Description

Director of Data and Research

• Location
  Springfield, Illinois
• Office
  Office of State Public Defender
• Posted Date
  October 5, 2026
• Benefits
  An attractive benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and generous leave time.
• Salary
  $158,880 to $166,332

The Office of State Public Defender (OSPD) will be created as an independent office within the judicial branch on January 1, 2027. The 2025 FAIR Act, Public Act 104-0300, created the Office to provide for an effective public defense system throughout the State of Illinois. OSPD is charged with implementing uniform standards for trial-level public defense; systematically evaluating local needs and capacity; offering specialized support to local jurisdictions (i.e., investigation, mitigation, and expert witness assistance); and establishing clear and equitable procedures for distributing the Public Defender Fund, among other duties to ensure consistent, equitable, and high-quality defense services.

The Director of Data and Research oversees and serves as process owner for the Office of the State Public Defender's (OSPD) data collection, analysis, and evaluation needs. This position provides governance and policy directives around data entry and usage and leads efforts to ensure that the best information is accessible for facilitating data-driven decision making and innovation across the agency. The Director of Data and Research offers strategic insight to the State Public Defender and senior leadership team under the general supervision of the Deputy State Public Defender.

SALARY, BENEFITS & LOCATION:

The position is located in Springfield, Illinois. This position's headquarter location could change based on future operational needs.

The salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for this position is $158,880 to $166,332.

Current Available Shift:

The required working hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The State Public Defender, in his or her discretion, may potentially approve a hybrid work schedule.

An attractive benefits package is offered, including pension, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as deferred compensation and generous leave time. Information about benefits provided by OSPD can be found here:

State Employee General Benefits

OSPD Summary of Benefits

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Partner with the State Public Defender and senior leadership to define, design, and implement data collection policies and procedures that support the agency’s mission and achieve long-term organizational goals.
• Assess current data practices in the court system and among public defense practitioners and develop plans to create a data-driven culture that advances the OSPD’s mission.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners to address barriers to effective and accurate data collection.
• Develop and analyze data to inform agency decisions on budget, labor, and policy matters.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to advance a culture of leveraging data to identify trends and support performance management.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with partner agencies and local public defense practitioners throughout the State to facilitate delivery of high-quality legal services.
• Participate in State Public Defender Commission and intergovernmental meetings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree or higher in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Sociology, Social Work, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of experience in manipulating data or use of data analytics.
• Three (3) years of previous management experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Three (3) years of experience in the legal sector, a large governmental organization, or advocacy environment.
• An advanced degree in a quantitatively rigorous field of study.
• Experience with Open Data software platforms, Jasper Reports, SQL, Tableau and Power BI.

OTHER KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Familiarity with the operations of the criminal and juvenile court systems in Illinois.
• Knowledge of public defense workload studies or the Delphi method.
• Exceptional verbal, written, and electronic communication skills.
• Ability to connect with diverse groups and foster positive working relationships.
• Experience with change management and process improvement.
• Ability to assess internal and external environments with sensitivity to controversial issues of a political/bureaucratic nature.
• Flexible and responsive to evolving needs.

WORKING CONDITIONS/STRUCTURE:

• Ability to sit for extended time periods.
• Professional office working environment requiring telephone usage and ability to process written documents.
• Ability to travel, including overnight stays, as required.

HOW TO APPLY:

Interested individuals should submit a resume here. All jobs vacancy announcements and application links are also available here or at www.ilosps.gov/join-our-team.

A judicial branch application is not required to apply, but it will be required before final hiring decisions are made. The application can be downloaded from the Illinois Courts website here.

This position will remain open until filled. However, those individuals submitting materials by November 6, 2026, will be given first consideration.

Any questions about this position or the application process can be submitted via email at the following address: HR@ilosps.gov

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER