Attorney Bureau Chief - County Attorney

Pima County•Tucson, AZ

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Pima County Attorney’s Office (PCAO) is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking leader to serve as the Specialty Courts and Justice Reform Attorney Bureau Chief within the Criminal Division. This role provides strategic and hands-on leadership to attorneys and support staff, overseeing bureau operations, managing case flow and court schedules, addressing complex legal issues, and ensuring high-quality performance across the team. The Bureau Chief exercises substantial discretion and independent judgment and will actively participate in case evaluation, case processing, and court appearances, along with additional programs or projects assigned by the Chief Deputy and/or Criminal Chief Deputy. We are looking for candidates with demonstrated expertise and preferably supervisory experience in the following areas: Deflection programs, Diversion programs, Restorative justice practices, Problem-solving courts, including drug, mental health, and veterans courts. Because many of these initiatives are grant-funded, skill in grant writing and grant administration is essential. The PCAO team is seeking professional candidates with policy-level experience implementing best practices for safe and appropriate deflection and diversion from the criminal justice system into medical and behavioral health systems. Experience collaborating with leaders in medical and behavioral health organizations that support alternatives to incarceration is highly valued. This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate AND ten (10) years of previous experience practicing law in criminal, civil, or administrative proceedings.
OR: One year with Pima County in an Attorney Supervisor position.
Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.
Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment.
The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures.
Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination.
Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.
Admission to the Arizona State Bar at time of appointment, which must be maintained in good standing.
The County requires pre-employment background checks.
Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history.
All positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience developing policies, procedures, or programs using evidence-based best practices in criminal justice reform, diversion, deflection, specialty courts, or alternatives to incarceration.
Experience establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with leaders and stakeholders in medical, behavioral health, social service, nonprofit, governmental, or community organizations that support alternatives to incarceration.
Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in criminal justice reform, specialty courts, diversion, deflection, restorative justice, or a related legal or justice-system setting.
Minimum three (3) years experience supervising attorneys and/or professional staff, including assigning work, evaluating performance, and providing strategic guidance.
Experience securing, managing, or administering grant-funded programs, including grant writing, funding proposals, compliance, reporting, budgeting, performance measures, and coordination with grant partners or funding agencies.

Responsibilities

Supervises and leads attorneys and support staff of a respective bureau within the department
Supervises bureau activities involved in prosecution or defense of a variety of criminal and/or civil cases in Justice Court, Juvenile Court, Superior Court, Federal Court, Appellate Courts, and Administrative venues
Evaluates personnel and program performance
Makes recommendations to the Appointing Authority on matters including hiring, disciplinary actions, promotions, and employment termination
Manages and investigates complaints and ethical allegations
Supervises assignment of cases, prioritizes projects, and resolves workload and technical issues
Reviews case files and work products and ensures that quality standards are met
Develops charging decision guidelines, legal assessments and strategies, and office standards based on the law, strength of the case, and evidentiary standards
Provides advice and consultation to law enforcement agencies on investigations and case management
Manages complex and unusual cases and legal issues, and assists in preparing strategies to meet challenges from the opposition
Applies extensive knowledge of State of Arizona statutes, case law, and judicial procedures and knowledge of County operations
Monitors and reviews trends in law enforcement and criminal justice issues, recommends operational, procedural and policy improvements, and provides guidance on regulatory, legislative and management issues
Acts as role model and ensures that integrity, professionalism, values, and goals of the assigned Department and County are maintained