Executive Director, The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel

General Statement of Duties
The Executive Director leads the agency’s mission to champion justice, dignity, and equity for the accused, ensuring exceptional representation and driving systemic change. This role oversees a dedicated team of staff and contractors, promoting collaboration to provide comprehensive, client-centered advocacy addressing legal, social, and personal factors. With responsibility for a multi-million-dollar budget, the Executive Director will engage with stakeholders to shape policies reflecting a commitment to equity, social justice, and reform, while strengthening partnerships locally, statewide, and nationally to advance indigent defense in Colorado.  

About Us:
The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (OADC) is the legislatively created state agency responsible for providing client services and legal representation for indigent individuals (adults and youth) when the state has charged them with a criminal or delinquent act and the state public defender’s office has a conflict of interest. The OADC accomplishes this by contracting with over 400 private attorneys and more than 500 interdisciplinary defense team member contractors (social workers, paralegals, investigators, legal researchers, case assistants, interns, etc.) to provide client services on an hourly basis. Our fundamental belief is that solid interdisciplinary teams practicing holistic defense produce superior results for clients. 

The OADC has over 40 full-time employees, that includes a Postconviction Unit with case-carrying attorneys and other defense team members and two fellowship programs, one for attorneys and one for forensic social workers.  These in-house programs enhance specialized legal advocacy and foster the development of the next generation of holistic defense practitioners.

About the Job:
The Executive Director serves at the discretion of the Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel (OADC) Commission and is responsible for ensuring the office meets the requirements outlined in C.R.S. § 21-2-101, et seq. The Executive Director must be licensed to practice law for at least five years prior to appointment and be knowledgeable about the unique demands of indigent criminal defense within an interdisciplinary contractor model.

The Executive Director is expected to dedicate their full-time efforts to OADC duties and may not engage in the private practice of law. The position offers an annual salary of $198,798, which is set by the general assembly and aligned with the compensation of a Colorado State District Court Judge. This salary is fixed and non-negotiable. 

The Executive Director provides strategic leadership to advance the agency’s mission and ensure high-quality representation for indigent clients. This role balances vision with practical management, overseeing operations, legal advocacy, and policy initiatives. The Executive Director leads a diverse team, manages significant financial and administrative responsibilities, and collaborates with stakeholders to strengthen holistic defense and drive systemic reform.

Essential Functions of the Position

1. Financial Oversight

• Oversee and assist in the preparation of the annual budget and any supplemental requests, including presentations to the Joint Budget Committee and Joint Judiciary Committee.
• Manage the agency’s $60 million budget in collaboration with the COO, ensuring transparency, accountability, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Lead strategic planning to assess financial, caseload, and policy impacts, and provide updates to the OADC Commission.

2. Strategic Leadership and External Relations

• Represent the OADC’s mission and priorities in public and private settings, building strong relationships with the judicial branch, state agencies, the General Assembly, and community stakeholders.
• Conduct outreach across judicial districts to support contractors and collaborate with national and state organizations advancing criminal legal reform, holistic defense, and civil rights.
• Oversee internal operations while building strong relationships with key external stakeholders, including the judicial branch, state agencies, the General Assembly, and community stakeholders.  Serve as the primary liaison to the OADC Commission, the Judicial Branch, media, and the public, resolving issues as they arise.
• Ensure the OADC's adherence to statutory requirements while monitoring national trends in the criminal legal and behavioral health sectors to proactively address emerging risks and inform strategic actions.
• Analyze and respond to legislation, judicial processes, and policies impacting the OADC’s contractors, employees and clients. Advocate for justice and   equity to advance the OADC’s mission and promote systemic improvements.
  

