The clerk of court performs duties which include, but are not limited to:

• working closely with the chief judge and other bankruptcy judges regarding court administration and policies;
• creating a vision of excellence through strategic planning in an environment of limited and decreasing resources;
• providing the administrative and operational infrastructure necessary to efficiently and effectively achieve the court's mission, including hiring, assigning, and training of personnel;
• creating and maintaining a culture that values human resources and the contributions necessary to maintain a good, customer-service based, organization;
• directing the processing of bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings;
• maintaining the integrity of official court records in the custody of the clerk;
• directing and overseeing the court's financial services functions including purchasing, collecting fees, authorizing expenditures, accounting, and any other fiscal responsibilities in accordance with statutory requirements;
• ensuring proper oversight in the revision and maintenance of internal control procedures;
• managing staff and the human resources, inventory control, and statistical analysis and reporting components of the clerk's office, including oversight of the employees responsible for automation and information technology services;
• preparing and managing the court's annual budget including budgetary and staffing projections;
• facilitating the court's use of technology and automation;
• analyzing and making recommendations on statutes, local rules, and procedures affecting the operation of the court;
• directing development and administration of comprehensive emergency preparedness plans;
• coordinating and preparing statistical studies and reports as required by the court, the circuit, the AO, and the Judicial Conference;
• managing space and facilities and working with GSA;
• traveling, including overnight stays, as needed;
• serving as the court's public information officer; and
• performing special duties as directed.

Conditions of employment

• The selected applicant must successfully complete a ten-year background investigation, and subsequent favorable suitability determination, and every five years thereafter will be subject to a re-investigation.
• The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama is part of the Judicial Branch of the United States government. The clerk of court position is not part of the Office of Personnel Management's civil service classifications or regulations. The clerk of court serves at the discretion and instruction of the bankruptcy judges in the district. The clerk of court's employment may be terminated "at will" by either the bankruptcy judges (as employer) or the clerk of court (as employee).
• This position is subject to mandatory participation in direct deposit for payroll.
• Relocation expenses may be available to the successful applicant, subject to the availability of funds.
• All applicants must be United States citizens or be eligible to work in the United States.
• As an employee of the Federal Judiciary, the clerk of court must adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees.

Qualifications

• Applicants must have a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible administrative experience in public service or business which provided a thorough understanding of the organizational, procedural, and human aspects of managing an organization. At least three of the ten years' experience must have been in a position of substantial management responsibility.
• An attorney who is in the active practice of law in either the public or private sector may substitute active practice on a year-for-year basis for the management or administrative experience requirements.
• Experience in the federal judiciary is preferred but not required, with operational knowledge of the courts, legal terminology, office automation applications, including automated case management, a working knowledge of the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, and adversary proceeding case flow.
• Excellent judgment, solid organizational, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills, as well as outstanding oral and written communication skills, are required.
• The successful applicant should be a leader and motivator who is able to clearly describe the applicant's demonstrative leadership style, vision, and values.
• The successful applicant also should have exceptional presentation skills, the ability to effectively and collaboratively interface and work with judicial officers, and experience in promoting a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.

How you will be evaluated

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

Candidates will be evaluated on their qualifications and ability to perform the duties of the position satisfactorily.

1. Cover letter;
2. Resume that details experience and qualifications;
3. Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment (AO 78), and
4. Contact information for three professional references.

Next steps