Initial Services Staff Supervisor

Maricopa County; United States; Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition reimbursement

Work-life balance

Growth opportunities

Healthcare

Childcare

Paid vacation

Wellness program

Arizona State Retirement System

Job summary

Maricopa County's Public Defender's Office seeks a current employee with leadership skills to supervise the Initial Services team. The role involves client interviews, reviewing discovery with clients, translating for Spanish-speaking clients, and coordinating across jails and off-site locations.

Five years of court or related experience and fluency in English and Spanish are required. The position offers a hybrid schedule after training and opportunities for growth within the county.

Qualifications

• Five years of court, legal, or related experience.
• Fluently speak, read, and write both English and Spanish.
• High school diploma or GED; related post-secondary education may substitute for four years of experience.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and oversee activities of the Initial Services unit, including day-to-day scheduling, workload division, mentoring and evaluation of staff.
• Provide training and oversight for interns and volunteers in initial services.
• Recruit, interview, and hire initial services staff.

Skills

Leadership

Supervisory experience

Bilingual English/Spanish

Client interviewing

Job description

Posting Information

Posting Date 09/18/26 Application Deadline 09/21/26

Pay Range and Job Type

Pay Range Anticipated Hiring Range: $61,500 – $70,750 annually Full Pay Range: $61,500 - $98,500 annually Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation. Job Type Unclassified Department Public Defender

About the Position

Ready to take your leadership skills into a role where your work has direct impact? The Initial Services Staff Supervisor leads and supervises the Initial Services team and works closely with attorneys and staff on case management activities. The position is responsible for conducting client interviews, reviewing discovery with clients, serving as an office translator for Spanish-speaking clients, and working across a variety of settings, including the Public Defender’s Office, Maricopa County jails, and other off‑site locations. This role offers a dynamic opportunity to combine team leadership, client service, and hands‑on support in a fast‑paced legal environment.

This position is open to current Maricopa County employees. Judicial Branch (i.e., Adult and Juvenile Probation and Superior Court) employees will not be considered as qualified for this opportunity.

About Us

With over 470 employees, the Office of the Public Defender is the largest of the five indigent defense offices in Maricopa County. We are also one of the largest public defender offices in the country. Our office provides innovative, client‑centered legal representation in the full range of criminal matters to clients unable to afford legal counsel. Our attorneys and staff are dedicated to treating our clients with respect and dignity as we defend their constitutional rights in a court of law. This is a fast‑paced department with an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the people we serve.

Proud to Offer Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work‑life balance, with hybrid and alternative work schedule options
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

Want to learn more about the County’s Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy?

Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require Five years of court, legal, or related experience Ability to fluently speak, read, and write both English and Spanish High school diploma or GED Related post‑secondary education may substitute for four years of experience on a year‑for‑year basis Other Requirement Must possess or obtain a valid Arizona driver's license upon hire We Also Value Experience interviewing individuals in an indigent defense agency Prior lead and/or supervisory experience

Job Contributions

• Coordinate and oversee activities of the Initial Services unit, including day‑to‑day scheduling, dividing workloads, mentoring/training, and performance monitoring/evaluation of the Initial Services Assistants
• Provide training and oversight for interns and volunteers serving in the initial services area
• Recruit, interview, and hire initial services staff
• Review discovery with in‑custody clients at all Maricopa County jail locations and out‑of‑custody clients at the office (audio/video, CDs, police reports, body cam, etc.), which can be graphic and sensitive in nature, and maintain confidentiality; If required, translate and interpret discovery for Spanish‑speaking clients
• Track workload in case management system
• Orally communicate information and answer procedural inquiries in person and over the telephone concerning the criminal justice system
• Travel to all Maricopa County jail locations to provide/receive and review case‑related documents, obtain confidential information and signatures of inmates for Public Defender personnel on behalf of attorneys
• Interpret and translate for clients and attorneys at the jails, office, and off‑site locations
• Prepare informational documents, forms, letters, and statistical data
• Demonstrate continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality, seamless client service
• Present training and updates to employees and stakeholders, and periodically represent the department as a leader during meetings

Working Conditions

Hybrid or alternative work schedules are available after the training period based on business needs. Work is primarily performed in an office environment with bright lighting and requires prolonged periods in a stationary position, constant viewing of a computer monitor or screen, frequent computer use involving repetitive hand and wrist movements, and routine exposure to outdoor heat and sunlight. Traumatic subject matter (crime scenes, accidents, etc.), interruptions, time pressures, high volume of work, handling multiple or complicated tasks, unscheduled tasks, frequently changing tasks, accuracy decision‑making, concentration/vigilance, teamwork, working in close physical proximity with others, public contact, and criminal defendants may be constant occurrences. Duties occasionally require entry into secure facilities such as jails, prisons, or detention centers, which may present intermittent environmental hazards or heightened safety risks. May be required to lift 10 pounds floor to waist; carry 10 pounds a distance of 100 feet; or push/pull 10 pounds a distance of 1000 feet. Travel to and from court locations, government facilities, and other job‑related locations as necessary, which may include periodic travel outside of Maricopa County, subject to County policies regarding vehicle use.

Selection Procedure

Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications. Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile. Must pass a pre‑employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety‑sensitive. Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact [e-mail] to initiate the interactive process.

About Maricopa County

We are Maricopa County. Who is that, you may ask? Forbes has rated Maricopa County one of Arizona’s Best Employers in 2024. We are over 13,000 employees strong, providing vital services for one of the fastest‑growing counties in the nation, with over four million residents who call Maricopa County home. You may wonder what we do, and it may be easier to answer that by asking what are you interested in! Join us and you will become part of a dynamic group of diverse and talented professionals who are passionate about making a difference and giving back to their communities. We offer career paths and opportunities in just about every job category and job level imaginable, so your journey with us is what you make of it! Along with offering purposeful careers, you can expect a rich selection of economical and comprehensive healthcare options, robust retirement plans, tuition and loan payment programs, and multiple paid leave options, as part of an overall generous compensation and benefits package. Thinking about career options, then please think about us! We are Maricopa County, and we are looking forward to working with you!