparation, cost estimating, monitoring, and fiscal management principles and procedures.

·         Ability to provide technical coordination and management of development and/or implementation projects in area of expertise.

·         Program planning and implementation skills.

·         Skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.

·         Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.

·         Knowledge of contracts and grants preparation and management.

·         Ability to develop and maintain recordkeeping systems and procedures.

·         Skill in the use of computers, preferably in a PC, Windows-based operating environment.

·         Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

·         Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.

·         Employee development and performance management skills.