Court Assistant Jobs in Raleigh, NC (NOW HIRING)

SALARY RANGE: $62,771.00 - $101,849.00

The North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, Program Division, provides court administration and management services to the trial courts in North Carolina through operational and policy analysis; program/service design, development, and oversight; technical assistance and consultation regarding best practices in case management and court operations; and coordination of skills-based training. We are recruiting an individual to support our Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program and Permanency Mediation Program.

The Child Custody and Visitation Mediation Program is a statutory program that provides a confidential and non-adversarial setting where parents meet with a professional staff mediator who is neutral to the outcome of their dispute. The mediator structures and facilitates a collaborative process that fosters a productive exchange of information. Parents are afforded the opportunity to design a Parenting Agreement, which is incorporated into a court order, sparing the family from the stress and anxiety of extended litigation. The Permanency Mediation program is also a statutory program for cases in which a juvenile is alleged or has been adjudicated to be abused, neglected, or dependent, or in which a petition or motion to terminate a parent's rights has been filed. Goals for the program include the permanent placement of children in a timely manner within the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA) guidelines, improving the participants' understanding of the nature and purpose of the proceeding, as well as a reduction in the number and length of court hearings and a decline of re-litigation. The Court Management Specialist I serving the Custody Mediation and Permanency provides training, mentoring and support for 43 custody mediators statewide. Additionally, collects, analyzes and distributes custody mediation statistics, updates and revises uniform rules, policies, and best practices, and supports the custody mediation advisory committee.

• Assist program manager with all aspects of providing professional development for custody mediators: 40-hour trainings for new mediators, quarterly instructional meetings for new mediators, WebEx training for all mediators several times a year and the annual training for all custody mediators. Coach new mediators in the field, as needed. Phone consultations to answer questions of new and experienced mediators. Lead training components on ethics and parenting agreements.
• Coordinate and assist with coverage during long-term absences in the field. Assist judges with application review and interview process. Serve as liaison when HR issues are raised by custody mediators or their supervisors.
• Assist the program manager with all aspects of working with the advisory committee, including communicating with new members and members whose terms are expiring. Coordinate and lead new membership orientation. Assist with identification and presentation of program materials. Complete, disseminate and correct the official minutes from each advisory meeting.
• Provide important information related to the custody mediation program to court partners and the public. Serve as moderator for Custody Mediator Forum, a new communication tool being piloted by the custody mediation program. Provide NCAOC HR and Research & Development with information on staffing numbers, workload study, and S&O report figures. Update content on the Custody Mediation webpage, including information previously found in the annual report.

Knowledge: Understands case processes in the civil courts. Thorough understanding of the custody mediation program rules and standards in addition to comprehensive knowledge of facilitative mediation.

Skills: Expertise in communicating technical information to judges, court staff and mediators. Identifying and consulting with court staff regarding best practices. Coordinating training for mediators. Identification of measurable program/service outcomes. Excellent time management and ability to navigate several projects at one time.

Abilities: Engage in and ability to coach facilitative mediation. Analyze and evaluate custody mediation data for trends and possible improvements. Assume facilitative role for new projects, programs, and services. Make oral presentations and written reports using computer software. Interpret standards, guidelines and best practices for custody mediation.

Minimum Education and Experience: Bachelor's degree in court administration, public administration, human services, political science or business administration and three years of experience in court or related program administration and, any additional requirements set forth in Article 7A-494 of the General Statutes if applicable to the position; or a master's degree in court administration, human services, or public administration and one year of experience in court administration or related program administration.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.