Court Research Supervisor

State-of-Washington-Administrative-Office-of-the-Courts; Olympia (WA); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 142,000; Full time

Job summary

Administrative Office of the Courts in Olympia, WA seeks a Court Research Supervisor to lead a statewide court research program within the Center for Court Research. You will supervise Court Researchers, guide project design and evaluation, and ensure high-quality delivery of research initiatives that inform policy and practice across Washington’s court system.

The role emphasizes strong leadership, coordination with stakeholders, and translating research into effective court programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public, or judicial administration, political or social science, or closely allied field.
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in policy or program development and/or project management.
• One (1) year in a supervisory or lead role and/or managing or directing groups or teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations, onboarding, training, performance management, and all supervisory duties.
• Maintain and track the unit budget; resolve workplace conflicts; liaise with HR, Staff Services, IT, and other sections.
• Represent the agency to external stakeholders and collaborate with court partners and project teams.
• Track, manage, and facilitate Court Research project and program deliverables for timely completion.
• Plan and manage team workload, assign tasks, set expectations, evaluate performance, communicate needs to leadership.
• Identify funding opportunities, prepare grant proposals, oversee budgets, and develop court education programs.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Policy development

Research methods

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, public, or judicial administration

Eight years of experience in policy or program development / project management

One year supervisory or lead role experience

Master's degree in public administration (preferred)

Job description

Make a Difference in Washington’s Court System - Be Part of Meaningful Change!

The Administrative Office of the Courts is looking for a passionate and driven Court Research Supervisor to join our Center for Court Research team. This is your opportunity to lead important work that directly supports the fairness, effectiveness, and innovation of Washington’s courts.

In this role, you will guide a talented team by planning, managing, and overseeing program activities that help shape statewide court research efforts. You’ll lead the development and evaluation of program initiatives, ensure high-quality project execution, and help craft policies that strengthen court programs across the state.

Reporting to the Court Research Center Manager, the Court Research Supervisor provides strong program leadership and full supervisory oversight for an assigned team of Court Researchers and other staff. Your work will influence how data, research, and analysis drive improvements in the court system, making a real impact on communities throughout Washington.

If you’re ready to lead, collaborate, and help move the court system forward, we’d love to meet you.

POSITION DETAILS

Job: 2026-78

Status: Regular, Full-Time

Location: Olympia, Washington

Salary: Range 77: $108,228 - $142,020 per year (DOQ)

Opens: August 21, 2026.

Closes: September 7, 2026. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time but no sooner than seven (7) calendar days after posting.

WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENCY AND TELEWORK INFORMATION

AOC requires employees to reside in Washington State. Any exceptions must be approved. If you are invited to interview and currently reside outside of Washington State, seek more information about residency requirements from the AOC hiring manager for this recruitment.

This position requires you to be in the office at least two (2) days per week.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee daily operations, onboarding, training, performance management, and all supervisory duties, including approving leave, overtime, travel, purchases, and equipment.
• Maintain and track the unit budget; resolve workplace conflicts; and serve as liaison to HR, Staff Services, IT, and other AOC service sections.
• Represent the agency to external stakeholders and collaborate with court community partners, division staff, and project teams.
• Track, manage, and facilitate Court Research project and program deliverables to ensure quality and timely completion.
• Plan and manage team workload, assign tasks, set expectations, evaluate performance, and communicate needs or concerns to leadership.
• Identify funding opportunities, prepare grant proposals, oversee budgets, and work with partners to develop court education programs.
• Perform other duties as required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public, or judicial administration, political or social science, or closely allied field;
• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in policy or program development and/or project management.
• One (1) year in a supervisory or lead role and/or managing or directing groups or teams.

A combination of education and experience demonstrating a working knowledge of the functions of the position may be considered in meeting the qualifications baseline.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public administration or closely related social science field.
• Foundational knowledge of social science research methods.
• Two (2) years’ supervisory experience in either applied Court Administration or applied Public Administration.

THE IDEAL APPLICANT WILL ALSO HAVE SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong leadership, coaching, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and maintain collaborative working relationships across teams and stakeholders.
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods; program and process evaluation; survey design; cleaning, merging, and analyzing large administrative data sets; and translating research findings to general audiences.
• Ability to conduct rigorous applied analysis of systems, institutions, governance, strategy, and management effectiveness.
• Ability to work as part of a team of social scientists in applied research.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, including presenting information clearly to both technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically, assess resources, identify risks, and recommend sound solutions.
• Proven ability to manage staff, time, and multiple projects simultaneously; set and adjust priorities; and deliver high-quality work with minimal oversight.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications (Teams, Outlook, Word, OneNote, PowerPoint, etc.) and the ability to quickly learn and retain new concepts and skills.
• Ability to organize and facilitate effective meetings, collaborate with partners, and support policy and planning efforts aligned with organizational goals.
• Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and accountability in interactions with coworkers, management, and external constituents.
• Knowledge and understanding of the interaction, mission and objectives of interested groups, boards, committees & the judicial community.
• Knowledge and understanding of the justice system with specific focus on the Washington State court system; laws, procedures, and practices within appellate courts and courts of limited and general jurisdiction; trends in court administration.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The workweek may fluctuate depending on workload or agency needs.
• Overnight travel may be required based on business needs.
• This position is not overtime eligible.

SPECIAL NOTE

Before a new hire, a background check, including criminal history, will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

The AOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender, pregnancy, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical, mental or sensory disability (actual or perceived), use of a service animal, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, age, HIV or Hepatitis C status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, please contact the AOC Human Resource Office, at [phone], or fax [phone], or via email to [e-mail].

Candidates who are offered a job with AOC must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

AOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal government eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identify and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements for that form.

AOC does not use E-verify; therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.