Court Administrator

Court Administrator

The City of Auburn is seeking a highly skilled and experienced Court Administrator to lead and manage the administrative, non-judicial operations of the Auburn Municipal Court, which is set to begin operating in January 2027. The anticipated start date for this role is early 2026. The position is open until filled. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, and qualified candidates may be considered for preliminary screening prior to the appointment of the new Municipal Court Judge. The final selection of the Court Administrator will be made after the judicial appointment.

The person selected for this role will play a critical part in standing up the Auburn Municipal Court as the City transitions from contracting court and probation services through King County District Court, setting strategic direction, ensuring compliance, and overseeing the daily court and probation functions.

Primary Duties

Key Responsibilities:

• Operational Leadership: Direct all non-judicial operations of the Municipal Court and Probation Services, ensuring effective case flow, procedural compliance, staff performance, and strategic alignment with court goals and legal standards.
• Policy, Compliance, and Program Management: Develop, implement, and enforce court and probation policies and procedures in compliance with municipal, county, and state law; ensure ongoing compliance with legal, procedural, and security requirements, including CJIS standards.
• Team Leadership and Supervision: Oversee the recruitment, training, supervision, and performance of court and probation personnel; foster a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement.
• Budget and Financial Oversight: Manage court and probation budgets, including planning, expenditure tracking, purchasing, and financial operations involving bail, bonds, fines, and payroll; ensure financial accountability and alignment with citywide fiscal policies.
• Interagency and Public Engagement: Serve as the primary liaison between the court and external stakeholders - including law enforcement, attorneys, jails, and government agencies - while also representing the court at City Council meetings, public hearings, and community forums.

Minimum Qualifications

We are looking for candidates who have:

• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or closely related field, AND
• At least four (4) years of increasingly responsible experience in the operations of a municipal court, AND
• A minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience

OR a combination of relevant education and experience which would demonstrate the individual's knowledge, skill, and ability to effectively perform the job duties.

This position requires that the selected candidate be fingerprinted prior to final appointment. The appointed employee will also complete the CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) Security Certification Test to be allowed to view sensitive information and have unescorted access while at the Police Department (per Washington State Patrol ACCESS unit).

Additional Information

Why Choose the City of Auburn? The City of Auburn offers a generous benefits package, including full family medical benefits, a VEBA tax-free health savings account, contributions to the WA State PERS pension program, and 60 hours of management leave annually, in addition to generous vacation accruals. The total non-cash compensation package for this position is estimated to be valued at over $60,000. For more details on all the benefits the City offers, please visit https://www.auburnwa.gov/benefits.

Commitment to Inclusion Team Auburn values a wide range of perspectives and life experiences and believes our strength comes from the diversity of people and ideas. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals who will help us foster a workplace built on respect, collaboration, and service to the community.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) The City of Auburn 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 any 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.