Chief Deputy District Attorney – DDAIII

Colorado District Attorneys' Council; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance (Employee and Depend.

Short-term and long-term disability

Basic Life insurance

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Colorado PERA Retirement

Paid vacation leave

Relocation assistance

Job summary

The Office of the District Attorney for Colorado's Ninth Judicial District seeks an experienced prosecutor to serve as Chief Deputy District Attorney DDA III. Based in Glenwood Springs, this executive role leads and mentors attorneys, ensures charging consistency, and manages docket coverage across Garfield, Pitkin, and Rio Blanco Counties.

The candidate should have 3+ years of felony prosecution experience, strong judgment, and superb interpersonal skills.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Colorado and good standing.
• Three years of felony prosecution experience with district court responsibilities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; ability to mentor others.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise prosecutors; mentor attorneys and supervise performance.
• Oversee felony, juvenile, and misdemeanor prosecutions across the district.
• Provide training, guidance, and strategic advice to DDAs.
• Prepare and try serious felony cases; assist in major trials as needed.

Skills

Felony prosecution

Leadership

Mentoring

Education

J.D. degree

Job description

Chief Deputy District Attorney – DDAIII

Office of the District Attorney

Ninth Judicial District

Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Position Summary

The Office of the District Attorney for Colorado's Ninth Judicial District is seeking an experienced prosecutor to serve as Chief Deputy District Attorney DDA III, one of two chiefs responsible for leading and supporting attorneys throughout Garfield, Pitkin, and Rio Blanco Counties. Based primarily in Glenwood Springs, this is an executive leadership position with meaningful courtroom responsibilities: the Chief Deputy will mentor and supervise prosecutors, help ensure consistent charging and plea practices, manage docket coverage, advise law enforcement, review warrants, participate in the on-call rotation, and carry a district court felony docket as office needs require. We are looking for an active Colorado attorney preferably with experience handling complex trials, with three years felony prosecution experience, sound judgment, and strong interpersonal skills. Formal supervisory experience is helpful but not required; the ability to develop less experienced lawyers and contribute as a team-first leader matters more. The position also offers the opportunity to live and work in Colorado’s mountain valley communities, where outdoor recreation is a part of everyday life. This is an in-person position with a salary range of $120,000 to $160,000, the option to participate in Colorado PERA, discounted ski-pass opportunities, and potential relocation assistance.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Serves as one of two Chief Deputy District Attorneys and as a member of the office’s executive leadership team, working closely with the District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, and the other Chief Deputy District Attorney.
• Works primarily in the Glenwood Springs office but may be assigned responsibilities in Garfield, Pitkin, or Rio Blanco County based on the needs of the office.
• Oversees and supports the prosecution of felony, juvenile, and misdemeanor cases across the judicial district while maintaining a district court felony docket as office needs require.
• Directly supervises DDAs, including coaching attorneys, reviewing casework, supporting professional development, and providing performance feedback.
• Provides legal, ethical, and strategic guidance to DDAs to promote consistency with office policies and prosecutorial discretion.
• Manages attorney workloads, monitors docket coverage, and helps allocate attorney resources efficiently across the judicial district.
• Reviews charging decisions and plea agreements, as appropriate, to promote consistency with office policies and priorities.
• Handles or oversees post-trial and post-conviction matters as assigned.
• Prepares and tries felony cases, including serious and complex matters, and assists other DDAs with major trials as needed.
• Prepares and reviews motions, appellate briefs, and other legal filings, and assists DDAs with complex legal research and writing.
• Coordinates and delivers training and mentorship to DDAs and, as appropriate, provides training to other office personnel and law enforcement partners.
• Represents the District Attorney’s Office in meetings with law enforcement agencies, community groups, and other partners.
• Participates in the on-call rotation and provides legal guidance to law enforcement regarding criminal investigations, including after-hours requests and crime scene response as needed.
• Reviews search and arrest warrants and provides legal guidance before their submission to court.
• Collaborates with the District Attorney, Assistant District Attorney, and Chief Deputy District Attorney on strategic planning, policy development, public communication, training, and other initiatives.
• Models and promotes an office culture grounded in empathy, accountability, professionalism, gratitude, communication, integrity, leadership, and service, while supporting a team-first environment that recognizes the importance of family and life outside work.
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the District Attorney or Assistant District Attorney.

Qualifications

• Education: J.D. degree from an accredited law school.
• License: Active license to practice law in Colorado and good standing with the Colorado Supreme Court.
• Experience: Generally three years of felony prosecution experience, including district court level courtroom and trial responsibility, or comparable prosecutorial experience demonstrating readiness to serve in a senior leadership role.
• Professional qualifications: Demonstrated sound legal judgment, professional integrity, strong written and oral communication skills, and the interpersonal skills necessary to mentor attorneys, provide constructive feedback, and work collaboratively with others.
• Other requirements: Ability to work in person, travel throughout the Ninth Judicial District, and respond outside regular business hours when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience serving as lead attorney or assuming substantial responsibility in a serious or complex felony trial.
• Experience mentoring, training, or supervising attorneys; prior supervisory experience is helpful but not required.
• Broad felony prosecution experience across multiple types of cases.

Salary Range

• $120,000 – $160,000 annually

Benefits Include

• Health Insurance (Employee and Dependents): Our health insurance employee-premiums-coverage is one of the best in the region. Employee's premiums are currently 100% covered by the office ($0.00/month for employee), adding one dependent/spouse is only $100/month, and adding a family is only $165/month.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance: Premiums are 100% covered by the office.
• Basic Life insurance: Premiums are 100% covered by the office.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Premiums are 100% covered by the office.
• Tiered paid vacation leave and paid medical leave.
• Colorado PERA Retirement and/or other optional savings vehicles such as 401K and 457b plans.
• Optional Healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Dependent Care Account.

The Office of the District Attorney is an equal-opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants without unlawful discrimination.