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About the Office

The Director of Workplace Relations leads the Office of Workplace Relations, a division of the Office of the Circuit Executive for the Ninth Circuit (OCE). The Office of Workplace Relations was established in January 2019 and was the first office of its kind in the federal judiciary. The Office of Workplace Relations leads the Ninth Circuit's efforts in preventing and resolving workplace issues.

The OCE serves the Ninth Judicial Circuit of the United States. It is the largest federal circuit in the country, comprising nine western states and two territories. The OCE serves the Court of Appeals as well as all District Courts, Bankruptcy Courts, Probation and Pretrial Offices, and Federal Public Defender's Offices within the Ninth Circuit.

The OCE was created by statute to provide professional administrative staffing to circuit councils, which are composed primarily of judges engaged full-time in deciding cases. The OCE provides administrative support to the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit and its various committees. It also provides direct services to all judicial court units within the Circuit. All OCE responsibilities flow from directives of the Judicial Council or the Chief Judge of the Ninth Circuit. The OCE is organized around the Judicial Council's core functions.

The OCE is committed to providing professional support to the Judicial Council and all court units within the Ninth Circuit and ensuring the highest level of public trust in the administration of justice. This support includes identifying needs, conducting studies, proactively developing and implementing innovative policies, providing training, providing public information and human resources support, coordinating building and IT projects, and advising the Judicial Council on procedural and ethical matters.

About the Role

The Director of Workplace Relations reports directly to the Circuit Executive and heads the Office of Workplace Relations (OWR) team, which includes a Deputy Director, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, and a Workplace Analyst. The Director plays a key role in actualizing the Ninth Circuit's goal of creating an exemplary workplace environment by directing all of OWR's proactive and responsive efforts, and coordinating with leadership throughout the Ninth Circuit, and nationally. Under the Director's leadership, OWR develops and implements best practices for preventing and responding to workplace conduct issues, including discrimination, harassment, abusive conduct, and retaliation. The Director also oversees the Ninth Circuit's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI (https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/workplace/dei/)) efforts which are implemented by the DEI Officer. The Director serves as an expert on workplace conduct matters for judges, court unit executives (CUEs), and judiciary employees circuit wide. The Director provides expert guidance on the formal Employment Dispute Resolution (EDR) process. Representative duties include:

• Manage OWR team and direct their work.

• Implement all aspects of the EDR policy and related employment policies throughout the Circuit.

• Provide confidential advice and expert guidance to employees, managers, and judges pursuant to EDR Policy.

• Direct or engage in conflict resolution for workplace conduct matters. The Director or a member of the Director's team may serve as an investigator, factfinder, facilitator, or mediator of employment disputes in court units throughout the Circuit.

• Develop and deliver in-depth training for all judiciary personnel on workplace conduct topics, including annual EDR training, management/leadership training, and training for local EDR Coordinators.

• Collaborate with and advise local EDR Coordinators on workplace conduct issues.

• Oversee the reporting of EDR related information for the Ninth Circuit to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO).

• Serve as primary expert on EDR and related issues for the Ninth Circuit Judicial Council and its committees, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, individual court units within the Circuit, and other applicable committees and organizations within the Circuit and the federal judiciary as a whole, including other judicial circuits and the AO.

• Conduct research, analyze alternatives, prepare appropriate recommendations, and identify courses of action on matters submitted to Judicial Council committees.

• Develop best practices guides for addressing workplace conduct matters.

• Develop and initiate employment surveys in coordination with Judicial Council committees and track and analyze data and identify trends. Make recommendations to the Chief Circuit Judge, Circuit Executive, and Judicial Council based on in-depth analysis.

• Collaborate with the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer on the Ninth Circuit's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts.

• Represent the Ninth Circuit at the national level on the development or revision of workplace environment policies, practices, training, and communication mechanisms, and advise national leadership on workplace environment issues when requested.

Required Qualifications

• This position calls for a minimum of five years of legal or other relevant work experience in public service, business, or a law firm. At least three of the five years of experience should include extensive engagement with federal civil rights laws (e.g., Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, ADA, VAWA, etc.), their state law equivalents, or work in other relevant areas of employment or civil rights law.

• Juris Doctor degree or a graduate degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Human Resources, Jurisprudence, Business Administration, Management, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA-approved law school.

• Admission to practice before the highest court of any U.S. state, commonwealth, territory or possession.

• At least three years of supervisory experience.

• Familiarity with the federal courts and the regulations and policies of the executive and/or judicial branch of the federal government.

• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information in a variety of contexts and to maintain strict confidentiality in complex and highly emotional situations that may involve internal or public scrutiny and/or media attention.

• Skill in collaborative problem solving and consensus building.

• Extensive experience with workplace investigations and dispute resolution processes or their equivalent.

• Experience conducting presentations and trainings for judges, court unit executives, business executives, or other managerial or high-profile audiences.

• Demonstrated knowledge of leadership and management best practices.

• Skill in strategic planning for short- and long-term training programs.

• Superior writing, speaking, listening, and presentation skills.

• Advanced ability to think critically and strategically, and to develop and implement innovative programs and practices.

• Exceptional emotional intelligence and track record of building strong working relationships with colleagues in diverse roles.

Position Details

Location: this position is based at the James R. Browning United States Courthouse at Mission and 7th Streets in San Francisco, California. The successful candidate could potentially be located at another duty station within the contiguous states of the Ninth Circuit; however, there is a preference for the Director to be located in or willing to move to the San Francisco Bay Area. Travel within the Ninth Circuit is required. We welcome applicants who are living elsewhere in the United States who are willing to relocate to a location within the contiguous Ninth Circuit within a reasonable time.

Rewards & Perks

Salary: $128,442 – 195,000 (CL 32), depending on qualifications, experience, and location.

Time off: 11 paid holidays, 13 vacation days, and 13 sick leave days per year. After three years (including any prior federal work experience), vacation days accrue at a higher rate.

Benefits:

• Federal pension plan and optional employer-matching Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401K).

• Choice of a variety of employer-subsidized federal health and life insurance plans.

• Optional dental, vision, and long-term care coverage.

• Flexible spending account to pay out-of-pocket health and dependent care expenses with tax-free dollars.

• Other Perks: Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program; public transit subsidy; on-site gym (at San Francisco location).

• Remote/Telework/Work-From-Home options available; alternate work schedules; and reasonable work hours.

How to Apply

Please submit a single PDF through the Career Portal (https://ca9-employment.breezy.hr/p/2da5f44aa855) that includes: (1) a cover letter directly responding to this vacancy announcement, (2) an up-to-date resume, and (3) a list of three work references. Only applications with a cover letter, resume, and references will be considered.

Next Steps

• Priority consideration given to applicants who apply by June 23, 2023.

• Position open until filled.

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in the process of applying for citizenship. Successful applicants are provisionally hired pending results of background investigation and fingerprinting. Positions with the U.S. Courts are at-will, excepted service appointments, and may be terminated with or without cause by the OCE. Employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees (https://www.uscourts.gov/sites/default/files/guide-vol02a-ch03.pdf). Direct deposit of pay is required. The Court requires all its employees to be vaccinated against COVID 19 absent an exemption from the requirement based on a documented medical reason or a sincerely held religious belief.

The OCE reserves the right to modify the conditions of this job announcement, or to withdraw the announcement, for any reason including but not limited to budgetary issues. Said modifications may occur without prior written or other notice.

Equity Focused Employer

We value diversity and are committed to equity and inclusion in our workplace. The OCE encourages applications from all qualified individuals and seeks a diverse pool of applicants in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, languages spoken, veteran's status, disability, religion, and socio-economic circumstance.