Contract Services Program Officer

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

This position requires:

• Bachelors degree
• Three years of experience in contract services program or three years experience with Office of the State Public Defender.
• Other combinations of education and experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Preferred:

• Experience in a legal or criminal defense setting.
• Experience with legal billing and client services.

• Experience with electronic case management systems.

• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation sick leave and holidays
• Work/life balance
• Flexible schedules
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Telework (when applicable)
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness -Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive public service loan forgiveness visit the Federal Student Aid website to learn more!

Materials Required of Applicants:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• References:Please provide contact information for (2) current or former supervisors and (1) professional peer.

About this Opportunity!

Job Overview: Contract Services Program Officers coordinate case offers and assignments to Contract Public Defenders and provide billing and system support to contract providers across the OPD system. Working closely with the Contract Services Program Manager they assist with contractor oversight recruitment and retention and ensure alignment with OPDs policies procedures and mission. The Officers serve as key contacts for contractorsoffering technical support with invoicing systems monitoring service quality and helping resolve program-related issues. They foster strong relationships across OPD local offices and contract counsel to ensure timely effective representation for clients throughout the state.

Essential Functions (Major Duties or Responsibilities):

The job duties and responsibilities for this position include but are not limited to the following:

Contract Services Program Operations (90%)

• Coordinate statewide program activities for providing litigation-related contracted services including primary responsibility for coordinating and assigning contract attorneys to individual cases through OPDs case management system to ensure timely representation of OPD clients.

• Respond to requests for assistance or program information by interpreting program policies or requirements and evolving market and resource demands including efficiently and effectively allocating the use of available contractors between jurisdictions and case types across Montana.

• Enter track maintain analyze and report program data withing OPDs case management system as required by OPD policies.

• Interact provide guidance and communicate with community clients contractors judicial officers and agencies to facilitate program activities such as the assignment and removal of contract public defenders and other service providers.

• Provide technical and system support to contractors and prospective contractors navigating OPDs case management and other systems including responding to electronic ticket and direct personal requests by contract attorneys and other providers for assistance in submitting billing application and other requests through OPD case management system.

• Recruit and retain new contractors through electronic telephone and in-person communications.

• Report and address complaints issues and suspected violations of program requirements by contractors or OPD staff.

• Provide subject matter expertise responding to elevated complaints or issues from clients contractors and agencies or judicial officials including inquiries regarding delays or difficulties in assigning contract public defenders to specific cases.

• Analyze documents data and reports for program noncompliance and initiate corrective actions.

• Determine adequacy of services and recommend identified improvements to a Contract Services Program Manager or other executive including identifying jurisdictions case types or specific cases that require additional contracting incentives or mechanisms.

• Assist Contract Services Program Manager executives or others by researching impacts to the program resulting from changes or proposed changes to policy rule or legislation such as the impact of contractor rate changes and MoU and contracting policy revisions.

• Maintain or revise program manuals and materials and assist with program updates.

• Investigate contractor work to determine level of service delivery and ensure policy and standards compliance including perform quality assurance investigations and reviews for compliance with program guidelines or related regulations such as communicating with judicial officers and witnesses regarding specific alleged examples of contract public defender conduct.

Other Duties as Assigned (10%)

• Other duties as assigned

Physical and Environmental Demands: This position works primarily in a standard office environment; however state-wide travel to contractor sites or other locations may be necessary to perform duties up to 20% of the time and fluctuation in workload my require more than a 40-hour work week.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of organizational and management principles with a strong emphasis on effective resource allocation coordination of personnel and strategic planning to maximize program impact.

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills consistently able to prioritize competing responsibilities and meet deadlines without compromising quality or attention to detail.

• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to synthesize information interpret policy and apply nuanced judgment in complex and evolving situations.

• Clear persuasive communicatorboth in writing and in personskilled at tailoring messages to diverse audiences and fostering understanding across varied perspectives.

• Proficient with standard office software and systems and quick to learn and support the implementation of case management technologies that improve efficiency and data integrity.

• Adept relationship-builder able to navigate competing interests with professionalism empathy and graceensuring stakeholder needs are respected and program goals remain front and center.

• Responsive to feedback and growth-oriented maintaining composure under critique while integrating constructive input into continuous professional development.

• Equally effective working independently or in collaborative teams demonstrating initiative accountability and a shared commitment to organizational mission.

• An interest in public defense or service driven by intellectual curiosity integrity and a desire to support transformative outcomes.