The Travis County Public Defender’s Office (PDO) is a comprehensive public defender office envisioned to be client-centered, independent, and innovative to the needs of Travis County residents. Consistent with nationally recognized best practices, the PDO provides high-quality holistic defense representation and other support to people, including youth and those living with serious mental illness/intellectual or developmental disability, accused of criminal offenses via its three divisions- General Adult, Juvenile and Mental Health.

Public Defender office managers carry out and oversee complex operational and administrative duties and responsibilities that allow the office to protect and provide the constitutional right to counsel for its indigent clients. In addition to directly supervising core administrative staff, office managers indirectly supervise all staff in their division to ensure effective and efficient office operations. Office Managers are tasked with creating a welcoming, enjoyable, usefully laid-out/equipped office space and environment for both staff and clients, and for creating and administering policies and procedures that allow staff to provide excellent holistic representation to clients. Office managers collaborate with and advocate to other departments such as Human Resources, Facilities, Information Technology, Purchasing, Security etc. for the resources and support needed to ensure the PDO can effectively carry out its mission. This role requires a wide range of knowledge, skills and abilities (people management/project management/data analysis/de-escalation/personnel policies controlled by federal, state, and local laws/asset and equipment management etc.), and the flexibility to engage vastly different groups and stakeholders day-to-day, while centering the needs of the PDO's clients and staff. All office managers are expected to have excellent written and verbal communication, as the role requires regular drafting of public-facing correspondence/memoranda on behalf of the department. While this position works out of the Adult Division, which has 75+ staff, PDO Office Managers collaborate with core administrative staff in all divisions to help ensure a well-functioning department (120+ staff). Senior office managers must have a minimum of two years prior supervisory experience in a professional setting and are expected to work under minimal supervision/guidance, take initiative, and bottom-line management-level tasks.

*Applications will be reviewed and selected candidates will be contacted on a rolling basis.*

Office Manager: This is the first in a series of two office management-related job classifications within the Management job family. This classification is distinguished from the Office Manager Senior in that incumbents are first line managers who oversee the administrative functions of a department and duties are primarily supervisory and administrative in nature.

Office Manager Sr.: This is the second in a series of two office management-related job classifications within the Management job family. This classification is distinguished from the Office Manager in that incumbents have more experience, are responsible for the most complex and involved office administrative operations, and duties are primarily financial, supervisory, and administrative in nature.

Salary Information:

