Description

Job Description:

Interviews: Generally, will be scheduled within two weeks after the application deadline. May take longer, depending on the number of applications.

Who We Are

Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) serves the public, and the people we serve may be facing challenging life circumstances, high levels of stress, or confusion about their next steps. The work you will do in this role affects members of our community who come to the court to have their cases resolved. We need people who want to impact their communities, value OJD’s efforts to remove barriers to access justice services, and welcome interacting with the public.

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive team and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We consider relevant work, lived experience, and education, plus any transferable skills and abilities that may meet our qualifications or the skills and attributes we need for this position. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission. 

Benefits to You

• We pay 95% to 99% of medical insurance premiums for full-time employees, including mental health coverage.
• 10 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 3 personal business days, separate sick and vacation paid leaves (prorated for part-time employees), and other employee benefits such as optional insurances and flexible spending plans.
• OJD will pay you a 5% allowance for bilingual skills (includes ASL) if you can pass a skills test and are assigned to use those skills on the job.
• Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience.

Location Highlights

Lake County, Oregon, is a land of wide-open spaces, rugged beauty, and warm hospitality. Established in 1874, this vast county stretches across 8,358 square miles in south-central Oregon, sharing its southern border with California.

At the heart of it all is Lakeview, the county seat and proudly known as “Oregon’s Tallest Town” at 4,804 feet above sea level. Nestled in the picturesque Goose Lake Valley, Lakeview is surrounded by mountains and high desert landscapes that will take your breath away.

Marvel at the dramatic Abert Rim, the longest exposed fault scarp in North America, rising nearly 2,500 feet above the valley floor. Explore the scenic Warner Mountains, shimmering mountain lakes, lush meadows, and streams—or venture into the high desert for a completely different experience.
 

Outdoor enthusiasts will find endless opportunities:

• Hiking & Mountain Biking through pristine trails
• Skiing at Warner Canyon
• Camping & ATV Adventures (yes, even sand dunes!)
• Hang Gliding off Abert Rim—one of the best spots in the U.S.
• Horseback Riding, Hunting & Fishing for the ultimate western experience

Lake County is also rich in history and community spirit. The Bernard Daly Educational Fund, the oldest continuously operating scholarship in the nation, helps local students pursue college dreams. Nature lovers will appreciate our wildlife havens: Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge and Summer Lake Wildlife Area, home to pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and thousands of migratory birds. And don’t miss the chance to hunt for Oregon’s official state gemstone at local sunstone mines near Plush—a sparkling souvenir of your adventure!

Whether you’re here for outdoor thrills, scenic beauty, or small-town charm, Lake County has it all—plus friendly people who can’t wait to welcome you. For more information, click here.

Position Highlights

The Lake County Circuit Court and the judge of the 26th Judicial District are looking for an experienced leader as their first Trial Court Administrator 1. The Trial Court Administrator reports to the Presiding Judge and has administrative authority for all aspects of personnel, revenue, information technology, capital asset management, and court operations.

Supervising will be an important part of your role. We need a leader with highly developed management and supervision skills. This means a leader who understands the importance of encouraging, providing feedback, and supporting staff as well as being available for backup. You will conduct staff meetings for disbursement of information (such as for new laws or procedures), manage pending caseloads, assign work, verify information on the court’s internal management system, and ensure that staff have the training they need and the resources to do their work. Your goal will be to foster a positive working environment in which teamwork and cooperation encourage staff to be their best professional selves while maintaining efficiency.  

You will manage all operational and support court programs, including the court’s biennial budget. To this end, you will plan, develop, and implement short- and long-range goals, policies, objectives, and priorities.            This will include identifying problems and make recommendations for procedural or administrative improvements to court services.

You will coordinate court activities with the Presiding Judge, court staff, attorneys, litigants, and other governmental agencies. As liaison, you will have the opportunity to attend meetings and participate on local committees. As head of statutory functions of the court, you will be expected to respond to most difficult of client requests both on phone and through correspondence; as such, it will be your responsibility to explain court activities to community agencies and the media. 

Most importantly, you will be part of OJD’s mission: as a separate and independent branch of government, to provide fair and accessible justice services that protect the rights of individuals, preserve community welfare, and inspire public confidence.

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs.

Ideal Candidate Highlights

The Presiding Judge of the 26th Judicial District is seeking a candidate with experience and competence in management practices. The successful candidate will manage staff, oversee budgets and court facilities, and complete special projects. The court seeks a candidate with experience in a full range of personnel and supervision issues and has proven skills in applying best practices to both personnel and budget management in a similarly sized organization. The court needs someone with exceptional management and supervision skills who supports and coaches staff to succeed. The successful candidate will be a leader who makes reasonable and informed decisions—someone who has experience building relationships among staff, stakeholders, community partners, or other persons influential to the performance of an organization.

Knowledge of court processes, governmental budgeting, and legal research and analysis is helpful to this role because the state courts are subject to legislative changes every year that often need implementation. These changes may involve updates to business processes and procedures, policies, or rules at a local level or at a statewide level.       

The Trial Court Administrator must be able to effectively communicate both orally and in writing. The Trial Court Administrator makes difficult decisions that are best for the organization as a whole and is someone who considers the bigger picture when making those decisions.

