Assistant Director

IDS Assistant Director (NS)

SALARY RANGE: $100,000.00 - $145,000.00

DO YOUR CAREER JUSTICE! Each and every day, North Carolina's courts help provide safety for our communities, prosperity for our economy, and protection for the rights, liberties, and freedoms that sit at the foundation of our state and federal constitutions. Consider an exciting and rewarding career with us and join the more than 7,000 elected officials and employees who make up our workforce and help us ensure that justice is administrated without favor, denial, or delay.

About the Office of Indigent Defense Services

The North Carolina Office of Indigent Defense Services (IDS) is a statewide agency created by the General Assembly in 2000 to oversee the provision of legal representation to indigent defendants and others entitled to counsel at state expense. IDS operates within the Administrative Office of the Courts and is governed by the 13-member Commission on Indigent Defense Services.

IDS provides counsel at the trial and appellate level in adult criminal cases, juvenile delinquency proceedings, involuntary commitment cases, abuse, neglect, and termination of parental rights proceedings, and other matters where counsel is a constitutional or statutory right. IDS funds, supports, and sets policy for a statewide network of public defender offices, contract counsel, and private assigned counsel with delivery supervised at the local level by the bench and bar in each of North Carolina's 100 counties.

Position Summary

The Assistant Director serves as a senior member of the IDS leadership team, reporting directly to the Director. The Assistant Director provides critical support to the Director's statutory responsibilities across four areas: Commission governance and compliance, legislative reporting and coordination, the agency's rules and policy framework, and legal representation of the agency as General Counsel.

Primary Responsibilities

Commission Administration, Compliance, and Reporting

• Manage all administrative functions of the Commission on Indigent Defense Services, including meeting planning, agenda preparation, and material development; Facilitate Commission committee planning and coordinate logistics for Commission proceedings.
• Serve as designated Ethics Liaison for the Commission pursuant to the State Ethics Act; ensure agency compliance with Commission ethics requirements, governance procedures, and applicable statutory obligations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for staff-level communication with Commission members.
• Support the Director in fulfilling reporting obligations and other responsibilities to the Commission.
• Coordinate preparation of legislative and other required reports, including the agency's annual report to the Chairs of the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Justice and Public Safety, as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. 7A-498.9, in coordination with Research and Development.
• Manage staff-level communication with legislative staff on matters pertaining to indigent defense services, including the production and delivery of legislative correspondence and fiscal notes.

Rules, Policy, and Planning Oversight

• Ensure agency rules and policies remain current, compliant with applicable law, and aligned with Commission standards.
• Oversee the agency's policy development process, coordinating input from relevant stakeholders and managing timelines for adoption and implementation.

General Counsel and Litigation Oversight

• Serve as General Counsel for the Office of Indigent Defense Services, advising the Commission, the Director, the agency, and its employees on all legal issues arising from the operation of Indigent Defense Services.
• Provide legal review and strategic guidance on agency rules and policy matters with operational or compliance implications.
• Provide legal advice and counsel to IDS, the Chief and State Defenders, and agency employees on pending and potential litigation, personnel and employment matters, and other legal issues affecting the agency; assist with the case preparation for the Attorney General's Office.
• Represent IDS in working with other departments and agencies of government on legal issues of mutual concern.
• Review and advise on contracts, agreements, and other legal instruments entered into by the agency.

Other Duties and Responsibilities As Needed

• Respond to inquiries and complaints from members of the public.
• Work with IDS Legal Assistant on public records request policies and processes.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• The North Carolina court system and the practices and principles of current methods of providing legal services to indigent persons across all case types covered by the IDS Act.
• North Carolina General Statutes and applicable case law governing the Office, including 7A-498 et seq.
• Principles of legal ethics, attorney-client privilege, and the responsibilities of counsel to a governmental client.

Skills in:

• Write clearly and persuasively including reports, policy documents, legislative submissions, and public communications.
• Work efficiently under time pressure; prioritize and manage multiple concurrent projects and responsibilities.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school; active membership in good standing with the North Carolina State Bar, or eligibility for admission at the time start; at least five years of progressively responsible legal experience.

Management Preference

• Demonstrated experience in public defense, indigent defense administration, governmental legal practice, or judicial branch administration.
• Problem solving; personnel management; interpersonal communication; public speaking and presentations; and relationship building across diverse constituencies.
• Experience working with or in support of a governing board, commission, or similar oversight body.
• Familiarity with North Carolina legislative processes and state government operations.
• Experience preparing briefing materials or supporting an executive's engagement with a legislative body.
• Supervisory or management experience.

EEO Statement

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.

Recruiter: Charmaine James Leeks

Email: View email address on click.appcast.io