Summary
King County Superior Court is seeking a creative, collaborative and inclusive leader for the Juvenile Court Services department. The individual selected will have unique opportunities and challenges in leading the department's innovative efforts to minimize the use of secure detention while balancing healing and community safety. Juvenile Court Services provides a wide variety of wraparound services in a culturally-competent and trauma-informed manner for youth and families involved in the court system and for those cases that have been diverted outside the court system. Through programs such as Family Intervention and Restorative Services, Step-Up, and Juvenile Therapeutic Response and Accountability Court, and through partnership with public and private community stakeholders, Juvenile Court Services is committed to addressing systemic inequities and providing the support to empower youth to prevent them from entering or re-entering the juvenile justice system.
Responsibilities include directing all aspects of the operations of the Juvenile Court Services department, which includes Juvenile Administration and Court Operations, Community Partnerships, Restorative Programs, Juvenile Justice Assessment Team, and Juvenile Probation Counselors in all stages of a juvenile court matter, as well as managing grant-funded programs and other new initiatives. The Director supervises department staff directly and through subordinate managers and supervisors. This position also requires participation in state-wide collaborative efforts including membership in the Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators.
Who may apply: This position is open to all qualified applicants.
Work Location: This position is based at the Patricia Clark Children and Family Justice Center, 1211 E. Alder Ave, Seattle. The incumbent will also be required to work at other locations as needed.
Work schedule: This is a full-time position. The court's core business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Work hours for this position may vary, including early mornings, evenings and weekends as needed. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is at-will, reporting to the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
Additional materials required: Please include a resume and letter of interest describing how you meet or exceed the requirements for this position. These materials are supplemental to your application. Applications received without these materials will be considered incomplete.
You must still completely fill out the on-line application with your relevant education and work experience. Your application will be rejected as incomplete if you include relevant information only on the resume or cover letter. Applications that state "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
Please note that you can attach multiple documents to your application. Your options are:
- Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
- Attached multiple documents/files in the attachment section.
Job Duties
The following duties are not intended to represent the entire functional capacity of the position at the task level.
- Provide overall organization and direction for the Juvenile Court Services department. Make recommendations regarding proposed Juvenile Court policy and direction to Court Administration and Judicial leadership. Oversee development of standards for program evaluation and system performance measures, and effective staff allocation within the department.
- Consult with the state legislature and Juvenile Court administrators from other jurisdictions regarding juvenile justice policy direction and trends. Oversee community outreach projects and programs. Serve on related committees.
- Identify resource needs and potential sources of funding. Oversee grant acquisition from the State and local governments, the federal government, and private foundations, which accounts for a significant portion of the department’s funding. Write grant proposals and administer grants.
- Participate in the Court’s strategic planning. Make recommendations regarding system design changes with overall court or interdepartmental impacts to Court Administration and Judicial leadership. Make departmental budget recommendations and manage a large, complex budget with multiple funding streams and reporting requirements.
- Recruit, select, train and supervise staff. Evaluate staff performance and provide coaching, feedback and corrective action for performance issues. Interpret policies and procedures, resolve conflicts. Routinely review staff work procedures and work products. Respond to staff concerns, questions and complaints.
- Oversee facilities planning and lease arrangements. Oversee negotiation of vendor contracts with agencies and individual service providers. Oversee business application of computer information systems.
- Represent the court in labor relations, including negotiations, contract administration and conflict resolution. Collaborate with labor and foster an environment in which represented staff are informed and able to participate in advancing the court's goals, while representing management's interests.
- Foster and build upon the department's ongoing work in creating a diverse, welcoming and inclusive work environment that represents the communities served by King County.
- Participate in Court-wide Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts including strategic planning, coordination, and implementation. Lead DEI focused initiatives within the Juvenile Court Services Department centered on the unique needs of the department, staff, and the communities being served.
- Represent, collaborate, and advocate on behalf of King County Juvenile Court Services at the state level. Participate in shaping policy, practice, and legislation critical to the implementation of youth justice. Build relationships with stakeholders, communities, and other system leaders including the Washington Association of Juvenile Court Administrators.
Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in social services, public administration or related field
- A minimum of three years supervisory experience
- A minimum of three years’ experience in a responsible management position in a large public agency serving families and children, or in a non-profit organization dedicated to juvenile justice or a related field, or the equivalent education and experience to perform such duties of the job, is required.
- Prior court and social service experience.
- Experience in grant writing, negotiations, labor relations and working in a political environment.
- Knowledge of:
- Juvenile justice theory,
- Current trends, principles, practices and law for both delinquency and dependency cases
- The principles of juvenile justice administration;
- Grant writing and administration;
- Labor law and the principles of negotiating and administrating collective bargaining agreements;
- Team-building and organizational goal setting methods;
- Organizational planning, management and leadership;
- Public and media relations;
- Policy development;
- Principles of program effectiveness research;
- Mental or behavioral health principles, including diagnosis, treatment and/or counseling;
- Community organizing;
- Government fiscal management including budget preparation and expenditure control.
- Technology systems and data analysis
- The most successful candidates must have strong diplomatic, listening, public presentation, persuasive writing, and collaboration skills, and a demonstrated unwavering commitment to equity and social justice.
Supplemental Information
Special requirements: The ability to reliably travel throughout the County is required. Finalists must successfully pass a criminal background investigation, including a reference check. Criminal background records are not automatically disqualifying.
Selection process: Application materials will be screened for qualifications and the most competitive candidates will be invited for interviews.
Union membership: This position is not represented by a union.
If you have questions regarding this position, please call King County Superior Court Human Resources at (206) 477-1536.
Benefits
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage options: King County provides eligible employees with options, so they can decide what’s best for themselves and their eligible dependents
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: eligible King County employees may participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 12 paid holidays each year plus two personal holidays
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental, family and medical, and volunteer leaves
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite activity centers
- Employee Giving Program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
For additional information about employee benefits, visit our Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Page.
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
01
This application requires a separate resume and cover letter, in addition to a completed "work history" section of the application. Your application will be considered incomplete without a separate resume and cover letter. Have you attached a separate resume and cover letter?
02
Please indicate your highest level of educational attainment.
- High School Diploma or GED
- Some college
- Associate's or Technical Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
- Juris Doctor (Law Degree)
- Doctorate
03
If you have a Master's Degree, please indicate the field of study. If you do not have a Master's Degree, please enter "N/A."
04
How many years of supervisory experience do you have?
- None
- Less than one year
- At least one year but less than three years
- At least three years by less than five years
- At least five years but less than ten years
- Ten or more years
05
How many years of public-sector management experience do you have?
- None
- Less than one year
- At least one year but less than three years
- At least three years but less than five years
- At least five years but less than seven years
- Seven or more years
06
How many years of professional experience do you have serving as the representative of management or labor in public-sector collective bargaining?
- None
- Less than one year
- At least one year but less than three years
- At least three years but less than five years
- At least five years but less than ten years
- Ten or more years
07
How many years of experience do you have developing and presenting policy recommendations for a large public-sector organization?
- None
- Less than one year
- At least one year but less than three years
- At least three years but less than five years
- At least five years but less than ten years
- Ten or more years
08
How many years of experience do you have preparing and managing the budget of a large public-sector organization?
- None
- Less than one year
- At least one year but less than three years
- At least three years but less than five years
- At least five years but less than ten years
- Ten or more years
09
Please briefly describe your experience and major achievements in coordinating the work of multiple departments/work units under a common mission:
