Manager, Real Estate

Overview

The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Manager with the Facilities Services office.

The Manager is responsible for overseeing the real estate unit including real estate staff as they research and investigate properties; negotiate agreements for Judicial Council or Court lease of space; the licensing of court space for short- or long-term occupancies or events; the acquisition of new property for courthouse projects; and disposition of vacated court facilities. The manager also leads the unit in all real estate budget or property administration activities (payment or collection of rents, taxes and special assessment payments, ongoing landlord and tenant obligations, etc.). The manager regularly interacts with Judicial Council committees; judicial officers; court executive officers and court staff; county administrative officers and county staff; the staff of the Department of General Services (DGS), Department of Finance (DOF), and Judicial Council (JCC); property owners or buyers, landlords, tenants, and various service providers such as real estate brokers, surveyors, relocation consultants, appraisers, title and escrow officers, and environmental consultants.

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.

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. As employees of the council, every member of 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, including 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 minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.

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, based on their office leader’s direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council’s Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee’s primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and administer Judicial Council and court facility leases.
• Review status of individual transactions and provide direction as to negotiation strategies and working within approved organization practices (dependent upon funding sources – JCC funded, court funded, etc.).
• Develop, implement, and administer facility disposition program for facilities that have been vacated on a temporary or permanent basis.
• Track court closures due to judicial branch or court budget issues, lease terminations, new courthouse construction and occupancy.
• Develop, implement, and administer the property acquisition program for new court facility capital projects.
• Develop budget for real estate due diligence (appraisals, preliminary title reports, surveys) relocation payments, real estate brokerage commissions or fees, coordinate with FS Environmental Unit on budget for Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment Reports and CEQA activities.
• Ongoing administration and amendments related to Transfer Agreements (TA) and Joint Occupancy Agreements (JOA).
• Respond to inquiries requiring interpretation of TAs and JOAs.
• Oversight of Licensing of Third Party Uses of Court Facilities for short or long-term occupancies or events.
• Delegate assignments to staff, attend meetings and/or participate in conference calls with local court, staff, and/or third parties.
• Special Projects and Assignments related to JCC Real Estate.
• Respond to inquiries and/or provide special reports to executive leadership, as requested.
• Provide support to different Committees Court Facilities Advisory Committee, Trial Court Facility Modification Advisory Committee and Real Estate subcommittee.
• Act as a liaison with the Department of General Services (DGS) and, Department of Finance (DOF) for real estate related matters, including but not limited to getting approvals and reviews.
• Develop real estate related policy and procedures for Facilities Services.

Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree and five (5) years of professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation,
research, and advising, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience. An additional four (4) years of professional experience in the assigned function may substitute for the bachelor’s degree. Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year basis.

OR

Master’s degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline, and two (2) years of professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least two (2) years of supervisory experience.

OR

Two (2) years in a supervisor classification with the Judicial Council of California, or two (2) years of experience performing the duties of a class comparable in the level of responsibility to that of a supervisor classification in a California superior court or California state-level government entity, or two (2) years as a Legislative Advocate, Labor & Employee Relations Officer, or Senior Project Manager with the Judicial Council of California and a) completion of training courses on topics related to effective supervision within six (6) months of promotion; or b) one (1) year of previous supervisory experience.

Other Information

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 position requires the submission of our official application, responses to the supplemental questions, and a resume. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by 5:00 P.M. on January 5, 2026.

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

$9,911 - $14,868 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 three pages.

1. Please describe what interests you about this job and why you believe it is a good fit.