Deputy Prothonotary This position is exempt from the State of Delaware Merit System.

State of Delaware; Delaware; On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Delaware is seeking a Deputy Prothonotary in Sussex County to support the Prothonotary in daily operations, policy implementation, and performance reporting. The role requires coordinating court procedures, supervising staff, and ensuring compliance with rules and timelines.

The position involves communication with judges, attorneys, and the public, managing automated systems, and producing monthly statistics and calendars.

Qualifications

• Three years’ experience in court operations management and supervision.
• Three years’ experience in case flow management for general jurisdiction and/or criminal justice issues.
• Three years' experience in the interpretation and application of state statutes, court rules, policies and procedures.
• Experience in the principles and practices of supervision.
• Experience of automated/electronic management information systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Prothonotary with the highly responsible and complex administrative work involved with the total operations of the office.
• Direct daily operations, workload progression and performance across units within the Prothonotary Office.
• Coordinate activities to apply court rules, policies, and procedures across Sussex County Prothonotary operations.
• Provide managerial and administrative direction to supervisors to meet court goals.
• Make quick but sound administrative decisions.
• Serve as the Sussex County Corrections contact for commitment/release issues and follow up accordingly.
• Assist planning and management of the court's automated systems.
• Communicate effectively with judges, attorneys, litigants, and other officials.
• Prepare monthly criminal statistics, sentencing calendars, and civil statistics spreadsheets.
• Attend statewide meetings to review procedures and develop best practices.
• Act on behalf of the Prothonotary in their absence as required by statute.
• Identify and analyze problems and assess impacts.
• Perform related work as required.

Skills

Court operations management

Case flow management

Interpreting statutes

Supervision

Management information systems

Tools

Automated management information systems

Job description

Summary Statement

Assist the appointed Prothonotary with the administrative responsibilities associated with the efficient execution of all office functions and the quality operation of all departments, including performance assessment, hiring and training staff as required, assisting attorneys and the public in resolving problems as necessary and performs all official functions of the Prothonotary as delegated. Establish and implement office policies and procedures, and monitor compliance with stated goals and objectives for the Prothonotary Office. Oversees the preparation of monthly performance and statistical reports for the purpose of production analysis.

Summary Statement

Assist the appointed Prothonotary with the administrative responsibilities associated with the efficient execution of all office functions and the quality operation of all departments, including performance assessment, hiring and training staff as required, assisting attorneys and the public in resolving problems as necessary and performs all official functions of the Prothonotary as delegated. Establish and implement office policies and procedures, and monitor compliance with stated goals and objectives for the Prothonotary Office. Oversees the preparation of monthly performance and statistical reports for the purpose of production analysis.

Essential Functions

Essential functions are fundamental, core functions common to all positions in the class series and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties for any one position in the class. Since class specifications are descriptive and not restrictive, employees can complete job duties of a similar kind not specifically listed here.

• Assists the Prothonotary with the highly responsible and complex administrative work involved with the total operations of the office.
• Responsible for directing the daily operations, work performance, assignment progress and workload completion of several operational units within the Prothonotary Office.
• Direct the activities of several operational units and/or programs in Sussex County Prothonotary to ensure effective application of Court rules, policies, and procedures.
• Provides managerial and administrative direction to department supervisors in meeting the Court’s operational goals and objectives.
• Must be able to make quick but sound administrative decisions.
• This position is the Sussex County Department of Corrections contact person regarding commitment and release issues and must immediately follow-up on these requests.
• Assists the Sussex County Prothonotary and supervisors in planning, reviewing, and managing the Court’s automated systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing, and to establish and maintain effective work relationships with superiors, subordinates, Judges, offenders, attorneys, pro se litigants, and criminal justice and agency heads.
• Confers with Judges, Commissioners, attorneys, litigants, government officials and the general public about Superior Court policies and procedures to ensure adequate level of services are being provided or to respond to unusual circumstances or demands.
• On a monthly basis, this position generates the reports to prepare the criminal statistics, follow-up on the monthly sentencing report, update the Judges’ calendars and assist with the civil statistical spreadsheet preparation.
• Attend statewide meetings to review and develop procedures on a statewide basis to ensure best business practices and compliance with rules, laws, and regulations.
• Acts on behalf of the Prothonotary in their absence as required by Title 29 Section 903B.
• Ability to identify and analyze problems/needs/issues and assess the impacts.
• Performs related work as required.

JOB REQUIREMENTS for Deputy Prothonotary

Applicants must have education, training and/or experience demonstrating competence in each of the following areas:

• Three years’ experience in Court operations management and supervision.
• Three years’ experience as a manager in case flow management principles, practices and procedures related to general jurisdiction and/or criminal justice issues.
• Three years' experience as a manager in the interpretation and application of state statutes, Court rules, policies and procedures related to the jurisdiction of Superior Court, other courts or criminal justice system.
• Experience in the principles and practices of supervision.
• Experience of automated/electronic management information systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Conditions of Hire

Criminal background check: A satisfactory criminal background check is required as a condition of hire. The recruiting agency may require the applicant to pay for the criminal background check as part of the conditional offer of hire.

Benefits

To learn more about the comprehensive benefit package please visit our website at https://dhr.delaware.gov/benefits/

Selection Process

The application and supplemental questionnaire are evaluated based upon a rating of your education, training and experience as they relate to the job requirements of the position. It is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application and the supplemental questionnaire to include dates of employment, job title and job duties. For education and training, list name of educational provider, training course titles and summary of course content. Narrative information supplied in response to the questions must be supported by the information supplied on the application including your employment, education and training history as it relates to the job requirements.

Once you have submitted your application on-line, all future correspondence related to your application will be sent via email. Please keep your contact information current. You may also view all correspondence sent to you by the State of Delaware in the “My Applications” tab at StateJobs.Delaware.gov .

Accommodations

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process.

Individuals who use TDD may request auxiliary aid or service by calling [phone] or by visiting delawarerelay.com .

If you need assistance with an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or general applicant support, you may call [phone] or email [e-mail] . The State of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek out a workforce representative of Delaware including race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.