Application Process

• Workday times out after approximately 15 minutes of inactivity and all progress will be lost.
• REQUIRED: a cover letter that demonstrates how you meet the Minimum Qualifications, Special Qualifications, and Requested Skills and Attributes, listed below. Using a generic cover letter is likely not going to get you an interview, so please take the time needed to personalize your cover letter. Prepare your cover letter before starting your Workday application.
• REQUIRED: a completed work history, either by completing the Job History (internal candidate) or Work Experience (external candidate) portion of your Workday profile OR by attaching an updated resume.

Instructions for REQUIRED Cover Letter and Work History/Resume

Cover Letter (REQUIRED)

• Attach your cover letter (not to exceed two pages) in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. The attached cover letter file should include your name.
• Address the cover letter to the “TCA Hiring Committee.”
• In the body of your cover letter, you MUST address the following:
  • Your management experience and level of leadership in the organizations where you gained your experience.
  • Your supervisory experience relating to recruitment; hiring, or recommending hiring; training, onboarding, and mentoring staff; assigning and reviewing work; evaluating performance; investigating and responding to staff concerns and grievances; and implementing disciplinary actions, including terminations.
  • Your experience planning, preparing, developing, and controlling a budget.
  • Your experience fostering cooperative work relationships among staff and management as well as interacting with representatives or stakeholders from external organizations.
  • Your knowledge and experience with court operations and both the administrative and judicial functions of a court.

Work History/Resume (REQUIRED)

• Attach your updated resume in the Resume/Cover Letter section of the application. The attached resume file should include your name.

OR 

• Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.

Failure to follow these instructions may result in rejection of your application.

All application materials will be evaluated for consistency of information, and your letter will be evaluated for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use in addition to demonstrated experience.

Minimum Qualifications

(These must be evident in your resume or work history.)

The qualified candidate must have a bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, management, social services, human resources, criminal justice, or a related field.

AND

At least one (1) year in a court administration leadership role.

OR

Any combination of education and experience equivalent to five (5) years of experience that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the position.

Special Qualifications

(These must be verifiable.)

None.

Requested Skills and Attributes

(These must be addressed in your cover letter.)

• Recent experience providing direct supervision including hiring, coaching, onboarding, developing staff, assigning, and reviewing work, prioritizing workload, tracking, and measuring project performance and providing direct feedback and performance management.
• Experience developing and maintaining professional relationships with internal partners and community partners including external government agencies, community-based organizations, the media, and the public.
• Experience developing and implementing long-range organizational planning.
• Experience administering, developing, and monitoring organizational budgets. 
• Experience operating in or managing interactions with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances, highly stressful situations, or trauma.

Working Conditions

• This is a full-time position, and the work schedule is currently 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position is FLSA-exempt and ineligible for overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of 40 per workweek.
• The assigned work schedule may include evening, weekend, holiday, and overtime work.
• Occasional travel, including possible overnight travel, is required. Travel in inclement weather may be required.
• Work is performed in a fast-paced environment under statutory, policy, and other timelines that require this position to make numerous quick decisions. Timely responses may require short turnaround time, and the issues are often multiple and complex.
• Frequent phone and in-person contact with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Frequent phone and in-person contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances, highly stressful situations, or trauma, including possible exposure to hostile litigants and high-risk defendants.
• Long periods of sitting or standing.
• Frequently moving objects that weigh up to 10 pounds; infrequently moving objects that weigh up to 40 pounds.
• Kneeling, bending, standing, pushing, and pulling may be required.
• Regular use of the following equipment: phones (e.g., VoIP, smartphone, and satellite), OJD-assigned computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, scanner, and other standard office equipment. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Criminal Background Check
You will be subject to a criminal background check if you are a finalist. Adverse results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and may result in disqualification if the circumstances are directly related to the duties and responsibilities of the position.

Reference Checks

By submitting your application to OJD, you consent to reference checks about your qualifications, your workplace performance, and your work product.

United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming authorization to work in the United States. OJD will use E-Verify to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

Future Vacancies
Apply now if you are interested in this or future vacancies. This job announcement may be used to fill future vacancies in this class of work.

Age-Based Discrimination

OJD does not request or require your age, date of birth, or attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

Veterans’ or Oregon National Guard Preference
Eligible veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans and current or former servicemembers with the Oregon National Guard must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday inbox requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking for documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans, Disabled Veterans & State Servicemembers web page for additional details, information, and resources.

Conduct Expectations
Because of OJD's role in providing justice and upholding the rule of law, employees of the department are required to meet the highest standards of professional conduct and ethics while on the job, and also to maintain those same high standards when taking actions in their personal lives that could reflect on the department. As an employee, you will be expected to preserve the confidentiality of information received in the course of OJD employment.

Pay Equity
As an employer, OJD complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. Salary offers are made with consideration of the candidate’s education and experience. For more information on pay equity, click here.

Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to OJD employee benefits.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

OJD is an eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this program, and how to qualify, please click here.

Questions and Support

• If you require an alternate format to complete the application process, call 503-986-5930, or TTY: Oregon Relay Service 711 for the hearing impaired. Be prepared to describe the alternate format needed.
• Workday related information and resources are available here.
• For questions about a specific OJD job posting, call 503-986-5930 or email ojd.hrsd@ojd.state.or.us.

The Oregon Judicial Department embraces equal opportunity and affirmative action. We are committed to building a diverse team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.