3. Leadership and Personnel Management

• Provide strategic oversight of OADC’s people operations, including recruitment, onboarding, evaluations, renewals, and compensation for over 1,000 interdisciplinary contractors, while ensuring performance, compliance, and accountability.
• Oversee internal staff operations, including personnel decisions, retention strategies, and collaboration with internal stakeholders to lead and maintain consistency and alignment with cultural and legal standards.
• Provide leadership across the agency, cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment. Guide and mentor leaders on professional development, performance management, and strategic initiatives. Oversee and support the Postconviction Unit in partnership with the Unit Director.
• Engage with stakeholders—including team members, contractors, and community members—in a way that is inclusive, respectful, and humanizing, and models cultural humility and responsiveness.  
  

4. Miscellaneous Duties

• Participate in training and professional development. Collaborate with other indigent criminal defense programs nationally.
• Address contractor performance issues and maintain transparent communication with the OADC Commission on administrative matters.

Work Environment and Location Requirements
This is a hybrid role, blending remote work with a regular in-person presence in Denver at the OADC main office located in the Ralph Carr Judicial Center. The position also requires occasional travel within the state, region, and nationally.
 
About You: 
The OADC is a collaborative agency designed for people who thrive in a team environment. Our ideal candidate will have a background in indigent public defense and be passionate about a team-oriented, holistic defense model. They will be zealous in their commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice.

The Executive Director must have;

• Been licensed to practice law in the United States for at least five years prior to appointment (C.R.S. § 21-2-102) and be in good standing.
• Must have significant criminal law experience to include criminal defense and/or the defense of indigent criminal and/or youth defense experience, preferably spanning trial, appellate, and post-conviction work.
• Demonstrated leadership experience and an ability to lead and manage large, complex organizations or government agencies, with a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and holistic indigent criminal defense.
• A minimum of 5 years experience supervising employees in a professional setting, including at least a significant amount of experience providing formal training, coaching, or mentoring to other professionals. 
• Experience managing significant budgets, including developing, allocating, and monitoring financial resources to align with organizational goals, ensuring compliance, and making strategic adjustments to meet evolving priorities.
• Demonstrated dedication to a client-centered, holistic defense approach, addressing legal, social, and personal factors through collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to provide comprehensive advocacy and support.
• Exceptional communication, critical thinking, and interpersonal abilities.

There is a preference for individuals who have;

• The ability to use strategic thinking and analytical skills to identify gaps, prioritize needs, and implement solution-oriented improvements, driving operational efficiency.
• Experience overseeing budget planning, forecasting, and long-term financial sustainability, with the ability to advocate for funding improvements and policy changes to align resources with the agency's mission.
• Strong collaboration skills to work with the finance team in managing a multi-million-dollar budget, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective resource allocation.
• Experience supervising, developing, and advocating for diverse teams, while improving policies, funding structures, and organizational effectiveness.
• Inclusive, informed decision-making skills through cross-level collaboration while leveraging effective conflict management to coach individuals and teams.
• A growth mindset, leveraging subject matter expertise to inspire innovation, promote continuous learning, and navigate challenges with empathy and resilience.
• Exceptional communication skills including strong public speaking, presentations, writing, and active listening.
• Commitment to continuous learning and professional development, including EDI, social justice, or leadership education—whether through formal study, lived experience, or ongoing engagement.

If you are offered employment, the following are the conditions of employment:

• Be admitted to the Colorado State Bar within one year of hire, if not already admitted.
• Be a current resident of the State of Colorado or become a resident of the State of Colorado within 30 days of the hire date.
• Be willing to submit to a routine background investigation, including a criminal history check.
• If hired, the Immigration Reform and Control Act requires you to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the United States within three workdays.

Click here for further information about State of Colorado Employee Benefits.

Submit your online application by clicking the green "Apply for This Job" button by 5:00 p.m. on May 2, 2025.

As part of the online application, please provide the following documents:

• Resume – Required
• Cover letter – Required
• Letter(s) of Reference –Highly preferred

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. Faxed, mailed, or emailed applications will not be accepted.

The Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, religion, social class, national origin, marital or parental status, pregnancy, disability status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or political affiliation. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and an environment of representation and diversity and encourage individuals of many identities, backgrounds, and experiences to apply.

Salary : $198,798