District Court Manager of Operations

Pierce County•Tacoma, WA

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Pierce County District Court is seeking an experienced leader to manage its Operations Division in Tacoma, Washington. The Manager of Operations is a key member of the Court’s Administrative Management Team and works directly with the Court Administrator and judicial leadership to shape court services. The role combines executive leadership, court operations, strategic planning, program development, and people leadership, overseeing a large team responsible for essential court operations and providing leadership for therapeutic court work and other programs designed to improve outcomes for court-involved individuals. The Manager leads daily operations and helps establish priorities, develop operational strategies, implement organizational change, and ensure Court programs and services remain effective, efficient, and responsive to community needs. The role requires balancing strategy with day-to-day operations in a complex environment where legal requirements, court rules, operational needs, technology, staffing, public access, and partner relationships intersect. The Manager represents the Court with county and state partners and may participate in initiatives affecting court operations beyond Pierce County. The position reports directly to the Court Administrator and assumes the Administrator’s responsibilities when the Administrator is absent. Pierce County District Court is an independent and impartial branch of government committed to fair, accessible, timely, and effective justice, and to treating every individual with dignity and respect. It hears traffic and non-traffic infractions; criminal and criminal-traffic misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors; civil matters involving damages or contract disputes up to $100,000; small claims up to $10,000; and civil protection orders. The Court values professionalism, innovation, collaboration, public service, operational excellence, and improving access to justice.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
Four or more years of demonstrated experience as a criminal justice manager or administrator.
Submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references; applications without these materials will not be considered.
Authorize and complete a background check as a condition of employment.
Be legally authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Work experience in Washington courts is preferred.
Additional education or experience may substitute for the recruiting requirements.

Responsibilities

Lead, plan, and manage daily Operations Division activities, including caseflow, calendaring, court procedures, records, exhibits, staffing, and service delivery.
Provide leadership and oversight for supervisors, employees, therapeutic court operations, and other assigned Court programs and services.
Partner with the Court Administrator and judicial leadership to establish strategic priorities and improve criminal, civil, and therapeutic court operations.
Identify opportunities to improve processes, customer service, access to justice, and organizational effectiveness.
Lead implementation of new programs, policies, technology, and organizational change.
Evaluate legislation, court rules, and policy changes and determine their operational impact on the Court.
Develop operational goals, performance measures, reports, and data-informed strategies.
Supervise, coach, and evaluate managers and supervisors and support employee development throughout the division.
Build and maintain relationships with justice partners, county departments, state agencies, community organizations, and other courts.
Represent the Court Administrator and District Court on county, regional, and statewide committees and workgroups.
Support development of Court policies, procedures, budgets, staffing strategies, and long-range operational planning.
Foster a workplace culture focused on professionalism, collaboration, innovation, accountability, and public service.
Assume the Court Administrator’s responsibilities when the Administrator is absent.