Branch Chief (Courtroom Support) Job in Washington, DC

Vacancy No. CIV-2024-0006 Department District of Columbia Courts
Salary $117,962.00 to $153,354.00 Grade 13 to 13
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 7/3/2024 Close Date 7/17/2024
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Washington, DC


Job Description (Please follow all instructions carefully)

Summary

This position works in the Civil Division of the District of Columbia Superior Court, providing leadership and oversight of branch operations in compliance with the applicable court and division policies, court rules, business processes, and standard operating procedures. The Branch Chief, Courtroom Support, supervises three direct reports and indirectly supervises at least 25 staff.

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

United States Citizens or individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residency or authorized by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service to work in the United States.

Duties

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

As the Branch Chief, the incumbent is responsible for performing the following primary duties, which include:

  • Aligns, develops, and accomplishes the branch’s tactical objectives and meets vital performance indicator targets derived from the division’s Management Action Plan (MAP) and the Courts’ Strategic Plan. 
  • Provides oversight of case flow management to ensure timely and accurate case processing in compliance with established performance standards and business processes.
  • Researches, evaluates, plans, develops, and implements projects and programs to accomplish  branch, division, and Court objectives. 
  • Evaluates existing programs, policies, procedures, and practices and makes recommendations based on findings that lead to human resource engagement and utilization strategies, process changes, and operational improvements.
  • Participates in court conferences, training, meetings, and committees related to court initiatives and programs, procedures, rules, policies, and studies.
  • Submits reports, including, but not limited to, those about budget, training, caseload inventory, management action plan objectives,  key performance indicators, and personnel actions, which may be statistical, narrative, or advisory. 
  • Provides oversight of branch staffing and logistics to ensure effective operations and a safe work environment.
  • Provides direct supervision of the branch supervisors and indirect supervision of all other branch employees.  Plans, delegates, and evaluates work to be accomplished by subordinates, including setting and adjusting work priorities. 
  • Interprets and provides analysis on pending and enacted legislation and changes to rules which may impact branch operations. Recommends and implements procedures for enacted legislation and changes to rules and case law. 
  • Provides administrative and technical assistance and procedural information to attorneys, judicial officers and staff, Court personnel, and the general public.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • Background and security investigation are required.
  • A probationary period of one (1) year must be successfully completed.

To qualify for this position, you must submit the following:

  1. Resume
  2. Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  3. Documentation/Proof of Education (e.g. copy of college transcript or degree)
  4. List of professional references
  5. Management training documentation (if applicable)
     



  

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Bachelor's degree in legal studies, business, public relations, human resources or related field with five (5) years of experience in an office, public service agency, court, or legal environment plus two (2) years of supervisory experience.  Graduation from the Courts’ Management Training Program may substitute for one (1) year of supervisory experience. You must provide documentation of your management training with your application, i.e. copy of certificate.

Preferred applicants will have more than two (2) years of supervisory experience.

The incumbent should be an enthusiastic and engaged professional who enjoys working with a diverse group of Court personnel and customers and lives the DC Courts’ values of Accountability, Excellence, Fairness, Integrity, Respect, and Transparency.

*Applicants please be advised that your resume must clearly describe your relevant experience and that you meet the minimum qualifications or you will not be determined qualified for this position. 

Please note that authorization for the release of your adult criminal record revealing any convictions and forfeitures, and any criminal cases currently pending before the courts is required.  If you are selected for the position, a criminal history records check will be conducted.

The incumbent should be an enthusiastic and engaged professional who enjoys working with a diverse group of Court personnel and customers and lives the DC Courts’ values of Accountability, Excellence, Fairness, Integrity, Respect, and Transparency.

Education

To qualify based on education, upload a copy of your college transcript or degree. The transcript must show the name of the college or university, your name, list of courses with credit hours, major(s), and grade-point average or class ranking.

Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for District of Columbia Courts employment.  You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/.  

Foreign Education: If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must upload a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript at time of application to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/

Additional information

This job is being filled by an alternative hiring process and is not in the competitive Federal civil service.

Please note there is a mandatory one year probationary period for all non-judicial new employees.

All required information must be received by the vacancy announcement closing date.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

This is not a federal position.

The District of Columbia Courts is an independent agency of the District of Columbia Government and is not under the authority of the City Mayor or the D. C. Council. DC Courts' appropriation comes directly from Congress. All DC Courts non-judicial employees receive federal benefits for the following programs:  Life Insurance, Retirement Benefits, Health Insurance and Workers Compensation.

Please click on the following for more information about these benefits:

http://www.opm.gov/Insure/health/enrollment/new_employees.asp

The DC Courts leave policy is as follows:

Annual Leave:  New full-time employees earn four (4) hours of annual leave biweekly. After three years of service this increases to six (6)hours biweekly, and at 15 years it increases to eight(8)hours biweekly. Most military, federal and District of Columbia government service counts toward the time required to go into the next higher annual leave category. Employees can carry over no more than 240 hours of annual leave into the next leave year.

Sick Leave is used for personal medical needs, care of a family member, or adoption related purposes. Full-time employees earn four(4)hours of sick leave biweekly. This leave can be accrued without limit.

In addition to the federal health plans, the DC Courts offer employees supplemental vision and dental plans as well as a commuter transit benefit subsidy, for a maximum of $150 a month. There are 26 pay periods in the year.

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Upon receipt of your complete application package, a review of your application will be made to ensure that you meet the minimum qualification requirements.  Answers submitted in the questionnaire must be supported on your resume.

Your resume must reflect the relevant experience and that you meet the minimum qualifications or your application will not be considered.


You may preview questions for this vacancy.

Required Documents

To qualify for this position, you must submit the following:

  1. Resume
  2. Completed Vacancy Questionnaire
  3. Documentation/Proof of Education (e.g. copy of college transcript or degree)
  4. List of professional references
  5. Management training documentation (if applicable)



If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account.  Follow the prompts to complete the vacancy questionnaire. Afterward, click the Submit My Answers button at the end of the process.

Agency contact information

G. Brandon
Address
District of Columbia Courts
Moultrie Building
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20001
United States
Learn more about this agency

Next steps

Once your completed application is received, the qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview. If a writing test or other testing is required, qualified candidates will be notified of testing dates and times via e-mail. All applicants will be notified of the final outcome.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.