Judicial Accountability Division Director

Salary is dependent upon job qualifications.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Judicial Accountability Division Director reports directly to the Court Administrator and provides senior-level management of one of two divisions in Court Administration. This person assists the Superior and State Court judges of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit by overseeing the strategic operations of accountability-related court activities, which include the departments of Treatment Services, Misdemeanor Probation Services, and PreTrial Services. The division supervises nearly 5,000 defendants annually, across two counties, with approximately 80 current staff members. The Judicial Accountability Division Director provides critical support to court functions in the areas of fiscal control, budgeting, case flow, facilities, research, personnel management, vision, and training. A veteran knowledge of Georgia’s legal and judicial system is a must, as is previous management experience.

JAD MISSION

It is the mission of the Judicial Accountability Division to provide support and administrative oversight to the external departments within Court Administration. Made up of Pretrial Services, Probation Services, and Treatment Services, each department provides direct services to defendants meeting criteria for alternative sentencing options. This division strives to uphold the orders of the Court, establish effective supervision and accountability of defendants, provide appropriate treatment options and wraparound services for each defendant, and reduce recidivism rates while providing a cost-savings to our local community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Provides information, analysis, advice, and recommendations on administrative matters to the Court Administrator, and performs related work primarily in the areas of (1) staff leadership and development, and (2) operations management;

Builds a professional management team that fulfills the mission of the Courts and successfully meets strategic, operational, and programmatic goals;

Provides leadership and direction to the court system in meeting its mission by establishing and accomplishing short and long-term strategic plans;

Consults and collaborate with all judicial branch offices and agencies, regularly and effectively communicating with the judges of Superior, State, Magistrate, Juvenile, and Probate courts of Dawson and Hall counties, as well as the Clerks of Courts, Public Defender, District Attorney and Solicitor General offices;

Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit, including the ability to make decisions on procedural, technical and substantive levels;

Works to ensure the efficient, fair, and positive disposition of approximately 5,000 annual cases, managing personnel, records, and overall performance of three departments directly supervising defendants and offenders;

Develops and implements policies and procedures established by the judges, offering recommendations for improving access and efficiency, and fostering a circuit-wide culture of service and respect;

Responsible, along with Department Directors, for recruitment, selection and termination of Judicial Accountability Division staff;

Organize, prioritize and assign work activities in order to meet objectives, ensuring that departments have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work, and providing progress and activity reports to the Court Administrator;

Plans for immediate and future physical space needs for the courts;

Prepares and delivers presentations and complex analysis, demonstrating effective written communication skills;

Assists the Deputy Court Administrator and Treatment Services Director with managing the fiscal affairs of the courts, including state and federal grants;

Establishes expectations and provides employee performance feedback on an on-going and annual basis, assisting department directors in establishing goals and objectives, monitoring those achievements, and counseling or instituting discipline as appropriate;

Provides for orientation and on-going training, mentoring and coaching to department directors and staff, making provisions to attend outside training;

Assists in planning, organizing and coordinating programs that provide improved accountability services in accordance with court rules, internal operating procedures, policies and applicable laws;

Works effectively with persons from diverse backgrounds, building sustainable working relationships with other circuit personnel, officials, and the public;

Understands, uses, and explains court-specific computer applications to manage court processes, gather and analyze statistics, and create regular reports;

Attend staff meetings and conferences to provide assistance and make recommendations to the Court Administrator on various matters of concern to the trial courts;

Assure the professional, effective and efficient operation of the courts and assure that the trial court judges remain properly informed about the affairs of the courts;

Maintains confidentiality of departmental documentation and issues;

Keep abreast of the general affairs of the trial courts and maintain a current level of knowledge of nationwide trends in the courts, including familiarity with the CACJ Standards for Accountability Courts;

Requires knowledge of principles and practices of Court processes and procedures, legal terminology, laws, rules, and regulations governing court operations;

Regular and predictable attendance is required;

Perform other related duties as assigned;

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Education and Experience:

Graduate degree preferred; or Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Criminal Justice, or closely related field from an accredited college or university required.

Five (5) years of progressively responsible management experience, with at least two in a judicially-related field.

Any equivalent combination of education and experience which provides the minimum level of qualifications stated above.

Licenses and Certifications:

None required;

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (position requirements at entry):

Requires the ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing;

Requires the ability to synthesize, hypothesize and/or theorize concerning data involving modification of existing policies, strategies and/or methods to meet unique or unusual situations; Requires the ability to do so within the context of existing organizational theories and management principles;

Requires a dedicated ability and desire to serve others as the duties are designed to provide professional administrative support to the Judges and judicial staff of the Northeastern Judicial Circuit;

Requires the ability to multitask while managing multiple issues and projects in an organized and professional manner;

Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs;

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, as well as calculating decimals, percentages, fractions and ratios;

Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of weight (minimal 15 pounds); Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or work station;

Knowledge of court procedures and principles;

Knowledge of applicable laws, rules, and regulations;

Knowledge of computers and applicable software applications;

Knowledge of supervisory principles;

Knowledge of managerial principles;

Knowledge of long range planning principles;

Knowledge of industry-accepted computer standards, procedures and related equipment;

Knowledge of information security practices and risk management;

Knowledge of court and government policy-making processes and the interrelationship among court and government decision-makers;

Knowledge of principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation desired;

Skills in supervising and evaluating employees;

Skills in using computers and applicable software applications;

Skills in prioritizing and assigning work;

Skills in long range planning;

Skills in conducting research;

Skills in preparing and maintaining reports and other documents;

Skills in communication and interpersonal relationships as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisors, elected officials and the general public sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction;

Ability to comprehend technical literature and perform mathematical computations rapidly and accurately;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of court, government and private vendor staff and associates;

Ability to select, develop, organize, motivate and effectively utilize staff;

Ability to perform effectively under pressure and meet deadlines;

ADA Minimum Qualifications:

Physical Ability: Essential functions of this position continuously require the ability to remain in a stationary position (sitting or standing); operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a calculator, copier, and printer. Incumbents must continuously be able to think analytically; handle stress and emotion, concentrate on tasks, remember names and other details; examine and observe details; make decisions, and adjust to change. Incumbents must also continuously direct others; meet deadlines; stay organized; use math/calculations and use a keyboard/type.

Essential Functions frequently require the ability to move about inside the office; and move/transport items of a minimum of 15lbs.

Essential functions occasionally require the ability to bend body downward and forward by bending spine and legs, and twisting at the waist, hips or knees; reach overhead; push or pull; and repetitively use hands/arms/legs. Incumbents in this position are occasionally required to be on-call and work irregular hours.

Sensory Requirements: Essential functions regularly require the ability to use effective verbal and written communication; and use of hand/eye coordination and fine manipulation to use equipment.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions of this position continuously require the ability to either work with others or work alone.

This class specification should not be interpreted as all inclusive. It is intended to identify the major respon­sibilities and requirements of this job. The incumbents may be requested to perform job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this specifica­tion.