Director of Court Programs and Innovation

Note: We anticipate interviews will be held on November 9, 2021, and November 18, 2021. While this is not a remote position, it will start as remote or partially remote, and may allow for partially remote work in the future. The candidate should be prepared to lead staff who are both on-site and remote and be able to build a cohesive team in a remote environment. The finalist will be expected to interview in person in Salem, Oregon.

We are currently seeking to fill the Director of Court Programs and Innovation within the Executive Services Division of the Office of the State Court Administrator (OSCA) at Oregon Judicial Department. OSCA manages and oversees the central administrative operations of the state court system (Judicial Department) through its divisions and under the administrative direction of the State Court Administrator (SCA), who reports to the Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice.

This is a newly established position that will be responsible for leading the organization through programmatic and structural change. As part of the executive team you will oversee court program functions, which currently includes Juvenile and Family Court Programs Division (JFCPD) and Court Language Access Services (CLAS) and will be responsible for building a criminal and civil program unit. This position reports directly to the Deputy State Court Administrator and State Court Administrator, has a number of direct reports, and supervises multiple staff through subordinate supervisors.

The applicants most likely to be offered an interview will have an in-depth understanding of the courts and the interface with the legislative and executive branches, and experience as a leader that has effectively managed programs for a large, complex organization. Given the nature of this role, we are seeking applicants that can demonstrate a history of effectively managing people, leading change, and successfully launching programs that achieve increased access to justice and improved outcomes. There should be a deep appreciation and understanding of the responsibility of the court to serve all aspects of the community with equity as a leading principle.

Program and Staff Development

You will be a technical resource in major substantive law areas (e.g., criminal law, family law, juvenile law, traffic law, dispute resolution and other court programs). You will develop appropriate evaluation metrics to track efficacy and outcomes. You will be an expert about best practices for court activities and program functions, while using uniform business standards and process reengineering. All of these responsibilities are for continuity and consistency in OJD's overall state court program management. Parts of your oversight will be to plan, develop and implement a new statewide "clerk college" program, which will professionally develop OJD's court staff across Oregon with program-specific knowledge of, and certification in, each case type and functional area. You will also provide continuing legal education programming in specific substantive areas for both judges and staff. All education and training programs will require extensive coordination between court program staff and staff in the Office of General Counsel, the Enterprise Technology Services Division, the Business and Fiscal Services Division, and the Human Resources Services Division. Cross-divisional work is critical, and effective teamwork throughout the organization is foundational, to OJD’s success.

Funding Resources and Programs

Along with the responsibility to plan, manage, direct, coordinate, and administer court programs, services, and resources, one of your biggest challenges will be to identify potential sources of new funding for programs, including state agency partnerships, and grant opportunities through county, state, federal, or other sources.

Impact

You will be expected to exercise initiative, independence, judgment, and discipline in the effective performance of duties and responsibilities. Your decisions will have a profound effect across the judicial branch, as well as to the perception of Oregon's court system by other branches and units of state and local government, the bar, and the public. Because of the impact this position will have, we need someone who is a skilled communicator to a wide audience, who has a savvy business mindset about implementing new programs and evaluating their outcomes, and has vision to see the big picture while also still realizing that each local court is where the work happens and affects the people of Oregon and in Oregon's court system.

Assigned tasks may be changed to accommodate workload and organizational needs. We welcome all candidates who are inspired by our work and mission.

Instructions for Cover Letter, Work History or Resume

This recruitment requires a cover letter not to exceed 3 pages, that addresses the Requested Skills and Attributes. To be considered for this position, you must follow these instructions:

Attach your updated resume in the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application. OR Complete the Job History/Work Experience portion of your Workday profile if you are not using an updated resume.

Attach your cover letter (not to exceed three pages) in the Resume / CV / Cover Letter section of the application.

Address the cover letter “To the Hiring Manager.”

In your cover letter, use specific examples in your description to demonstrate your accomplishments

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 for full consideration.)

The qualified candidate must have at least seven (7) years of increasingly responsible, professional-level experience in a court or legal setting. At least three (3) of those seven (7) years must include coordination, oversight, and implementation of court or legal programs or major projects. In addition, three (3) of those seven (7) years must include management of staff, which includes recruitment, hiring, training, performance evaluation, and discipline.
AND
Possession of a bachelor’s degree.
OR
Any combination of education and experience equivalent to ten (10) years that typically supports the knowledge, skills, and abilities for this position.

Special Qualifications

(These must be verifiable in your application.)

Possession of a JD, MBA, MPA, Masters of Legal Studies, Certified Court Executive (CCE) credential or the ICM Fellows Certification.

Requested Skills and Attributes

(These must verifiable in your application and addressed in your cover letter for full consideration.)

Legislative relations experience which should include providing reports, preparing and delivering testimony, conducting bill analyses, preparing fiscal impact statements, managing post-legislative activities.

Experience supervising managers and supervisors that oversee staff from multiple work units, departments, or divisions.

Experience developing and implementing large-scale initiatives and programs

Experience identifying issues with business processes, proposing, and developing changes to processes for better effect, and measuring outcomes for success or for further change.

Experience creating, developing, communicating, and managing unit, department, or organizational budgets. Governmental budgeting is preferred but not required.

Experience leading staff through a reorganization or implementation of an organization-wide change.

Experience in project management, relationship building, organizational, and coalition-building skills, including demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects concurrently.

WORKING CONDITIONS

This is an FLSA-exempt, full-time position and the work schedule currently is 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Regular after-hours work may be required.

Frequent phone and in-person contact with people from diverse backgrounds.

Periodic phone and in-person contact with people who may be facing challenging life circumstances or highly stressful situations.

Regular use of the following equipment: telephone, personal computer with multiple monitors, copy machine, fax machine, and scanner.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The Oregon Judicial Department (OJD) is Oregon’s unified, statewide court system, which includes 27 judicial districts in 36 counties, as well as the Tax Court, appellate courts, and the administrative offices. We have approximately 1600 employees and 200 elected officials.

The policy of the Oregon Judicial Department requires all new employees, rehired employees and new temporary employees to initiate COVID-19 vaccination prior to hire and complete their COVID-19 vaccination series no later than 30 days post-hire, unless the employee receives a medical or religious exception/accommodation. New employees must submit vaccination documentation or be approved for an exception/accommodation prior to commencing employment. For more information email [email protected]

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.
United States Employment Eligibility
OJD does not offer visa sponsorships. If you are hired, you will be required to fill out the US Department of Homeland Security’s I-9 form confirming you are able to work in the US.
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.
Veterans' Preference
Eligible veterans who meet the qualifications will be given preference in the recruitment process. To receive preference, veterans must attach the appropriate documentation after they receive an email in their Workday in box requesting the information to verify eligibility. The action item, asking veterans to attach their documentation, will arrive after they have submitted their initial application materials. Visit the Oregon job opportunities Veterans web page for additional details, information, and resources.
Conduct Expectations
Because of the Oregon Judicial Department'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, the Oregon Judicial Department complies with Oregon’s pay equity law. We determine salary from applicable professional experience and education. For more information on pay equity, click here.
Employee Benefits
Click here to access information specific to Oregon Judicial Department employee benefits.
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 at https://www.oregon.gov/jobs/Pages/index.aspx.

For questions about a specific Oregon Judicial Department job posting, call 503-986-5930.

THE OREGON JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER COMMITTED TO WORK FORCE DIVERSITY.