Salary : $127,560.00 - $161,544.00 Annually
Location : 33325 8th Ave S, Federal Way
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: Department: Municipal Court
Opening Date: 09/11/2025
Closing Date: 9/25/ :59 PM Pacific
Basic Function The Court Administrator works under the direction and supervision of the Presiding Judge in accordance with General Rule 29 (GR29) and all applicable state laws. This is a professional management position that assumes full responsibility for the planning, directing, implementation, and management of all the non-judicial, day-to-day operations of the court, including court services for contracting cities. The Court Administrator develops and implements policies and procedures, the court budget, oversees personnel management and development, accounting, case-flow management, oversight of projects, grants, contracts, establishes and maintains the court's continuity of operations plan, and performs other responsibilities as required. This position provides leadership and strategic vision including but not limited to developing short and long-term goals for effective court services.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities Operations Management: - Assumes full management responsibility for court operations: plans, directs, implements, and manages the daily operation of the court.
- Conducts the planning and management for the changing physical needs of the court including space design, utilization, and maintenance.
- Oversees the maintenance, retention, and disclosure of records and documents in accordance with applicable rules, laws, and regulations.
- Monitors applicable state and local court rules laws and proposed legislation for any changes that affect court operations or case management.
- Coordinates judicial schedules including pro tem judges and court calendars.
- Directs website content and updates.
- Redesigns and improves forms, notices and publications.
Public Relations: - Attends and participates at county commission, city council and other board or committee meetings as directed.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative, effective working relationships with judicial officers, attorneys, elected and appointed officials, justice partners, other branches of government, co-workers and members of the public.
- Coordinates with correctional agencies to facilitate appearances, including virtual or telephonic court proceedings.
- May act as the court liaison with government agencies, media and the public.
- Represents the court as an independent branch of government with legislative and executive bodies, including preparing materials for legislative or executive bodies.
- Ensures appropriate and timely research, analysis, and responses to public inquiries or complaints.
- Coordinates programs with all court divisions and other agencies concerning emergency planning and response including but not limited to other courts and AOC.
Educational Development: - Establishes and implements guidelines and procedures.
- Participates in continuing education and development in the court business areas identified by the National Association for Court Management (NACM) as core competencies.
- Participates in continuing education and development related to leadership and management.
- Trains and informs staff on any new court procedures on the case management system or new legislative updates.
Workforce Management: - Manages and supervises court personnel including but not limited to interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; addressing complaints, grievances and disputes; resolving problems; maintaining personnel files as needed; appraising performance; recommending promotions and disciplinary actions; implementing organizational changes; approving and scheduling leave time; and recommending terminations as appropriate.
- Serves as the official spokesperson of court management in labor negotiations.
Ethics: - Performs work diligently, efficiently, equitably, thoroughly, courteously, honestly, truthfully, impartially, without bias or prejudice, and with transparency.
- Reports for scheduled work with regular, reliable, and punctual attendance.
- Demonstrates a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
- Maintains the legally required confidentialities of the court, not disclosing confidential information to any unauthorized person, for any purpose.
Budget and Fiscal Management: - Informs, updates, and advises the presiding judge of financial conditions, program progress, and identifies issues and opportunities for improvement and/or policy changes.
- Oversees the development and administration of the court budget (e.g., data collection for the preparation of financial reports, approves the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; approves expenditures and implements budgetary adjustments as appropriate
Education and Experience - Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's degree in business administration or closely related field and five (5) years of progressively responsible court management experience including experience in administration, operations and personnel supervision.
- Certified Court Manager (CCM) Certification will be considered the equivalent of two years' experience in management in the justice system. Combination of a Certified Court Executive (CCE) Certification and (CCM) will be equivalent of four years' experience in management in the justice system.
- Three (3) or more years of significant executive level supervisory responsibilities, and experience working with elected officials and department directors highly desired.
The following are preferred:
- Thorough knowledge of rules and procedures related to the court's case management system.
- Knowledge and understanding of court clerk duties
Knowledge and Abilities Knowledge of: - Courts and principles of judicial independence including General Rule 29 (GR29).
- Nationally developed court performance standards.
- Washington State laws and court rules.
- Legal procedure applicable to the court.
- Principles of administration, planning, supervision and organization, and effective supervisory and office management techniques.
- Code of Judicial Conduct, the duties of cooperation and confidentiality for court employees with regard matters involving the Commission on Judicial Conduct, and the Judicial Assistance Services Program (JASP).
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD), and General Rule 33 regarding requests for accommodation by persons with disabilities.
Ability to: - Set office work priorities.
- Guide, direct, schedule, and motivate subordinate employees.
- Identify needs, develop long-range plans, and evaluate outcomes.
- Accurately and efficiently oversee the financial, record keeping, and scheduling procedures for the court.
- Deal with the public with poise and tact in sometimes stressful situations.
- Anticipate challenges and creatively formulate action plans to meet needs.
- Develop and implement new and improved methods.
- Establish and maintain effective working relations with employees and members of the public.
- Display strong organizational skills, with effective management and team-building skills.
- Work independently under pressure, being flexible, enthusiastic, and self- starting in work assigned.
- Read, interpret, and follow rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing using high-level grammar, spelling, and composition.
- Recognize and correct safety and health hazards.
- Operate various office equipment, such as telephone, computer, calculator, postage meter, facsimile, and copy machine.
Environmental Conditions/Physical Effort: Work is performed in an office environment. Requires dexterity of hands and fingers to operate standard office equipment, sitting for extended periods of time, hearing and speaking to exchange information, seeing to reach and analyze legal documentation. May be exposed to noise from basic office equipment operation and contact with dissatisfied or abusive individuals. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.
The City of Federal Way offers a complete benefits package to regular status full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Regular status part-time employees, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page.
