Chief of Staff

Job Description

Supreme Judicial Court for the County of Suffolk Job Opportunity:
Chief of Staff

All application materials must be received by the close of business (5:00p.m. ET) on Friday, April 18, 2025 for consideration. Do not submit application through MassCareer Portal. Please see "Application Requirements" below.

Position Summary

Performs executive level administrative support functions within the clerk's office. Typical executive administrative functions include but are not limited to the following: office management, personnel matters, budget and payroll oversight, and special projects management. Supervises all departments and lead personnel. In addition, the Chief of Staff is equally responsible for providing confidential administrative assistance to the elected Clerk and when directed by the Clerk, acting as a direct liaison with the executive and legislative branches of government, and various departments and agencies within the judiciary.

• Supervises the activities performed in departments within the clerk's office, including office management, implementation of procedures, records management and collection, and reporting of statistics.
• Supervises and coordinates the work of subordinate supervisors and other staff, including reviewing work performance, motivating subordinates to work more effectively, identifying problems with performance and developing solutions to those problems, determining training needs to improve performance, and recommending informal measures to correct misconduct.
• Manages employee relations matters for the Clerk, ensures compliance with state and federal employment regulations, and maintains employee records.
• Oversees the management and daily functions of departments within the clerk's office.
• Assists the Clerk in the strategic planning, management and implementation of policies within the office.
• Plans, develops and facilitates changes in procedures, practices and personnel assignment.
• Regularly meets with subordinate supervisors and other staff to exchange information and to discuss issues affecting the office. Calls and conducts staff meetings to exchange information and to discuss ways to make the office function more efficiently.
• Oversees all clerk's office projects, including any special projects involving clerk's office staff and SJC initiatives.
• Oversees the budget department's management of staff's time, weekly reporting, and management of accrued time, and the drafting, executing and delivering of updated and current human resource information.
• Directs and approves the procurement, payment and distributions of all expendables by the budget department, as well as the payment and distribution of funding for contracted interns.
• Assists the Clerk in budget analysis and preparation of all fiscal submissions for annual appropriation.
• Serves as liaison between the elected clerk's office and all other government branches, departments and agencies.
• Serves as liaison to the Office & Professional Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, Local 6.
• Represents the Clerk on various court and administrative committees and executive level working groups.
• Manages the coordination, organization and scheduling for public events and proceedings for the clerk's office.
• Serves as Clerk's designee in high level meetings, committees, involving discussion of complex legal issues and confidential matters.

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for a minimum of ten (10) years.
• A minimum of five (5) years' experience in executive office administration, including personnel management.
• Experience with the Judicial Branch of government.

• Working knowledge of the structure and function of the judicial branch of government.
• Working knowledge of clerk's offices and their functions and responsibilities to the Courts and to the public.
• Solid understanding of state government and its budget processes.
• Experience in office administration and personnel supervision.
• Experience in interacting with outside agencies and stakeholders.
• Experience in implementing policies and initiatives.
• Experience coordinating meetings, preparing agendas, and following up on action items.
• Experience managing an active calendar of appointments and composing and preparing confidential communications.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively on committees and working groups.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and independently without direct supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to multi-task under pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and supervise the work of others.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain effective, respectful, courteous and considerate professional working relations with co-workers, subordinate employees and the public.