Manager III - Juvenile Court Services

King County Superior Court is seeking qualified applicants for a full-time Manager III.  The Court is one of the nation's largest trial courts, serving the country's 12th most populous county.  Located in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, King County Superior Court is nationally recognized for innovation.  The court’s mission is to serve the public by ensuring justice through accessible and effective forums for the fair, understandable, and timely resolution of legal matters. 

This leadership position is responsible for managing a functional division within the Superior Court department of Juvenile Court Services. Assigned areas for oversight may include community partnerships, juvenile assessments, and restorative programs, as well as juvenile probation and records administration functions.  Key duties include developing and implementing policies, managing program development, overseeing complex program budgets, evaluating program effectiveness, and supervising and managing staff performance. 
 
The role requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to ensure efficient and high performing operations in both legal and social service settings. The most competitive candidates place a high value on a diverse workforce, efficient and effective operating principles, and collaboration and team building.

It is the vision of KCSC to be open to all, trusted by all, and to provide justice for all. To fulfill Superior Court's Mission, Values, and Vision, employees at all levels serve the complex needs of a diverse population of Court users. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation. At KCSC, we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace centered in belonging.

Work location: This position is located at the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center, 1211 East Alder Ave, Seattle. The incumbent may be required to work at other court facilities.
 
Work schedule: This is a full-time position.  The Court’s core business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Variations from those hours may occur. This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and is not overtime eligible.
 
Additional materials required: Please include a resume and letter of interest describing how you meet or exceed the requirements for this position. These materials are supplemental to your application. Applications without these materials will be considered incomplete and ineligible for consideration. You must still completely fill out the on-line application with your relevant education and work experience. Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you include relevant information only on the resume or cover letter. Applications that state "see my resume" are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.
 
 Please note that you can attach multiple documents to your application. Your options are:
 1) Copy and paste one or more documents into the text resume section of the application.
 2) Attached multiple documents/files in the attachment section.

• Staff Leadership and Development
Lead a team of dedicated professionals by recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising staff, including those supporting core juvenile court and probation functions. Develop a functional coaching relationship with subordinate supervisors and direct staff. Foster a positive work culture, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and address performance challenges through constructive solutions and empowering subordinate supervisors. Ensure adherence to policies and procedures while promoting a culture of accountability and growth.

• Operational Improvement & Project Oversight
Lead and manage projects to improve operational efficiency across all service areas, including probation-related processes and case management practices. Integrate new technologies and workflows to strengthen service delivery and support consistent, high quality outcomes that are beneficial to all youth.

• Strategic Planning & Program Management
Develop, implement, and monitor divisional work plans and goals, ensuring alignment with state mandates, funding sources, and statewide Juvenile Justice Initiatives. Oversee case review processes, caseload distribution, and geographic assignments to support equitable workloads across juvenile probation and related service units.

• Budget Management & Funding Acquisition
Oversee the development and monitoring of the program budget, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to support probation operations and broader program needs. Lead efforts to secure diverse funding sources, including federal, state, local, and private funding. Manage contract compliance and track expenditures through monthly invoicing and reporting.

• Labor Relations 
Support effective working relationships with labor unions, including negotiations and administration of union labor contracts for all assigned work units, including those delivering probation services. Address grievances and promote a positive work environment in accordance with labor agreements.

• Contract Negotiation & Performance Monitoring
Lead negotiations and manage contracts with state, county, and city agencies to provide services for court involved youth and their families. Ensure the quality and effectiveness of contracted services by monitoring performance and conducting regular quality assurance assessments that support both probation and broader program operations.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Customer Service
Build collaborative relationships with local, state, and national organizations to further reform efforts and initiatives. Respond to complex inquiries and resolve issues that involve multiple agencies or departments, including those related to probation services and youth supervision.

• Policy Analysis & Legislative Support
Assist in analyzing local, state, and federal policies related to juvenile court operations and probation practice. Contribute to legislative and budget development through funding analysis and recommendations informed by emerging trends.

• Community Engagement & Resource Development
Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders. Leverage community resources to enhance program operations and support successful outcomes for youth and families engaged with Juvenile Court Services.

• Information Sharing & Reporting
Oversee court ordered information sharing agreements and ensure timely distribution of reports, including policy recommendations, probation and program related data, and funding updates. Facilitate stakeholder input and ensure transparency in program activities.

• Program Evaluation & Research Partnerships
Cultivate strong relationships with program evaluators, researchers, and stakeholders. Oversee contracted evaluations—design, methodology, data collection, and reporting—to inform continuous improvement across juvenile probation work units and related programs.

• Committee and Task Force Representation
Represent the division on county, state, and national committees and task forces, advocating for effective juvenile justice and probation policies and initiatives.

• Backup Support & Other Duties
Provide backup for the Director, Juvenile Court Services, as needed. Perform other duties and special projects as required by the department.

To be minimally qualified for this position you will need:

A Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Administration, or similar field relevant to the job responsibilities and six years' experience working in the juvenile justice field , including three years in supervision and management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience to perform the job duties. 

Highly competitive candidates will have:

A  Master's degree in a field relevant to the job responsibilities and at least three years of experience in direct service provision to youth and families.

Additional skills and experience required for this position include:
 
 •    Proven leadership experience with multidisciplinary teams, managing complex projects, and collaborating with diverse stakeholders.
 •    Strong knowledge of juvenile justice system practices, state and federal regulations, and funding mechanisms.
 •    Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to navigate complex, multi-agency issues.
 •    Demonstrated value for, and commitment to, addressing racial inequities in the criminal justice system. Ability to bring a racial equity lens to developing policy, procedures, and practices of a government organization.
 •    Experience using effective change management principles in leading large, innovative organizational initiatives
 •    Exceptional communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
 •    Experience using data to make informed decisions to improve policies and program outcomes.
 •    Demonstrated experience in contract management, budgeting, and securing funding.

Special requirements: The ability to reliably travel throughout the county is required.  Finalists must successfully pass a criminal background investigation and reference check.  Criminal background records are not automatically disqualifying.

King County Superior Court is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer. No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.  Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay, or other forms of compensation.

Selection process: Application materials will be screened for qualifications and the most competitive candidates will be invited for interviews.

Union membership: Positions in this classification are not represented by a union.

Salary : $130,894 - $164,144