Senior Policy Analyst (SCJA)

Administrative Office of the Courts•Olympia, WA

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Washington Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is seeking a Senior Policy Analyst to play a key role in shaping the future of Washington’s Superior Courts. This role involves high-impact projects that influence court operations across the state, analyzing and evaluating major changes to judicial programs, court practices, and operational processes. The work ensures court systems are efficient, effective, fair, accessible, and grounded in integrity. Responsibilities include assessing proposed legislation and court rules, evaluating new resources and innovations, and guiding decisions affecting the state’s justice system. This is a senior-level position requiring complexity and autonomy, with independent work, sound judgment, and ownership of sophisticated, technical projects with statewide implications. The position specifically supports the Superior Court Judges’ Association (SCJA) by providing policy analysis and guidance. While day-to-day work is coordinated through the AOC, priorities are shaped by the SCJA Executive Committee, offering a close connection to judicial leadership and an opportunity to influence change at high levels.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in court administration, public administration, political science, business administration or closely allied field AND Five (5) years of responsible experience in court administration and/or program development, including one (1) year in a supervisory or lead role and/or managing/directing groups or teams.
Proficiency with data and statistical analysis software, such as SPSS or SAS. EXCEL or equivalent software may be substituted if the applicant is proficient with the analytical components of such software, such as pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and functions.
Understanding of enterprise-wide relational data structures and experience with business intelligence tools to access large data stores, such as state-level agency data warehouses.
Ability to understand the analytic needs of the SCJA and deliver work products meeting those expectations.
Ability to earn the trust, respect, and confidence of coworkers, judges, and justice system partners through consistent honesty, forthrightness and professionalism in all interactions.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, including the ability to explain data analysis results and analytic models in plain language to judges, AOC staff, local courts, justice system partners, and legislative contacts.
Ability to set clear goals and achieve them through well-defined objectives, action plans and timelines.
Ability to prioritize effectively and manage time in to meet productivity standards and deadlines, and to accept personal responsibility for the quality and timeliness of work.
Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Knowledge of the roles, missions, and interactions of stakeholder groups, boards, committees, judges, and court staff regarding AOC services and support.
Knowledge of the Washington State justice system, including laws, procedures, and practices within superior and other general jurisdiction courts, and familiarity with trends in court management, administration, and caseloads.

Nice To Haves

Relevant experience may substitute for the required education.
Experience with court case management software is desirable.

Responsibilities

Plans, implements, and coordinates data collection, survey design, and sampling methodologies of court and justice system data to further the evaluation and analysis of court programs, processes, and proposed legislation.
Analyzes proposed legislation and its probable impact upon superior courts including caseload projections; prepares fiscal impact models that delineate state and local impacts and costs, and where possible, coordinates with local justice system partners on this analysis.
Manages and facilitates data sharing, analysis, and research design with companion justice system agencies, justice system partners, and local county superior courts in support of court program, research, and legislative analysis.
Conducts court research and program evaluation and may provide recommendations to the SCJA and AOC as requested.
Analyzes and applies judicial and court resource need models and assessments to inform the work of the court and proposed programming and legislation.
Provides information, assessment, consultation, and recommendations to AOC, justice system associations, boards and commissions, and justice system partners to achieve consistent, efficient, effective court programs, access, and operations.
Performs other duties as assigned.