Housing Court

Housing Court- Court Administrator

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate for the Court Administrator role at the Cleveland Municipal Court Housing Division is a forward-thinking, licensed attorney in good standing (or someone with equivalent experience/certification in court administration) with outstanding leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. This person should have at least five years of management experience in the public sector, preferably in a legal or court setting. They must excel in motivating teams, setting common goals, managing multiple projects efficiently, solving problems, overseeing court finances, and implementing new technologies for better efficiency. A strong candidate is dynamic, highly motivated, deeply understands the judicial system, and is dedicated to enhancing court operations while aligning with the court's mission and values.

SPECIFIC ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

 

* Conduct self at all times in an ethical, professional and respectful manner.
* Oversees and manages court accounting and finance procedures.
* Assists with and plans for implementation of new technologies and procedures to improve court efficiency, including those affecting filing, recordkeeping, and case management.
* Develop and recommend policies and procedures to address the court system's needs and ensure the efficient and effective use of judicial resources.
* Collaborates with the judge to draft, present, and administer the court's annual budget, including staff pay steps.
* Promote productive media relations, acting as a point of contact 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; and facilitating or developing appropriate outreach programs for the court's jurisdiction.
* Act as a liaison to other governmental agencies to promote collaborations, integration of systems, and facilitation of change, while maintaining the integrity of the court as a separate but equal branch of government.
* Represent the Court in legislation, contract negotiations, and large purchases.
* Ensure the Court's compliance with laws regarding hiring and employment.
* Investigate and mediate personnel disputes and oversee pre-disciplinary hearings for staff.
* Advise and represent the Court with employee hiring, training, and termination, including overseeing all Court positions' job descriptions.
* Motivate, supervise, and assist the Court's deputy court administrator-human resource director, finance officer, project coordinator(s), IT staff, and all departmental chiefs with creating annual departmental work and action plans.
* Provide input and guidance to the Chief Housing Court Specialist and Director of Communications with the Court's educational and informational written materials, including videos and Court forms.
* Oversees all grants, pilot programs, and special projects from inception to completion, including audits of the above-mentioned.
* Liaison with other branches of government, entities, etc., including all areas of City Administration, the General Division of Cleveland Municipal Court, the Office of Cleveland Clerk of Court, Justice Center Partners, and community partners.
* Collaborate with other court administrators to allow a harmonious judicial environment.
* Manages, anticipates, plan, and prepare for facility and space needs by partnering with facility planners and architects, and assessing actions required for court renovation, remodel, or construction.

The above list is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the Court Administrator.  They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties to be performed.   Other duties CAN be assigned by the Judge.

 

KNOWLEDGE, QUALIFICATIONS, and ABILITIES:  

Preferred: An Ohio licensed attorney in good standing with the Ohio Supreme Court.

Required: Juris Doctorate or Master's degree in organizational management, justice management, or related field; Certified Court Manager (CCM) from the National Center for State Courts and/or the Ohio Supreme Court Judicial College. A is required. Advanced knowledge of courts and/or five (5) years' experience working in a court environment is a plus.

* Thorough knowledge of fiscal administration and technology management;
* Knowledge of the Court's local rules, Cleveland Codified Ordinance, Ohio Revised Code, Rules of Superintendence for the Courts of Ohio, and the Ohio Code of Judicial Conduct;
* Knowledge of court-required maintenance, retention, and destruction of all court documents and files;
* Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of the professional, administrative, and support staff in a manner conducive to high morale and productivity;
* Experience in staff management and supervision, which includes planning, assisting, reviewing, and evaluating the work of others;
* Experience in managing fiscal operations and in developing and implementing solutions to organizational and operational goals;
* Ability to be both highly organized and detail-oriented;
* Ability to lead the leadership team in meeting departmental and overall organizational goals;
* Ability to communicate verbally and in writing without prompting in a courteous and effective way to the Court, staff, a large swath of public officials, media, and the general public;
* Ability to coordinate, oversee, and follow through on work assignments to obtain desired results, including multiple tasks assigned simultaneously.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

The normal operating hours for this position are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday. However, this position may require work beyond normal hours, including evenings and an occasional weekend, and some travel may be required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. This position involves working in a normal Court and office environment, with no unusual demands or exposure to hazardous situations. Frequent contact is made with Judges, Court personnel, outside individuals, and/or entities.

AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT

The Court Administrator is an at-will employee who serves at the will of the Court and has a six-month introductory probationary period. He/she is not in the classified civil service system and is not a member of a bargaining unit. The Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, religion, race, color, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or disability.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should only apply if they meet the education and work experience

Proof of education, attorney in good standing, certifications, and employment references will be required prior to being interviewed. The Cleveland Housing Court requires submission to a criminal history background check and drug testing prior to employment. A valid Ohio Driver's License and automobile insurance is required.

 

In addition to completing the City of Cleveland online application. Applicants must submit a letter of interest and updated resume to the court via:

Deputy Court Administrator-Director of Human Resources NaTosha Farley 

Email: farleyn@cmcoh.org