Salary: $68,967.00 - $122,933.00 Annually
Location : FULTON COUNTY ATLANTA, GA
Job Type: HUMAN SERVICES
Department: Public Defender
Opening Date: 07/21/2026
Closing Date: 7/25/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade:: 20

UNCLASSIFIED EXEMPT POSITION

THE CURRENT VACANCY IS IN THE OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER

Please refrain from attaching personal and identifiable information: Driver's License, Photo on Resumes, DD214, Vaccination cards, etc
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor's Degree in behavioral science, psychology, social work, sociology, or a related field required; supplemented by two years of experience in conducting needs assessments and coordinating referral services for clients in a social service organization or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Resumes are welcomed without personal and identifiable information.

Specific License or Certification Required: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.

Specific Knowledge, Skills, or Abilities: Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all county or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.
Veterans' Preference:

Qualifying veterans will be given preference in the form of a guaranteed invitation to interview for any position to which they applied and have been found to have met the minimum qualifications. Veterans' preference provides for hiring preference on initial appointment only. To see the full Fulton County Veterans' Preference Policy and Procedure, please click here.

Examination:
The examination will consist of an evaluation of education and experience, accomplished by an analysis of the application. The application must document that the applicant possesses the minimum knowledge, skills, education, and experience as listed to be rated as qualified. If selected, an official, accredited college transcript is required, at time of employment, for all degrees/course work used to qualify for this position.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED IN FULL BEFORE THEY ARE SUBMITTED. PLEASE REVIEW ALL APPLICATIONS FOR ACCURACY AND MAKE ALL CORRECTIONS BEFORE SUBMITTAL BECAUSE ERRORS CAN RESULT IN NOT MEETING THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER ALLOCATIONS ARE RECEIVED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT.

Purpose of Classification:
The purpose of this classification is to perform duties related to consultation, information, and referral services to meet the needs of clients. Responsibilities include interviewing and assessing the psychological, social, housing, psychosocial, and physical needs of clients; conducting outreach activities; and linking clients with community resources.

Essential Functions:

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Coordinates consultation, information, and referral services for clients through referrals from Judicial Officers: makes initial contact and schedules appointments; conducts litigant interviews, home evaluations, school evaluations, etc.; interviews collateral contacts and other necessary parties; and prepares and submits related written reports.

Determines the nature of clients' needs and examines which community resource is appropriate to meet the need and provide the most appropriate referral: collects demographic and medical information on litigants; collects required bodily fluid samples and performs tests; and submits information to court and related resource as appropriate.

Provides ongoing assessment of clients' needs and reviews progress towards achieving objectives: provides counseling service to customers and their families; provides crisis intervention immediately while litigants are involved in court process/program; follows up with clients to determine compliance with court orders; and meets with clients to discuss progress and encourage continued participation.

Conducts outreach activities to develop a greater referral base and maintain community and social services resource network: locates/hosts seminars and community meetings; evaluates community counseling agencies to determine ability to provide services.

Processes a variety of documentation associated with department/division operations, within designated timeframes and per established procedures: receives and reviews various documentation, including academic records, health records, mental health evaluations, paternity tests, social service request forms, court orders, reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.

Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, and other documentation, including client intake forms, statistical reports, mileage reports, and requisition forms; compiles data for further processing or for use in preparation of department reports; maintains clients' data files ensuring that file contents and case documentation meet established ethical and legal standards; and maintains computerized and/or hardcopy records.

Represents department in meetings, hearings, and presentations and serves on committees as required.

Additional Functions:
Performs other related duties as required.
For Applicants With Prior Military Service:
We strongly encourage veterans, prior military and transitioning service members to apply. Many of the competencies and transferable skills developed through military service directly support success in this role, including:

Leadership under pressure - Maintains calm, structured decision-making when supporting clients in crisis or responding to urgent service needs; Prioritizes cases quickly during high-volume or emergency situations; Guides clients through stressful processes with clarity and reassurance; Upholds professionalism while managing sensitive or emotionally charged interactions.

Operational Planning & Execution - Organizes caseloads, service plans, and documentation to ensure smooth delivery of social services; Coordinates appointments, referrals, and follow-up actions with multiple agencies; Maintains accurate records and tracks client progress toward goals; Ensures timely completion of assessments, reports, and compliance requirements.

Adaptability & Rapid Problem Solving - Adjusts quickly to changing client needs, unexpected barriers, or new information; Identifies alternative resources when initial options are unavailable; Reassesses service plans when client circumstances shift; Responds effectively to urgent issues such as housing instability, safety concerns, or service gaps.

Team Cohesion & Communication - Collaborates with caseworkers, clinicians, community partners, and administrative staff to support unified client care; Communicates updates clearly to keep all stakeholders aligned; Builds rapport with clients through empathy, active listening, and consistent follow-through; Strengthens team effectiveness by sharing information and coordinating efforts.

Safety & Risk Awareness - Identifies safety concerns, ethical risks, and compliance issues to protect clients and staff; Recognizes signs of abuse, neglect, or crisis and escalates appropriately; Maintains confidentiality and follows legal guidelines for sensitive information; Ensures clients are connected to appropriate protective or emergency services when needed.

Technical & Equipment Proficiency - Uses case-management systems, communication tools, and documentation platforms effectively; Enters case notes, assessments, and referrals into digital systems accurately; Utilizes databases to locate community resources and service providers; Operates office equipment and virtual meeting tools to support client interactions and reporting.

Performance Aptitudes:
Data Utilization: Requires the ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria. Includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.

Human Interaction: Requires the ability to work with and apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others to coordinate programs or activities of a project, and resolve typical problems associated with the responsibilities of the job.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data and information.

Mathematical Aptitude: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

01

The answers you provide to the supplemental questions will be used to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for this position. Your responses pertaining to specific work experience and education must be clearly shown in the areas for work history and education on your application. Your application must be completed in full before it is submitted. Please review all applications for accuracy and make all corrections before submittal because errors can result in not meeting the minimum qualifications. We do not accept additional information after your application has been received by the Human Resources Management Department. Do you accept these conditions?

• Yes
• No

02

What is your highest level of education completed?

• High School Diploma or G.E.D. Equivalent
• Some College
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate's Degree
• None of the above

03

In what field of study related to this position do you possess an Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree and Doctorate's Degree or have earned college credits?

• Behavioral Science
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
• None of the above

04

Which degree related to this position do you possess?

• Associate
• Bachelor
• Master
• Doctorate
• None of the above

05

If you have received some college credits related to this position, but DID NOT receive your degree, how many college credits did you earn?

• 0 - 29 Semester Hours
• 30 - 59 Semester Hours
• 60 - 89 Semester Hours
• 90 -119 Semester Hours
• 0 - 44 Quarter Hours
• 45 - 89 Quarter Hours
• 90 - 134 Quarter Hours
• 135 - 179 Quarter Hours
• Does not Apply

06

How many years of experience do you currently possess conducting needs assessments and coordinating referral services for clients in a social service organization?

• 0-5 months
• 6 months to 1 year
• 1 year to 2 years
• 2 years to 3 years
• 3 years to 4 years
• 4 years to 5 years
• 5 years to 6 years
• 6 years or more

07

Do you possess a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

08

How many years of work experience do you have conducting and documenting psycho-social assessments?

• 0 - 5 months
• 6 months - 1 year
• 1 year - 2 years
• 2 years - 3 years
• 3 years - 4 years
• 4 years - 5 years
• 5 years - 6 years
• 6 years or more

09

Please briefly describe your experience conducting psycho-social assessments.
Required Question