Operations Support Clerk

U.S. Courts - Western District of Texas; Waco (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas in Waco, TX seeks an Operations Support Clerk. This entry-level role supports judges, the bar, and the public, performing duties across civil/criminal intake, docketing, courtroom support, events, and finance.

The position offers growth toward non-competitive promotion up to CL-25; candidate should have 2 years of clerical experience and may have a bachelor’s degree; strong communication and organizational skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience.
• Education above the high school level may be substituted for experience (30 semester or 45 quarter hours equals one year).
• Prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, or those who are currently attending an accredited college or university.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals and groups; excellent customer service and time management skills; attention to detail a must; ability to prioritize tasks and assignments effectively and rapidly; must maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to exercise sound ethics and mature judgment and interact professionally and tactfully with a wide variety of persons.

Responsibilities

• Answers customer service calls and responds to questions in person regarding mail, filings, calendars, and related matters.
• Monitors criminal intake processes and prepares bonds for approval by verifying bond conditions.
• Receives and reviews incoming civil documents and handles inquiries from judges, staff, other agencies, prisoners, and the public.
• Makes docket entries and ensures proper linking for case management; performs quality control of docket activity.

Skills

Customer service

Time management

Attention to detail

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or currently attending accredited college/university

Job description

Position: Operations Support Clerk

Job Number: USDC 26-31

Closing Date: September 25, 2026

Starting Salary: $40,346 - $57,602 (commensurate with experience)

Transfers within the Judiciary will be considered for a salary match up to CL-25

Location: Waco, Texas

Are you interested in a career with the Federal Court System? The United States District Court for the Western District of Texas is currently seeking an Operations Support Clerk in Waco, Texas. The incumbent is a member of the Clerk’s Office operations team, providing services to the Judges, bar and public and performing a variety of functions based on the needs of the court. Get your foot in the door with this excellent entry level position. This position has future non-competitive promotional potential up to grade CL 25.

Based on the needs of the court, duties may include all or some of the following:

Customer Service: Answers customer service calls, as well as responding to questions in person, relating to mail, filings, calendars, and other matters.

Criminal Intake: Calendars criminal matters on the criminal duty calendar and secures deputy federal public defender and CJA attorneys for appointment by the duty magistrate judge. Monitors the criminal intake email in-box and attaches PDF images to the docket entry, processes transfers of jurisdiction, grand jury returns, search and seizure warrants, arrest warrants and release memorandums. Performs quality control on criminal documents. Prepares bonds for approval by verifying that all bond conditions set have been satisfied.

Civil Intake: Receives and reviews incoming documents to determine conformity with appropriate rules, practice and/or other court requirements. Performs research and responds to inquiries and requests from judges, judicial staff, clerk’s office staff, other agencies, prisoners and the public in writing or in person. Processes new civil actions and subsequent documents.

Docketing: Makes summary entries of all documents and proceedings on the docket ensuring that all automated entries are appropriately linked for case management. Reviews and performs quality control of the daily docket activity report. Responsible for processing proposed related and identical case orders and docketing when orders are signed.

Courtroom Duties: Provides courtroom deputy assistance, as required, to include a review of cases or reports for necessary actions; keeping judge and immediate staff informed of case progress; acts as liaison between clerk’s office, the bar, the public, and the judge to ensure that cases proceed smoothly and efficiently; coordinates hearings. May perform some relief courtroom duties for courtroom deputies for District, Magistrate, and visiting Judges. Coverage may be for more than one judge.

Events: Assists with the coordination, set-up and breakdown of court events.

Finance: Receives funds and performs cashier duties for new cases, appeals, copy costs, criminal penalties, and performs end of day cash out procedures.

Jury: Conducts petit juror orientation and checks jurors in electronically on the Court’s Jury Management System (JMS). Prepares and sends jury panels for trial. Assists jurors with parking and employment attendance certificates, provides refreshments, etc. Maintains Jury Assembly Room. Assists with the annual grand jury impanelment.

Records: Assists with copy requests, various mail correspondence, archive files, scanning documents, and other duties as assigned.

• Two (2) years of progressively responsible clerical or administrative experience. Such experience is commonly encountered in law firms, legal counsel offices, banking and credit firms, educational institutions, social service organizations, insurance companies, real estate and title offices, and corporate headquarters or human resources/payroll.
• Education above the high school level may be substituted for experience on the basis of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) equals one year of experience.
• Prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree, or those who are currently attending an accredited college or university.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, with individuals and groups; excellent customer service and time management skills; attention to detail a must; ability to prioritize tasks and assignments effectively and rapidly; ability to learn a wide range of duties and tasks of several types. Must be a team player and exhibit highest standards of integrity and maintain a courteous professional and cooperative demeanor; must maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent interpersonal skills. Ability to exercise sound ethics and mature judgment and interact professionally and tactfully with a wide variety of persons.

The United States Courts reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, any of which may occur without prior written or other notice. More than one position may be filled from this posting. In the event that a position becomes vacant in a similar classification, within a reasonable time of the original announcement, the Court Unit Executive may elect to select a candidate from the applicants who responded to the original announcement without posting the position. The Court is not authorized to reimburse travel expenses for interviews or relocation. This position is subject to mandatory electronic direct deposit of salary payments.

All applicants must be a U.S. citizen or must be a lawful permanent resident (i.e., green card holder) and seeking U.S. citizenship.

Applicants are advised that false statements or omission of information on any application materials may be grounds for non-selection, withdrawal of an offer of employment, or dismissal after being employed. Employees of the U.S. Courts serve under "Excepted Appointments" and are considered "at-will" employees (except for probation officers who may be removed for cause). All employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (available for review upon request). Applicants scheduled to interview should advise the Human Resources staff if any accommodation is needed.

The United States District Court is an Equal Opportunity Employer