What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of the Tribunal position at Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport?
General Description
Working under the supervision of and in collaboration with the Judicial Vicar, the Director of the Tribunal coordinates and oversees the day-to-day processing of all marriage cases submitted to the Diocesan Tribunal, in both first and second instance, to ensure the effective and efficient administration of justice. The Director of the Tribunal works closely with the Judicial Vicar and other office leaders to maintain proper staffing and operation of the tribunal and to establish and execute both short-term and long-term goals. The Director of the Tribunal has supervisory responsibilities for judges, defenders of the bond and other ministers of the tribunal.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
Working under the supervision of and in collaboration with the Judicial Vicar, the Director of the Tribunal coordinates and oversees the day-to-day processing of all marriage cases submitted to the Diocesan Tribunal, in both first and second instance, to ensure the effective and efficient administration of justice. The Director of the Tribunal works closely with the Judicial Vicar and other office leaders to maintain proper staffing and operation of the tribunal and to establish and execute both short-term and long-term goals. The Director of the Tribunal has supervisory responsibilities for judges, defenders of the bond and other ministers of the tribunal.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
- Maintain overall organization of the office and its personnel
- Keep a proper log and manage case flow with the Tribunal case software to ensure timely processing of cases
- Aid the Judges and Instructors in any way to help keep the cases on track
- Work with the Administrative Assistant to ensure that case materials are received and filed in a timely manner
- Organize monthly case report that the Tribunal staff will review, and the Judicial Vicar will present to the bishop
- Keep all Pastors, Advocates and Petitioners properly informed on the status of their cases
- Assist in preparation of yearly reports to the Apostolic Signatura and other Institutions requiring reports
- Help to develop Tribunal materials, forms, policies and procedures
- Monitor and maintain the information on the website up to date
- When the Administrative Assistant is not present, tend to the Tribunal phone during office hours and manage the phone message system
- Monitor the Tribunal email account to ensure that materials are received and processed swiftly and that a timely response is given to all inquiries and petitions
- Receive correspondence and channel it to its proper addressee
- Aid the Judges in scheduling and processing interviews
- Serve as Auditor in necessary instances
- Serve as Judge on marriage cases
- Help instruct cases where needed
- Aid the Judicial Vicar and Tribunal staff in canonical research or development
- Aid the Judicial Vicar in conducting seminars or workshops on Canon Law for clergy or laypersons
- Any other related canonical services that the Judicial Vicar or Adjutant Judicial Vicar may require
- As this position deals with sensitive information and situations that require a high level of confidentiality on a regular basis, the Director of the Tribunal must be a person with an unimpaired reputation, proven in prudence, discretion and respect for justice
- Communion with the Catholic Church as a practicing Catholic
- A doctorate (JCD) or licentiate (JCL) in Canon Law from a recognized Pontifical University
- At least four (4) years of experience as a full-time judge and/or defender of the bond in a Latin Church Tribunal
- A thorough knowledge and understanding of the ministry of the Tribunal regarding marriage
- Proficient knowledge in all other areas of Canon Law
- Minimal experience in the practice of personnel management
- Preferably at least three (3) years of supervisory experience
- Ability to work in a team and collaborate closely with others
- Excellent communications skills by phone and in person and the ability to maintain a high level of discretion and handle details of confidential nature
- Strong interpersonal skills including the ability to interact with a variety of people
- Substantial ability for patience, compassion and empathy for others
- Ability to take on and be responsible for specific tasks and duties
- A working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and Outlook)
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
- Willingness to broaden one’s knowledge through reading, study and research
- Ability to read/speak/write in various languages is very advantageous in this position
- Ability and willingness to comply with all diocesan indications as described in the Diocesan Employee Handbook
