Chief Officer I

Overview

The Judicial Council of California is seeking a multi-disciplined professional to join our dynamic and collaborative executive leadership team as a Chief Officer I in serving the largest judicial system in the United States.

As a member of the Executive Office, the Chief Officer will oversee, coordinate, and direct the day-to-day operations of multiple Judicial Council offices with various responsibilities that may include policy setting, general administration, and program operations, among others. The Chief Officer develops and implements the goals, policies, procedures, and priorities of their respective offices as directed by the Chief Justice, Judicial Council, and Administrative Director, and coordinates those functions with the Administrative Director, the Chief Deputy Director, and other incumbent Chief Officers. Additionally, this position serves as the principal advisor to the Administrative Director of the Judicial Council on court services provided by their respective offices. This position provides subject matter advice and expertise to the Chief Justice and the Judicial Council and its advisory committees and is responsible for representing the interests and positions of the Judicial Council to justice system partners and the executive and legislative branches on issues of court administration. As part of the Executive Office leadership team, this position collaborates in directing the entire Judicial Council staff operation in furtherance of Judicial Council goals.

The California Judicial Branch
The California judicial branch comprises 58 trial courts (one in each county), six intermediate appellate courts in nine locations, and the Supreme Court, with more than 1,800 judicial officers and approximately 18,000 employees. The judicial branch has an annual budget of over $5 billion, including capital improvement projects. Trial courts range in size from two judges to over 400 judicial officers.

The Judicial Council
The Judicial Council of California is the policy setting body for the state court system and has constitutionally conferred statewide rule-making authority. This authority includes developing, advocating for, and allocating the judicial branch budget. A majority of Council members are California state justices and judges; however, the Council also includes lawyers, legislators, and court administrators.

The Judicial Council collaborates with the courts and justice system partners in shaping branch-wide policy in order to create innovative programs essential to advancing the administration of justice, and to provide direct services to the appellate and trial courts.

The Council functions with the assistance of multiple advisory committees, task forces, and its staff arm. The staff is comprised of more than 800 fulltime employees with 15 functional offices across two locations in California: San Francisco and Sacramento. To learn more about these offices, please visit: Organizational Structure and Services .

By enhancing its role as a leadership, knowledge, and service resource for the judicial branch, the Judicial Council’s staff organization seeks to continue to evolve as one of California’s most dynamic public service entities, focused on improving access to justice for all Californians by innovating and responding to the changing needs of the courts and the public. As a government body charged with improving the statewide administration of justice, the Judicial Council has multiple offices with diverse responsibilities relating to court policy and operations. Every member of Judicial Council staff should view and approach their work as one Judicial Council with a public service mission that is greater than the sum of its parts.

The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension; medical, dental, and vision coverage; flexible spending; up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs; and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station. In Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park, and includes free parking.

The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council’s San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week and reside in the areas surrounding these locations.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Chief Deputy Director, the Chief Officer serves as a member of the executive leadership of the council’s staff organization. The Executive Team collaboratively leads functional offices that are aligned to their individual skills, knowledge, and experience and are accountable for providing the highest level of programmatic, operational, and service support to benefit the Council, the courts, and the state of California. They implement Council-prioritized short-and long-term strategies for the judicial branch by leading the Council’s staff in accomplishing its goals and priorities.

This executive position is involved in critical decision making related to the overall administration and operations of the council’s staff, and its programs and services. Key responsibilities of the Chief Officer include:

• Direct and administer the personnel and programs of the offices assigned.
• Implement within the scope of responsibility Judicial Council policy and develop policy options for consideration by the advisory committees and Judicial Council.
• Collaborate with the Executive Team on the development and implementation of Judicial Council staff and branch-wide goals and objectives in furtherance of Judicial Council direction.
• Provide leadership on high profile and politically sensitive issues that impact Judicial Council policy and Judicial Council operations.
• Represent the interests and positions of the Judicial Council to the other branches of government.
• Maintain relationships with external judicial branch stakeholders and court users to ensure that court users’ needs are considered in program administration and to gain consensus on policy and program recommendations.
• Provide advice and counsel to the Chief Justice, Judicial Council, advisory bodies, and trial and appellate court leadership.

Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is a flexible, “hands-on,” innovative, results-oriented executive, who is comfortable operating in a partnership-driven environment and committed to achieving progress on an array of complex topics impacting the California judiciary. They are willing to take on new responsibilities and willing to learn.

This position requires a broad and comprehensive background in the individual’s areas of expertise, including experience in establishing and analyzing policies; designing, implementing, and successfully maintaining their portfolio of services; and adapting to changes in policy, legislation, and the business environment. Their skills and experience should enhance and complement those of the current Executive Office team.

The ideal candidate should have a strong track record of success, collaboration, and leadership in (for their areas of specialization):

• Policy, program, and service planning and development;
• Financial operations, including large-scale fiscal management and budgetary control;
• Dynamic service-delivery, improvements, and efficiency;
• Performance management;
• Strategic planning and the ability to assess continuing changes to budget and staff and capitalize on innovations to promote ongoing assessment and improvement of the operations of the judicial branch.

In addition, the ideal candidate should have the ability to:

• Collaborate with the Judicial Council, justices, judges, court administrators, advisory bodies, and staff leadership to achieve the Council’s mission, within budget limitations;
• Manage employees through multiple levels of supervision;
• Develop effective work teams and motivate individuals to meet goals and objectives and provide services in the most effective and efficient manner;
• Balance oversight of multiple and diverse programs and services; and
• Establish, develop, and maintain good working relationships with other governmental organizations, federal and state agencies, private organizations, community groups, and communication media.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE  
Bachelor’s degree, and ten (10) years of increasingly responsible professional-level experience in a relevant field, including at least eight (8) years of increasingly responsible management experience. An additional four years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

Other Information

The Judicial Council will give serious consideration to all qualified candidates that apply who have a proven track record of success in their areas of expertise. The review and evaluation of qualifications will be based on the most appropriate combination of experience and education that complements the current Executive Office team and needs of the California judiciary.

Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.

How To Apply

This is a confidential recruitment and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process. Candidates should be aware that references will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by noon on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. This position requires the submission of our official application, a resume, and a response to the supplemental questions.

To complete the online application, please click the Apply for Job button.

The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.

Pay and Benefits

$16,543 - $24,817 per month

Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.

Some highlights of our benefits package include:

• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
• Group Legal Plan (employee paid/optional)

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Judicial Council of California Is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Supplemental Questions

To better assess the qualifications of each applicant, we will review your responses to the following questions. Please indicate for which employer you performed these functions. Your answers should not exceed a total of two pages.

The Chief Officer will oversee, coordinate, and direct the day-to-day operations of multiple Judicial Council offices identified in the council’s Organizational Structure and Services chart. The specific offices that the Chief Officer will oversee depend on the candidate’s knowledge, skills, and experience.

• Please describe the functional area(s) in which you have developed the most knowledge, skills, and experience as a leader.
• How would your expertise in this/these functional area(s) contribute to the Judicial Council staff organization and the Judicial Council’s mission and strategic direction.