Executive Director

Texas Defender Service (TDS), the Lonestar State’s flagship criminal justice litigation and policy non-profit, is seeking an Executive Director. Founded in 1995, TDS’s initial mission was to improve the quality of representation in capital cases
across the state and ensure that all those facing a death sentence are treated with dignity and receive quality representation. Throughout its duration, TDS has functioned as a vital safety net, watchdog, and agent for reform. Lawyers and mitigation specialists at the agency have represented clients in some of the most important cases across the state, including Scott Panetti and Duane Buck. TDS has also played an active role at the capitol, pushing for critical legislative changes in the provision of indigent representation and forensic science.

This past year, TDS underwent a strategic planning process and will now expand its mission to attack the excessive sentences that are pervasive across Texas, using the tools that are its bread and butter: litigation, policy, and storytelling. It is, therefore, an especially exciting time to take the reins of this organization. The new ED will play a vital role in continuing the organization’s capital work while expanding the agency’s work to attack the harsh laws that keep people in prison long after they pose any risk to community safety.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES
The Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that TDS continues and expands its mission and remains a dynamic force in the Texas and national criminal justice reform communities. The Executive Director is expected to manage the various facets of TDS’s work in support of its mission—direct representation, trial consulting, training, and policy work. The Executive Director is responsible for fundraising for the organization, overseeing its long-term health and growth, and being the public face of TDS.