Data Officer - Indigent Legal Services

SALARY: 61,651.20

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full

ISSUE DATE: 04/26/24

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 05/27/24

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 05/28/24

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,
Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain
residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final
earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under
section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality
or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must
then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

Tompkins County is actively seeking a dedicated and passionate individual to serve as a Data Officer for the Assigned Counsel
Program. We are committed to client centered representation and believe in the strength of diversity, equity, and inclusion in our
pursuit of justice and representation and seeing the promise of Gideon fulfilled for our clients. This is a unique opportunity to
contribute to a more just and equitable Tompkins County, where your work will play an important role in shaping a more just and
equitable environment for our clients. Apply now to be a part of our mission for justice and providing the promise of Gideon for
all in our community.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

(a) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year-college or university with a bachelor’s degree
in accounting, business administration, statistics, geography, computer science or a closely related field AND two years of
full-time paid (or the equivalent part-time and/or volunteer) experience working with a wide variety of data including financials
and/or statistics; OR

(b) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two-year college with an associate’s degree in
accounting, business administration, statistics, geography, computer science or a closely related field AND four years of full-time
paid (or the equivalent part-time and/or volunteer) experience working with a wide variety of data including financials and/or
statistics; OR

(c) Any combination of training and experience equal to or greater than that described in (a) and (b) above. Tompkins County is
Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

Tompkins County is Committed to Equity and Inclusion. We encourage those with similar values to apply.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

A Data Officer’s primary function is to gather data and prepare reports. The incumbent will be required to collect data and provide
regular reports to the Office of Indigent Legal Services (OILS) and Tompkins County Administration regarding the
implementation of state grants and contracts and performance in meeting whatever goals are set for the department of Assigned
Counsel as part of the funding process. The employee’s external contact will consist of working with staff of the State’s
department of Indigent Legal Services (ILS) to operationalize data requirements. Information will be shared with ILS in a very
structured manner and the outcome is to ensure delivery of appropriate reporting products. The purpose of the position is to
support improvement of indigent criminal defense throughout the state and address funding issues that have impacted such work
historically in New York State. Moderate interpersonal skills will be needed to explain or verify information about the ILS data.
The incumbent will work directly with the department head to establish caseload standards, define quality control measures and
report out on accountability under the Open Gov - Resource Based Accountability model. The incumbent will work with the
department head to identify and produce data and reports for the county as part of the reimagining public safety process and for
other county reporting requirements as needed. As needed and appropriate the incumbent may assist the grants and training
coordinator or other staff with data for preparation of reimbursement submissions by the department. The employee will work
under the direct supervision of the Supervising Attorney or Program Coordinator. Supervision of others is not generally a function
of this class. Contact with clients of the program will be minimal and is not necessary to fulfill work objectives. Internal contacts
will be across departments within the organization and will consist of routine, administrative or highly structured interactions. The
incumbent will perform all related duties as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Collects and collates data, consolidating into a reports to be provided to the State Office of Indigent Legal Services;
• Collects and collates data, consolidating into reports for County CJC and reimagining public safety process; County

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Will develop a good knowledge of the Indigent Legal Services data requirements and definitions
• Good knowledge of and familiarity with the technology employed by providers of mandated representation to track

operationalize any changes in how data are currently collected, maintained, and reported to comport with ILS definitions,
requirements, and deadlines; and Record, report on, and verify any such changes.

• Availability for in-person and web-based training on several aspects of data tracking in compliance with ILS

• Availability to provide regular updates to ILS on the status of the implementation of the new data requirements.
• Coordination of the annual reporting of required data in a uniform, accurate and timely fashion.
• Maintenance of an impartial and consistent approach when dealing with different providers.
• The capacity to represent faithfully to ILS the quality of the data from all providers in the county and communicate to

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:

Physical: The employee must be able to sit for extended periods of time within a standard eight-hour work day. Other types of
physical effort are minimal with the exception of the occasional requirement to lift boxes of office supplies and paper goods up to
twenty pounds. The incumbent’s visual acuity must be sufficient to enable him or her to see and accurately work with information
on a computer screen a significant portion of each work day, with or without reasonable accommodations. As a result, this
position requires a considerable amount of visual effort. The employee’s hearing must be sufficiently acute to enable him or her to
hear, understand and carry out verbal instructions, with or without accommodations. The employee must have the physical ability
to manipulate a computer keyboard and other types of office equipment. This would require a moderate level of precision, manual
dexterity, operating knowledge and/or skill. These fine motor skills include adequate hand/eye coordination and the full use of
fingers, hands and arms to perform the essential functions of this job, or otherwise demonstrate the ability to perform these
essential functions.

Mental: The work involves moderate demands from unpredictable fluctuations in work volume, frequent interruptions, regular
changes in priority. Environmental factors include the ability to work closely and cooperatively in close physical proximity with
others. He or she may occasionally be required to work alone. The work is performed indoors in a temperature-controlled
environment, so heat, cold, humidity, noise, etc., are not factors that are significant to this job. This would constitute minimal
exposure to disagreeable environmental conditions. Prompt and regular work attendance is required. As a result, the employee is
required to meet the transportation requirements necessary to get to this job. There is minimal risk of injury or illness related to
this job.

Originally created 01/01/2019

D118.docx

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the
date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at 274-5526. If an application is disapproved, due notice will be
sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will
be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits
application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must
meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE
ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT
APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS
ESTABLISHED.
Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of
Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations
apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been
a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.
The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is
eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins
County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant
to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the
Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,
Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring
books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE
SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you
must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this
form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the
various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot
ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You
will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your
examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your
chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department (607) 274-5526. The Cross File
form is located at http://www.tompkins-co.org/personnel/CivilSrvForms/index.html

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on
your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY
REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.
In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive
an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are
qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this
office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the
application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has
been established.⒝

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will
include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in
disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850