Executive Director/Trial Court Administrator

Appa Net; Waukegan (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Lake County, Illinois, seeks an Executive Director to lead the court’s operations, people, and budget. Reporting to the Chief Judge, you will supervise eight division directors and collaborate with county officials and justice partners to advance strategic priorities and effective administration.

You will guide financial stewardship, labor relations, and external partnerships, while ensuring a high standard of leadership and organizational performance across

Qualifications

• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in public sector management.
• Experience supervising multiple levels of staff.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategic priorities into effective court operations across eight divisions.
• Lead eight division directors and senior staff with clear expectations and accountability.
• Oversee labor relations in partnership with HR Director and participate in collective bargaining.
• Develop the Circuit's annual budget and present it to Lake County Board.
• Maintain relationships with justice partners and monitor legislation and directives.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Public-sector management

Stakeholder collaboration

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in management/public administration/court administration

Master's degree / JD / Court Manager cert. preferred

Job description

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court is seeking its next Executive Director, a position commonly known in courts as the Trial Court Administrator. Reporting to the Chief Judge, the Executive Director leads the people, budget, and operations of a court organization serving all of Lake County.

About the 19th Judicial Circuit

The 19th Judicial Circuit serves Lake County, Illinois, from the county seat in Waukegan, with additional facilities in Vernon Hills and branch courts in Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, and Park City. The Circuit is led by the Chief Judge, who is elected by the 16 circuit judges.

The organization employs approximately 265 people across eight divisions: Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation and Detention Services, Psychological Services, Judicial Operations, Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Legal Services, and Judicial Information Services and Technology. Each division is led by an experienced director.

The Position

As Executive Director, you are the senior non-judicial administrator of the Circuit. The Chief Judge and Executive Director work as a productive pair: the Chief Judge sets strategic direction, and the Executive Director leads the organization that carries it out. This is a significant leadership opportunity where you will lead an experienced team of eight division directors, oversee organizational and operational priorities, and works closely with judges, Lake County officials, and justice-system partners to support the effective administration of the Circuit.

What You'll Do

Executive Leadership

• Partner with the Chief Judge to translate strategic priorities into effective court operations.
• Provide administrative direction across eight divisions.
• Support continuity of court administration through leadership transitions.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop eight division directors and senior staff.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and collaborative working relationships across the leadership team.
• Support succession planning and leadership continuity throughout the Circuit.
• Oversee personnel management, performance management, employee relations, and recruitment throughout the Circuit.

Labor Relations

• Provide executive oversight of labor relations in partnership with the Director of Human Resources.
• Participate in collective bargaining and the resolution of grievances and arbitration matters.
• Ensure collective bargaining agreements are interpreted and administered consistently across all divisions.

Financial Stewardship

• Develop the Circuit's annual budget and present it to the Lake County Board and its committees.
• Evaluate new program requests and provide guidance on grant applications and coordination.

Partnerships and External Relations

• Maintain an effective working relationship with the Lake County Board on budget and administrative matters.
• Build strong working relationships with justice partners, including the Clerk of the Circuit Court, State's Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, Sheriff's Office, and County Administrator's Office.
• Monitor legislation, court rules, and administrative directives and develop appropriate policy responses.

Who You Are

You are a seasoned government executive with a strong record of leading people, managing complex operations, and building effective organizations. You bring sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and the ability to work successfully across departments, governing bodies, and external partners.

Your Leadership Toolkit

• A proven ability to coach and develop senior staff.
• Experience working with elected officials, boards, commissions, judges, or other governing bodies.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with practical problem solving.
• The confidence to make difficult decisions while maintaining productive professional relationships.

Your Background Includes

• Bachelor's degree in management, public administration, legal or court administration, business administration, criminal justice, or a related field.
• Master's degree, Juris Doctor, or Institute for Court Management certification preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience, including three years supervising multiple levels of staff.
• Demonstrated public-sector management experience, including budget administration, personnel administration, employee relations, and labor relations.
• Trial court or judicial branch administration experience preferred but not required. If the successful candidate does not have prior court experience, they will complete the National Center for State Courts Certified Court Manager and Certified Court Executive programs after appointment.

Why the 19th Judicial Circuit

This is an opportunity to lead within one of the most important institutions in public service and make a meaningful impact on how justice is administered throughout Lake County. The position also offers something increasingly rare at the executive level in government: a strong work-life balance, with few late nights, weekends, or holidays. The successful candidate will also benefit from a planned transition period with the current Executive Director.