Service Bailiff

City of Columbus Careers•Columbus, OH

10d•Onsite

About The Position

A Service Bailiff is a court officer responsible for providing personal and residential service of legal documents, serving and enforcing Court orders to seize and reclaim tangible property, and enforcing eviction actions in landlord-tenant cases. Service Bailiffs spend most of their time in the field and work throughout Franklin County and those portions of the City of Columbus that extend beyond the boundaries of Franklin County. The Department is comprised of the Director of Security, Deputy Chief Service Bailiff, Administrative Bailiff, and 11 Service Bailiffs.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Knowledge of common office practices, procedures, and equipment.
Ability to communicate verbally effectively and professionally, and in writing, to diverse audiences.
Demonstrate the ability to stay calm and communicate effectively in person to diffuse highly stressful situations.
Ability to operate a personal computer and use Microsoft Office products such as Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Ability to learn and use courier software on court-issued mobile devices.
Professional appearance, attitude, and demeanor appropriate for the position and environment as a representative of the Court.
Maintain organized and detailed records.
Willingness to adhere to assigned routes, schedules, safety procedures, and transportation laws.
Demonstrated dependability, reliability, and excellent attendance record.
Ability to organize and plan schedules both in the office and remotely while in the field.
Pleasant personality and ability to interact and maintain effective working relationships with judges, employees, attorneys, litigants, and others conducting business with the Court.
Patience, objectivity, maturity, effectiveness under stress, initiative, and adaptability.
Knowledge of the geographical area of the City of Columbus and Franklin County.
Good sense of direction and familiarity with many different traffic patterns.
Valid Ohio driver's license and clean driving record.
Full-time use of a personal automobile for on-the-job transportation and adequate insurance, as determined by the Director of Security. The vehicle must pass the safety standards set by Ohio law.
Ability to sit, stand, drive, walk, navigate stairs, and drive for extended periods.
Conscious of and sensitive to the diversity within the CoCourt's jurisdiction and ability to interact professionally with this diverse population of people from many different geographic, socioeconomic, religious, racial, and ethnic backgrounds regularly.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with court systems, procedures, and terminology.
Prior work experience in a court or legal environment.
Prior experience in law enforcement or military background.
Fluency in a second language is a plus, particularly Spanish, American Sign Language, or a language commonly used by Somalis for whom English is a second language.
Previous experience in a court system or legal environment.
Knowledge of the functions and locations of other courts and government agencies.
Experience reading and working with the public.
The ability to speak and write Spanish or a language commonly used by the people of Somalia for whom English is a second language.
Proficiency in American Sign Language (ASL).

Responsibilities

Serve Court documents by personal and residential service upon parties, witnesses, and others.
Serve and enforce Court orders that provide for the return of personal property, enforcing orders of execution to satisfy a debtor's obligation by seizing tangible property such as automobiles and furniture, and holding the property in the custody of the Court; lock up businesses as directed; and conduct public sales of property.
Serve eviction notices and supervise tenant evictions.
Maintain records and accurately enter and file returns of service as required to validate service of Court documents.
Use courier service software to route and track progress throughout the day.
Communicate remotely with the Department and schedule future service requests while in the field.
Operate a personal automobile for on-the-job transportation for extended periods.
Maintain adequate insurance as determined by the Director of Security. All Vehicles must pass safety standards set by Ohio law.
Pick up and deliver mail, documents, and packages for Judges and Court Administration.
Maintain and be responsible for court-issued equipment (manuals, radios, extra radio batteries, badges, mobile phones, and IDs).
Comprehensive working knowledge of the rules of conduct and procedures in the Service Bailiff Directives Manual.
The employee occasionally reaches with hands and arms, climbs, balances, stoops, kneels, crouches, or crawls.
The employee regularly uses the usual vision demands, must be able to converse verbally in a professional manner with litigants and the public, and must be able to listen in detail.
Employees occasionally lift or exert a force of 50 pounds.
Adherence to all traffic and transportation laws and maintaining a safe driving record.
Adherence to assigned route and time schedules.
Working conditions include regular exposure to dirt, dust, debris, and smells.
The employee is occasionally exposed to wet, humid, and other outdoor conditions, as well as to extreme cold or heat related to weather.
While performing daily job duties, service bailiffs may meet mentally unstable individuals, Individuals who may have a criminal record, and some may be armed and dangerous.
Proficiently demonstrate the ability to follow operating procedures in dealing with all aspects of service bailiff-related issues.
Undergo continuous training to improve job skills.
Interact with plaintiffs, defendants, and all others in a professional, courteous manner.
Maintain a clean, neat, professional appearance and wear any required uniform or clothing.
Perform other tasks as assigned and may be assigned to other positions in other departments of the Court if needed.

Benefits

medical, prescription, vision, dental, and life insurance
short-term disability
generous vacation, sick, and personal leave
11 paid holidays
longevity service payments
sick-leave reciprocity
employee assistance and deferred-compensation programs
tuition reimbursement
credit union membership
Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS) which provides retirement, disability, and survivor benefits