Court Administrator II, Chisago County

Minnesota Judicial Branch•Center City, MN

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Tenth Judicial District is seeking an innovative and experienced professional for the position of Court Administrator in Chisago County. This is a highly responsible, advanced administrative and management position appointed by the Tenth District Judges. The role involves significant independence under the supervision of the Deputy District Administrator, with close collaboration with judges, justice partners, district administration, and the state court administrator's office. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication and leadership skills with a high degree of integrity. Chisago County is part of the Pine, Isanti, Chisago, and Kanabec (PICK) assignment area and operates within a unified, multi-county case processing structure, handling CHIPS, Family, and Juvenile Delinquency cases across these four counties. Additionally, Chisago County provides districtwide examiner scheduling services for the Tenth Judicial District.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in business, public administration, court administration, or related field; AND Significant court supervisory, management, and administrative experience, OR A combination of equivalent education and experience.
Extensive knowledge of the Minnesota Judicial Branch and unified district court system, including its structure, functions, scope of authority, and the laws, statutes, court rules, and policies governing court operations and caseflow management.
Strong operational expertise in court administration, including caseflow management, records management, court procedures, legal documentation, and the effective use of automated information systems and technology.
Demonstrated ability to lead in a complex, multi-county (PICK) operational environment, including: Collaborating with peer Court Administrators to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely case processing across multiple locations, Supporting a unified, multi-site service delivery model that operates cohesively across county lines, Coordinating shared planning efforts, aligning priorities, and ensuring continuity of operations across jurisdictions, Promoting shared ownership, accountability, and teamwork within a geographically distributed structure.
Proven leadership and personnel management skills, including the ability to plan, assign, supervise, train, evaluate, and develop staff in a manner that promotes high morale, accountability, and productivity, while ensuring compliance with judicial branch policies and applicable labor agreements.
Ability to analyze complex operations and drive strategic improvements, including identifying issues, recommending solutions, implementing process improvements, and contributing to long-range planning and organizational change initiatives.
Strong collaboration and relationship-building skills, with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with judges, court staff, attorneys, justice system partners, state and county officials, community stakeholders, and the public.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to clearly and concisely convey information both orally and in writing, adapt communication style to diverse audiences, and operate effectively at an executive level.
Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, initiative, and discretion, making timely, well-informed decisions in alignment with statutory mandates, court rules, and judicial branch policies.
Experience leading through change and ambiguity, with the ability to guide teams and operations within a complex, evolving organizational environment.
Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, demonstrated through cultural awareness, emotional intelligence, and the ability to foster a respectful, inclusive environment that values diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.
Strong organizational and administrative capabilities, including the ability to manage complex records systems, oversee reporting functions, and ensure accuracy, accountability, and compliance in operational processes.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree or Institute for Court Management certification
Significant experience managing operations in the Minnesota Judicial Branch
Experience working with elected officials

Responsibilities

Leads and actively fosters ongoing employee engagement strategies to develop, sustain, and promote Tenth District beliefs and vision.
Demonstrates a personal commitment to embodying the qualities needed in a healthy and inclusive work culture, including but not limited to: openness, vulnerability, boldness, and courage.
Coordinates, organizes, and supervises the management of the case processing activities of the court with regard to guidelines, work procedures, and caseflow management.
Oversees the initiation, maintenance, and data quality of case records in the Minnesota Court Information System, and the use of system-generated forms and reports.
Oversees record management, including computer operations, record retention, storage of records, local recordkeeping, and reporting of court minutes. Maintains statistical records of caseflow to determine needs.
Interprets and executes statutory mandates, rules of court, and judicial system policies as they relate to administrative matters.
Manages the financial aspects of local court operations, including the collection, receipt, and accounting for fees, fines, bonds, and escrow funds; maintains safe custody of funds and valuables, invests or distributes funds, and maintains financial records; prepares and reviews periodic financial, statistical, and other administrative reports. Monitors and complies with risk assessment controls.
Assigns, supervises, and directs the work of all non-judicial employees of the Court Administration Office. Directs court personnel management, including recruitment, hiring, training, motivation, performance evaluation, assignment, discipline, and discharge. Administers judicial personnel regulations and the provisions of collective bargaining contracts.
Assists the local Bench and District Administrator in the formulation and implementation of local and district policy. Develops or modifies procedures to ensure compliance and supervises implementation; evaluates functions and makes recommendations for policy changes as necessary.
Works as a member of the Tenth Judicial District Administrative Team on operational issues and strategic planning.
Serves on local and statewide committees and boards and works closely with county justice partners on matters pertaining to the justice system.
Participates in the development and monitoring of performance measures and conducts continuing research and evaluation of court programs and operations to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of caseflow management.
Plans and manages office technology initiatives. Evaluates opportunities for technologies that expand the capacity of the court system and coordinates technology initiatives with District Administration.
Takes the lead on all facility-related matters specific to the local court offices, such as maintenance issues, court security, etc.
Resolves complaints on court-related matters from the public, law enforcement, attorneys, and others.
Participates in community/Judicial Branch outreach by coordinating visits and contact with legislators and other elected officials; speaks to school and civic groups about the courts and Judicial Branch activities; collaborates with legal service providers to assist pro se customers of the court.
Collaborates closely with Court Administrators in Pine, Isanti, and Kanabec counties to ensure consistent, accurate, and timely case processing across all locations within the PICK assignment area.
Provides shared leadership in a unified, multi-county operational model, working to ensure that four counties function cohesively as a single system despite geographic differences.
Coordinates and participates in regular cross-county planning meetings to review workload, address operational challenges, and ensure alignment of practices and priorities.
Works jointly with partner Court Administrators to develop, evaluate, and adjust judicial calendar plans, including identifying coverage needs and coordinating back-up judge assignments.
Prepares and presents collaborative calendar recommendations and operational plans to the full PICK judicial bench.
Promotes a culture of teamwork, accountability, and shared ownership of outcomes across county lines.
Demonstrates flexibility, innovation, and problem-solving to address evolving operational needs within a multi-site structure.
Builds and maintains strong working relationships with peer administrators, fostering open communication, trust, and mutual support.
Ensures clear communication and coordination of expectations, processes, and changes impacting staff and operations across all participating counties.
Supports cross-training and resource sharing to enhance consistency, continuity of operations, and service delivery across the PICK assignment area.