Court Administrator

DESCRIPTION:

The Minnesota Court of Appeals is seeking a Court Administrator to direct the administration and operations of the court, in consultation and cooperation with the Chief Judge. The Court Administrator serves at the pleasure of the Court of Appeals Chief Judge.

The Court of Appeals is the state’s intermediate appellate court, consisting of 19 judges and approximately 70 employees. The court decides more than 2,000 cases each year. The Court of Appeals is located in the Minnesota Judicial Center in St. Paul, Minnesota, but its judges consistently travel throughout the state to hear oral arguments.

The Court Administrator manages various court operations, such as drafting and maintaining court policies and procedures, coordinating judicial panel assignments, overseeing the court’s expenditures and facilitating contract negotiations, and providing training and work direction to staff. The Court Administrator supports the court’s technology needs in a fast-paced, evolving work environment and advises on budgetary and personnel matters.

The Court Administrator represents the Court of Appeals on Judicial Branch Committees and acts as liaison to other Judicial Branch offices and government partners.

The ideal candidate will have strong communication and leadership skills, and a high degree of organization and attention to detail. The ideal candidate will bring a creative, analytical, and collaborative approach to the position.

EXAMPLES OF JOB DUTIES :

The Court Administrator is responsible for the effective daily functioning of the Court of Appeals. The following are examples of major job duties expected for this position:

• Report and advise at Court of Appeals bench meetings, coordinating with the Chief Judge to provide strategic leadership and project management to improve court operations.
• Monitor court expenditures and analyze budgetary priorities. Facilitate negotiation of contracts for goods and services.
• Facilitate orientation and training for new judges, employees, and interns, including planning the annual group orientation for new law clerks and coordinating the court’s student intern program.
• Draft and revise court policies, procedures, and training materials.
• Facilitate various personnel matters, such as recruiting, hiring, performance reviews, and employee leave, together with Human Resources.
• Provide administrative and technical work direction to judicial executive assistants. Provide supervision to a small team.
• Coordinate technology access and effective functioning of court software, in coordination with the Information Technology Division. Act as subject-matter expert regarding the court’s business practices for using case-management and other appellate-specific software. Manage administration of the court’s internal SharePoint site and Westlaw account.
• Provide office management including tracking and maintaining office equipment, approving invoices, and providing oversight for court scheduling.
• Maintain accurate and accessible Court of Appeals public website content.

TYPICAL QUALIFICATIONS :

Any combination of education, training, and work experience which indicates possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below will be considered. An example of an acceptable qualification is:

Minimum Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree with major course work in law, management, administration, or a related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of court rules and Judicial Branch policies and practices strongly preferred.
• J.D. or M.P.A. degree
• Experience in court administration or other administrative-leadership position.
• Familiarity with appellate court software such as MACS, MNDES, MNCIS, or SharePoint.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Considerable knowledge of office management practices, procedures, and techniques.
• Considerable knowledge of principles, methods, and techniques of budgets and expenditure control.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting administrative policies, procedures, guidelines, and regulations.
• Ability to work effectively with judges, court staff, administrative staff, and the public.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Public-service and customer-service orientation
• Ability maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to analyze, assemble, and compile information for reports.
• Ability to recognize, investigate, and analyze a variety of administrative issues and recommend effective solutions.
• Ability to assign and direct the work of other office staff.
• Ability to work well independently and to lead and contribute to work groups and project teams.

SALARY:

The expected starting salary range for external candidates is $39.68 - $50.60 per hour ($82,851.84 - $105,652.80 annually). The full salary range for this position is $39.68 - $61.52 per hour ($82,851.84 - $128,453.76 annually). This is an at-will position. No FLSA status is required for the employee per Section 13(a)(1) of the Fair Labor Standards Act; employee is not covered by any provisions of the FLSA and is ineligible for overtime.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Position Logistics:

The position is classified as Court Operations Manager. Work will be performed predominantly during normal business hours, Monday-Friday. This work will be conducted in an office setting at the Minnesota Judicial Center located in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota.

TO APPLY:

Complete and submit your online application with a resume and cover letter attached by 02/11/2025 at 11:59pm. References may be requested at a later date. All Employment offers are contingent upon satisfactory results of a criminal background check. Employment offers may be rescinded if the required criminal background check identifies job related convictions.