$ 65,083.20 - $ 87,089.60 annually, depending on qualifications

• Duties and responsibilities are performed within the setting of a law office. The Office Manager will be guided on and is expected to maintain privileged and/or confidential information of which the Office Manager may occasionally become aware, in the same manner as is expected of attorneys.
• Provides day-to-day management over the administrative and operational functions within a department. Manages operations to meet deadlines. Advises the Elected Official or department head of issues.
• Leads the administrative onboarding process for staff and interns. Orients new staff to County and departmental systems and policies. Supplies staff with items and information needed for their position.
• Implements office administrative policies and procedures and makes recommendations for improvement. Answers questions on policies and procedures. Evaluates operations and makes recommendations for improvement. Handles and resolves personnel management issues. Develops and/or assists in the development of performance standards and measures to ensure resources are allocated effectively.
• Evaluates, implements, and makes recommendations on processes, policies, procedures, and systems to improve office operations and ensure the department operates at maximum efficiency.
• Establishes and/or assists in establishing policies and procedures for the department.
• Researches, monitors, and ensures implementation of changes in applicable laws, regulations, and directives that impact the department. Ensures compliance with current policies, procedures, and regulations. Oversees efficient operations of departmental records management, including files, reports, and storage.
• Approves timesheets and leave requests for department staff. Facilitates the FMLA and Paid Parental Leave processes. Processes all compensation and position changes. Answers questions about employee benefits and enrollment.
• Manages, plans, delegates, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates the work of support staff, and reviews their work involving well-defined procedures. May hire, orient, and train support staff. May make recommendations on merit increases, disciplinary actions, and dismissals. Schedules substitute coverage or acts as backup for all staff.
• Drafts and posts open positions for recruitment. Processes incoming applications, coordinates application reviews, schedules interviews, and communicates with candidates regarding application status.
• Performs complex administrative assistant tasks. Prepares calendars and schedules. May prepare correspondence for the Elected Official or department head.
• Makes recommendations regarding budget requirements for staffing and equipment needs. Monitors personal services budgets and/or operating budget expenditures. Ensures contracting and purchasing procedures are followed. May prepare purchase orders and order equipment and supplies.
• Oversees the receipt and deposit of fees and fines collected. May develop and implement departmental accounting and financial oversight systems to monitor and safeguard budgets, revenues, and purchases. Compiles comprehensive reports. May prepare and/or assist in preparing annual budget documents. Establishes budgetary needs and forecasts service revenue. Works with agencies on statistical reports and inquiries.
• Ensures building maintenance is completed. Works with support departments to ensure facilities are properly maintained. Continuously evaluates operations and makes recommendations for improvements. Evaluates computer needs and makes recommendations for automation. Provides information and advice concerning specialized or technical services and related office functions, including responding to and resolving difficult issues, client inquiries, complaints, and questions raised by the public or subordinates.
• May represent the County by attending meetings, community meetings, seminars, conferences, and professional association meetings. Participates in private organizations and serves on related committees. Works with County departments and outside agencies to share information and address issues. May serve as the department liaison.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Office Manager:
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Business Management, Government, Political Science, Criminal Justice, or a directly related field AND four (4) years of professional experience in a broad administrative support function, such as human resources, records management, purchasing, contracting, financial analysis, budgeting, information technology, payroll, and office functions, including one (1) year of mid- to senior-level supervisory or management experience.

Office Manager Sr.:
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Business Management, Government, Political Science, Criminal Justice, or a directly related field AND five (5) years of professional experience in a broad administrative support function, such as human resources, payroll, records management, purchasing, contracting, financial analysis, budgeting, information technology, and office functions, including two (2) years of mid- to senior-level supervisory or management experience.

OR

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience, and that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

• Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Please attach a resume to the application.

• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

• Applications with a cover letter explaining the applicant’s interest in the position are preferred. Please address why you are interested in joining the Public Defender’s Office specifically.

• Management and supervision practices and techniques.

• Federal, State, Local, and County applicable laws, rules, regulations, and guidelines.

• Policies, practices, procedures, and terminology related to human resources, purchasing, information technology, and asset management.

• Filing and reporting requirements.

• General court processes and legal procedures.

• Accounting, purchasing, and budgetary theory, principles, and practices.

• Computer equipment, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, and a variety of software packages.

• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.

• Supervising others; preparing and delivering presentations; and evaluating policies, procedures, and programs.

• Problem-solving and decision-making.

• Developing databases and conducting research.

• Both verbal and written communication.

• Train and supervise office employees.

• Plan, assign, motivate, and coordinate the work of support staff.

• Compile and analyze data and write clear and comprehensive reports.

• Assist in monitoring budgets and implementing and maintaining filing and accounting systems.

• Research, compile, analyze, interpret, and prepare a variety of fiscal, statistical, legal, and administrative reports.

• Manage time effectively, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.

• Perform in a stressful environment while maintaining a professional manner.

• Independently prepare correspondence, memoranda, and other materials.

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, attorneys, judges, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

The Public Defender’s Office is committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in our work and staff. The PDO strongly encourages candidates of all identities, experiences, abilities, and communities to apply. All applicants should be dedicated to working in and sustaining an environment that enables staff and clients to feel empowered, valued, respected, and safe. In considering applicants, the PDO values an applicant’s experience and/or thoughtfulness in working with people from communities that experience marginalization. Applicants should be able to work and communicate effectively across lines of difference.

Physical requirements include the ability to lift and carry up to 20–50 pounds occasionally; visual acuity; speech and hearing; hand and eye coordination; and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Work may involve standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, squatting, and client or customer contact to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees may be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature and is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. Essential duties, functions, responsibilities, and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

This position is anticipated to start in February 2026.

Department: Public Defender’s Office
Location: 1010 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701

Post-offer criminal background check required.