Court Operations Manager

Superior Court of California, County of Merced; Merced (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Superior Court of California, County of Merced seeks a Court Operations Manager to oversee daily operations of court divisions and branch sites, ensuring efficient service delivery and compliance with laws and court policies.

The role requires strategic planning, policy development, and staff supervision, with focus on financial oversight, performance evaluation, and cross‑agency collaboration to advance court goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in judicial administration, public administration, or related field with five years of court experience and two years supervisory experience.
• Or equivalent to high school diploma and eight years of technical court experience with three years supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Plan, manage, and oversee daily functions of court divisions and branch sites; monitor financial information, processing, reporting, and record keeping.
• Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards.
• Hire, train, motivate, and direct division personnel; evaluate performance and administer discipline as needed.
• Ensure service quality by aligning procedures with legal requirements and court needs; monitor efficiency and implement improvements.
• Support development and coordination of automated systems; conduct studies and investigations to improve programs.

Skills

Administrative leadership

Budget & finance

Policy implementation

Staff supervision

Public policy knowledge

Court operations

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in judicial/public administration or related field

5 years court experience with 2 years supervisory

Tools

Office software

Job description

DEFINITION:

Under general direction, manages the daily operations of assigned court divisions and branch court sites; provides administrative direction and oversight for all functions and activities of assigned divisions and branch sites; plans, develops and implements procedures and policies that are in alignment with the strategic goals of the Court; and performs related duties, as assigned.

EMPLOYMENT AT‑WILL:

The Court Operations Manager classification is established as an “at‑will” position and, as such, the incumbent serves at the direction of the Court Executive Officer. The Court Executive Officer has the right to terminate the employment of any incumbent in the position of Court Operations Manager at any time, with or without advance notice or cause.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is a management classification responsible for planning, organizing, reviewing, and evaluating the functionalities and activities of multiple document processing divisions and branch court sites. Successful performance of the work requires knowledge of public policy and court functions and activities, and the use of considerable independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines. The incumbent is accountable for accomplishing departmental and operational goals and objectives and for furthering Court goals and objectives. This class is distinguished from the Supervising Court Processing Clerk in that the latter has first line supervisory responsibilities over an assigned group of clerical staff. The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

1. Plans, manages, and oversees the daily functions, operations, and activities of the assigned Court divisions and branch court sites, including preparing, monitoring, forecasting, and analyzing financial information, financial processing, reporting, and record keeping.
2. Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the assigned divisions and branch sites.
3. Selects, trains, motivates, and directs division personnel; evaluates and reviews work for acceptability and conformance with division standards, including program and project priorities and performance evaluations; works with employees on performance issues; implements discipline and termination procedures; responds to staff questions and concerns.
4. Ensures the overall quality of the division’s service by developing, reviewing, and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements and Court needs; continuously monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assesses and monitors the distribution of work, support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identifies opportunities for improvement; for improvement; directs the implementation of change.
5. Supports the development, design and coordination of automated systems including research, analysis testing, implementation, and performance monitoring.
6. Conducts a variety of divisional, organizational, and operational studies and investigations; recommends modifications to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
7. Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, resolutions, and other materials.
8. Maintains and directs the maintenance of working, confidential and official divisional automated and manual files.
9. Acts as liaison to other court division, governmental agencies, and other parties with interest in the trail court system, provides liaison and staff support to a variety of committees, commissions, and work groups.
10. Monitors changes in laws, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes after approval.
11. Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of court services.

Supervisory Duties

• Direct supervision of Court Supervisors and other court division personnel as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in judicial administration, public administration, or related field and five (5) years of court experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience in a court setting.,
  OR
  Equivalent to a high school diploma or GED and eight (8) years of technical court experience, including work as a Courtroom Clerk and/or Court Processing Clerk, and three (3) years of supervisory experience in a court setting.

License, Certification and/or Special Requirements

• A valid class C California driver’s license may be required. The requirement will be reviewed on a position basis in accordance with ADA regulations.

Necessary Employment Standards

Knowledge of:

• Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and supervision of staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs, principles, and practices of Court government administration.
• Methods and techniques for the development of presentations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, and organizational policies and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Legal terminology, court operations and courtroom procedure; courtroom etiquette and conventions.
• Techniques for effectively representing the Court in contacts with governmental agencies, community elected and appointed officials, and all levels of Court staff.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, elected and appointed officials, and all levels of Court staff.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and software relevant to work performed.
• Organize work, set priorities, meet critical time deadlines, and follow‑up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgement within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the court of work.

Skill/Ability to:

• Administer projects and operations consistent with policies and goals.
• Plan direct and evaluate the work of staff through subordinate supervisors.
• Work under the pressure of deadlines, conflicting demands, and emergencies
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of Court staff, elective and appointive bodies, and members of the general public.
• Evaluate situations, develop options, select alternatives, and project the consequences of proposed actions; implement administrative policies and work programs consistent with regulations and with Court policies and goals.
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws and regulations.
• Communicate both orally and in writing on matters related to division polices, funding and operations.
• Revise and adapt procedures to changing needs.
• Plan and implement training programs.
• Prepare and present clear and concise correspondence, reports and recommendations.
• Understand, follow, and give written and oral instructions.

Performance Aptitudes

Data Utilization:

Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.

Human Interaction:

Requires the ability to apply principles of persuasion and/or influence over others in coordinating activities of a project, program, or designated area of responsibility.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Materials Utilization:

Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools, and/or materials used in performing essential functions.

Verbal Aptitude:

Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, and/or advisory data, and information.

Mathematical Aptitude:

Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; the ability to calculate decimals and percentages; the ability to utilize principles of fractions; and the ability to interpret graphs.

Functional Reasoning:

Requires the ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.

Situational Reasoning:

Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness, and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory, judgmental, or subjective criteria, as opposed to that which is clearly measurable or verifiable.

Physical Ability:

• Strength, dexterity, coordination, and vision to use a keyboard, computer monitor, and other office equipment on a daily basis and for extended periods of time
• Fine finger manipulations, dexterity, and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper
• Forceful and repetitive gripping, grasping, and pinching
• Occasional lifting and carrying of objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
• Frequent reaching for items on shelves, above, at, and below desk/shoulder level
• Exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 lbs. of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move, torque, twist, push, and pull objects
• Frequently sit for extended periods; frequently stand for extended periods; and frequently walk, move, bend, stoop, lift, and stretch
• Able to move to different locations such as, but not limited to: courtrooms, clerk’s office, various departments, other court facilities, and desk assignments based on the operational needs of the Court
• Able to traverse inside and outside over uneven ground and pavement
• Perform repetitive writing, typing, copying
• Employees are regularly required to verbally communicate both in person and by telephone
• Corrected hearing and vision to normal range

Sensory Requirements:

Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors:

Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS

Convictions, depending on the type, number and date, may be disqualifying. Court employees shall be subject to a modified background investigation and fingerprinting. False statements or omission of facts regarding background or employment history may result in disqualification or dismissal.