Executive Administrative Officer - Ops & Finance

The Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland is hiring an Administrative Officer, a high-level, one‑of‑a‑kind position that reports directly to the Federal Public Defender and plays a critical role in the office’s mission of providing zealous client‑centered advocacy in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. Our office is recognized as a leading public defense law firm that looks for creative and compassionate ways to serve our clients and has a progressive impact on the criminal legal system, both locally and nationally. We are a governmental agency funded by Congress through the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. The Administrative Officer is akin to a Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer rolled into one. The Administrative Officer oversees the administration and operation of our two office locations (Baltimore and Greenbelt), to include finance and procurement, human resources for 60+ staff members, and facilities oversight. The Administrative Officer directly supervises staff members with administrative, financial, and information technology responsibilities, while managing office‑wide operations and acts as the principal advisor to the Federal Defender on all aspects of office administration and management. Qualifications The Federal Defender seeks an Administrative Officer who is a trustworthy and reliable individual who understands office confidentiality, can juggle multiple priorities, and exercises good judgment in a mature and diplomatic manner. Candidates should have an appreciation for the importance of building an inclusive workplace and want to serve our client base. The Administrative Officer must be able to work independently and collaboratively and perform their responsibilities with a strong sense of ethics and integrity. Candidates should understand and value well‑run administration; budget and financial management; human resources; information technology, space, and facilities management; and procurement, property, and records management. Preferred Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in a related field Budget and financial management experience Knowledge of federal government policies The successful Administrative Officer candidate will be a self‑starter and innovative thinker who identifies issues and works to resolve them. If they don’t know the answer to a question, they pursue self‑education and seek assistance until they do. They are organized and able to handle multiple tasks. They are dedicated to our office’s mission and are respectful to their colleagues and show appreciation for their roles. Above all, they maintain high standards for treating clients and colleagues with empathy and understanding. Please visit for more information about our office and a complete job listing, which includes more details regarding the required responsibilities of the job. Employee Benefits This position has a starting salary range of $121,785 to $143,913 (Grade 13, Step 1 to Grade 14, Step 1) based on the Judicial Salary Plan effective Jan. 12, 2026. Salary will be based on professional experience and the number of positions supervised. Benefits include health and life insurance plus 11 paid federal holidays, 13 days of paid sick leave, and at least 13 days of paid vacation leave annually. (The number of vacation days increases with years of service.) The position is eligible for the Federal Employees Retirement System and the Thrift Savings Plan, which matches up to 5% of employee contributions. Salary is paid biweekly by direct deposit. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or meet the requirements of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. As a condition of employment, candidates must be fingerprinted and complete a high‑sensitive background check. Partial telework is available for this position but full‑time telework is not. Application Info Please submit a letter of interest, detailed résumé, short writing sample, and two work references (including names, addresses, and phone numbers) to: Katherine Tang Newberger, First Assistant Federal Public Defender. Please submit application materials as a combined PDF via email to View email address on click.appcast.io and write “AdO Applicant” in the subject line. The position is open until filled. Priority is given to applications received by June 15, 2026. The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. #J-18808-Ljbffr United States Courts