Circuit Court Administrator

CIRCUIT COURT FOR MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND

Personnel Class Specification

Circuit Court Administrator

ANNUAL SALARY AND BENEFITS

$132,392 - $184,806

The stated salary range represents entry level to maximum compensation. Salary offers are based on a wide variety of factors such as a candidate’s experience, skills, education, as well as budget availability. This position is Class Code: 007403; Grade 40 (Exempt).

This position is funded through Montgomery County, Maryland. A comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement contribution, and paid annual and sick leave is offered.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Court Administrator is an executive level position. Working under the general direction of the Administrative Judge, the Court Administrator plans, organizes and manages a broad and varied range of non-judicial operations for the Circuit Court to support the efficient and effective administration of judicial activities. This individual develops and oversees judicial administrative policies, judicial support operational standards, services that support judicial activities, and identify and implement improvements in court operations. The Court Administrator has overall management and administrative responsibility for the non-judicial, non-clerk components of the court. The Court Administrator is responsible for the management of the employees in the following divisions: Assignment Office, Court Researchers, Differentiated Case Management, Family Division Services, Jury Commissioner, Law Library, Problem Solving Court, Technical Services, Trust Office, and Quality Control.

The successful candidate must possess highly developed skills and expertise in managing complex organizations, supervision, and communication as well as court organization, office practices, and make independent decisions in dealing with the public and employees. Information obtained in the performance of these duties may be confidential or private in nature. The Administrator should be a creative problem solver with demonstrated management, administrative and diplomacy skills; a consensus builder and facilitator, one who can develop common goals and provide leadership in moving the organization in a positive direction.

This position is a non-merit position with the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. Selection and appointment is made by the Circuit Court for Montgomery County pursuant to Section 2-501 of the Courts Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland. The Court Administrator reports directly to the Administrative Judge.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

To be successful, the ideal candidate must be able to perform each essential duty with excellence. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities required. This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities and does not prescribe or restrict additional various diversified tasks and assignments that may be required by the Judicial Officers and/or Court Administrator. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Fiscal Administration -- preparing court budgets; administering accounting, purchasing, payroll, and financial control functions; guiding the budget through the local government review processes and advocating for the needs of the court; and managing grant applications and funds allocation.
• Personnel -- recruiting, selecting, and counseling court employees; administering wage, salary, and performance appraisal systems; and facilitate personnel matters for county funded staff. Directly supervise employees of the Administrative Office of the Circuit Court and department heads of the County Court Departments and carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Court’s business practices and policies including, but not limited to, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
• Caseflow Management -- evaluating pending caseloads; developing and implementing systems (both automated and procedural) that support effective calendar management.
• Technology Management -- evaluating opportunities for technologies that expand the capacity of the court system. These include the use of database information systems; the electronic transmission of and access to data; and the automation of court processes; assessment of emerging technologies for audio/visual systems; and other computer-assisted systems that can improve the performance of the courts. Devise and maintain technology strategic plan to identify short-term and long-term technology projects.
• Information Management -- monitoring system performance to milestones established by the court; informing court system employees of events that are outside performance measures established by the court and triggering the appropriate means of intervention.
• Jury Management -- oversight of the jury system in the most efficient and cost-effective way.
• Facilities Management -- Managing physical space to assure access to all citizens, provides adequate room for work and circulation, and instills public confidence in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Intergovernmental Liaison -- acting as a liaison to other governmental agencies and departments to promote collaboration, integration of systems, and facilitation of change while maintaining the integrity of the court as a separate but equal branch of government.
• Community Relations and Public Information -- acting as a conduit for the release of information to the media and the public; collecting and publishing data on pending and completed judicial business and internal functions of the court system.
• Statistical and Management Reports – developing and/or preparing management reports and other statistical and tracking reports regarding case, jury, and trial management, and other court operations related matters. Develops information tracking and management approaches, which optimize data utilization and reduce duplication of data reporting.
• Strategic Planning – reviewing upcoming legislation and other trends, issues, technologies that may affect the local Judiciary and develop and recommend plans to assist the court to adopt, change, or otherwise respond appropriately.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING/QUALIFICATIONS

• Five years of experience in court administration and management or public administration and finance, including three years of responsible supervisory experience.
• B.S. or B.A. degree in public, judicial or business administration from an accredited university with at least five years of substantial management experience, preferably in judicial or criminal justice; or a paralegal degree from an accredited institution with five years of court experience.
• The combination of education and experience may be substituted with significant experience in leadership and management abilities in judicial administration.
• Exceptional interpersonal and oral and written communication skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and have high level interpersonal skills to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to exercise a high degree of judgment, tact, diplomacy, and competence in dealing with judges, attorneys, court personnel and the public.
• Thorough knowledge of court procedures, laws, and legal factors.
• Familiar with emergent principles and practices of public and court administration.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of budget management, analysis, and administration.
• Skilled in evaluating effectiveness of administrative functions and in making changes for effective and efficient operations.
• Ability to plan, organize, direct, and coordinate administrative activities of a large organization.
• Ability to set priorities and simultaneously process multiple duties and responsibilities.
• Spanish proficiency.
• An advanced degree or law degree.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• At-will employment, serving at the pleasure of the Judges of the Circuit Court.
• Criminal background check.
• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination.

SELECTION PROCESS

• Recruitment for this position is open-competitive and merit based. All applicants will be screened for degree of satisfaction with minimum and ideal requirements based on job application, resume, and cover letter. The top applicants will be invited for an interview. Reference checks, criminal background checks, and credit check will be conducted.

APPLICATION RULES AND DEADLINES

Applicants must submit a job application, cover letter, and resume to lkushida@mcccourt.com. Application deadline is June 15, 2022. Position will remain open until filled.

Job applications may be obtained from the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, MD website: montgomerycountymd.gov/cct/careers.html

QUESTIONS

Questions may be directed to Lorena Kushida, Judicial Assistant to Administrative Judge James A. Bonifant: lkushida@mcccourt.com

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a person in this position. They are not to be construed as an exhausted list of all duties that may be performed by such a person.

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Additional Notes

1. It is a good idea to have your Cover Letter, Resume, and Writing Prompt prepared before you complete the Employment Application.
2. Your Employment Application will not be accepted until it has been fully completed and submitted with all three attachments.
3. If the Employment Application is not complete or the Court has not received all supporting documents, your submission will be returned to you. An email notification will be sent to you requesting further information.
4. You will be required to create an account if you need to save your Employment Application and complete it later.

For assistance or additional information about the Employment Application Process, please contact Court Administration at 240-777-9102 or by email at AdminHR@mcccourt.com.