Director

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Director - (25142814)

The Montana Office of the Public Defender is seeking a Director. We’re seeking a candidate with strong leadership, change management, and analytical skills with a passion for public service and the ability to lead a statewide organization.

The Director manages the state public defender system and directs and implements initiatives in support of the agency’s mission to ensure equal access to justice for Montana’s indigent. The Office of the Public Defender consists of four offices: Central Services, State Public Defender Office, Appellate Defender Office, and Conflict Office. The director does not manage or direct litigation strategy. The director reports to the Director of the Department of Administration and the Governor.

Duties:

Supervision – Manage the statewide public defender system. Hire the public defender, appellate defender, conflict defender, and central services division administrators. Establish and evaluate qualifications, duties, and compensation for division administrators. Establish and direct an agency-wide performance evaluation process. Responsible for developing a positive and supportive workplace culture focused on client outcomes.

Policy Management, Planning, and Budget – Manage agency strategic planning and reporting process. Ensure agency delivers quality public defender services while operating within budget constraints. Implement policies, procedures, controls, and standards which promote efficiency and align with agency strategic plans. Establish a consistent and effective process for managing excess caseloads.

Public Relations – Represent the interests of the Office of the Public Defender at meetings, events, and in the media. Actively seek grants and awards from the federal government and other sources. Develop partnerships with prosecutors, judges, law enforcement, corrections, elected officials, non-profit organizations, and other interest groups.

Legislative Management – Represent the Office of the Public Defender during legislative sessions and at interim committee hearings. Direct legislative executive planning process and seek approval for agency budget. Provide interpretation and guidance on pending legislation. Confer with legislators and officials to promote effective legislative outcomes for Montana’s indigent persons.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

This position requires the following:

strong leadership and change management skills;
strong relationship-building and communication skills;
extensive knowledge of personnel and budget management;
knowledge and experience in public administration, public relations, government organization, lobbying, state budgeting, and legislative processes;
strong negotiation, analytical, problem solving, organization, and decision-making skills;
demonstrated commitment to the mission of Public Defender system;
ability to effectively manage and respond to politically sensitive and controversial issues and handle public criticism; and
general knowledge of the legal system, including knowledge of issues affecting indigent persons

Education and Experience:

This position requires a Juris Doctor and at least 5 years of administrative-level public sector management experience. Experience with a poverty-based program is preferred.

The successful candidate must be licensed to practice law in the state of Montana.

Required Application Materials:

Please submit the following documents through the State of Montana Careers website:

Cover letter
Resume

Additional Information:

The successful candidate may choose whether to work primarily in the Helena or Butte office. Statewide travel is required.

Relocation expenses are not available for this position.
Applicant names may be disclosed to the public upon request. For those applicants selected as finalists, names, and other information about the applicants’ backgrounds and qualifications may be disclosed to the public through a press release.
For further information regarding the Office of the Public Defender, see the Montana Public Defender Act (Title 47, M.C.A.)
The State of Montana offers vacation, sick leave, and holidays as well as full health and dental benefits, life insurance, and retirement.

Applicant Pool Statement: If another department vacancy occurs in this job title within six months, the same applicant pool may be used for the selection.

Training Assignment: This agency may use a training assignment. Employees in training assignments may be paid below the base pay established by the agency pay rules. Conditions of the training assignment will be stated in writing at the time of hire.

Salary: $ 140,000.00 - 159,899.00 Yearly

Telework Eligibility: Not Telework Eligible

Benefits Package Eligibility: Health Insurance, Paid Leave & Holidays, Retirement Plan

Number of Openings: 1

Employee Status: Regular

Schedule: Full-Time

Job Type: Standard

Shift: Day Job

Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time

Primary Location: Helena

Agency: Office of Public Defender

Union: 000 - None

Posting Date: Dec 1, 2025, 11:25:05 AM

Closing Date (based on your computer's timezone): Dec 15, 2025, 12:59:00 AM

Required Application Materials: Cover Letter, Resume

Contact Name: Lisa Coligan | Contact Email: lcoligan@mt.gov | Contact Phone: 406-444-3854

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