If another position becomes available within five months of this recruitment’s closing date, the applicant pool from this posting may be used to fill additional vacancies. When you come to work for New Jersey Judiciary you will join an 8500-member strong TEAM that operates with the highest standards of independence, integrity, fairness and quality service. You will be engaged with work that has purpose, meaning and makes a difference in lives of the public we serve. We work hard every day to build the public’s trust and confidence in our court system, which includes issues such as bail reform, marijuana decriminalization and recovery court. Whether it be in a courtroom, an administrative office, a courthouse training room, an IT office or in the field, our Judiciary workforce is improving the lives of countless individuals and families every day. We honor the dignity and individualism of each member of our organization while fostering professionalism and continuous improvement in our work. SALARY: The salary range for this position is $91,727.00 to $147,388.89. For newly hired individuals, the starting salary will normally be at the minimum of the salary range. For current Judiciary employees, salary upon promotion or advancement will be an increase of 5% of base salary, not to exceed the maximum of the range, or the minimum salary of the band/level, whichever is greater. The Judiciary offers a strong opportunity for growth. The Middlesex Vicinage is seeking a highly motivated manager with exceptional customer service, interpersonal communication skills, and organizational awareness to serve as an Ombudsman for court users. The selected individual will oversee the Self-Help Resource Center and supervise staff. The Ombudsman will be responsible for developing and managing programs designed to promote public trust in the courts, enhancing customer service, providing procedural assistance to self-represented litigants (pro se litigants), educating the public regarding programs and services, and facilitating the resolution of complaints. REMOTE WORK: The Judiciary currently offers a hybrid work schedule, and this position may qualify for up to 2 days of remote work outside of Judiciary buildings. To participate in this program, in addition to installing a multifactor authentication app on your phone or tablet, you will be required to have high speed home internet access. Example of Duties - Assisting court users, including pro se litigants, by explaining court operations, processes, procedures and providing resource materials. - Responding to complaints by providing information, assistance or guidance and, as appropriate, referring the court user to an appropriate court division for resolution. - Serving as the vicinage information and customer liaison with the public. - Developing cooperative working relationships with vicinage management and staff to ensure overall quality customer service and with external agencies such as the Middlesex County Bar Association, etc. - Developing and coordinating public information initiatives, court tours, and community outreach seminars and clinics, student education and Law Day programs. - Planning, implementing, and participating in special projects and programs. - Overseeing the public reception service areas and its informational materials. - Maintaining a resource library including lists of state and local social services agencies and lawyer referral services for the use of court customers. - Documenting complaints and monitoring resolutions. - Maintaining and analyzing statistics, such as court user contacts and customer satisfaction survey results and preparing all required reports. - Recommending to the Assignment Judge and/or Trial Court Administrator improvements in court services to the public, the operations of the Ombudsman's office, and public information activities. - Representing the vicinage on statewide committees and staffing the Vicinage Advisory Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement. - Training vicinage staff on topics including customer service sensitivity and the role of the Ombudsman. - Participating in the development of brochures and other informational materials. - Performing other duties as required. - Proficiency in Microsoft Office is desired. Regular and predictable physical presence at the worksite is an essential function of this position. Qualifications Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree and three years of professional administrative experience, one of which shall have included experience in developing and managing programs designed to promote public trust and enhance customer service procedural assistance; serving as customer service liaison to the public; and/or educating public regarding programs and services and facilitating the resolution of complaints. Substitution: Applicants who do not possess the required education may substitute additional professional experience on a year-for-year basis with one year of such experience being equal to 30 semester hour credits. An associate's degree and two years of additional professional experience may be substituted for the required bachelor's degree. A master's degree may be substituted for one year of experience as indicated above -OR- a law degree may be substituted for two years of experience as indicated above. Education Note: Degrees conferred outside of the United States must be evaluated by a recognized evaluation service. (See Supplemental Information Driver's License: Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle is necessary to perform essential duties of the position. Authorization to Work: US citizenship is not required. Selected candidate must be authorized to work in the US according to Department of Homeland Security, US Citizenship and Immigration Services regulations. Special Note: Newly hired employees must agree to a thorough background check that will include fingerprinting. All data received will be kept in strict confidence except to inform the individual of the findings and what action will be taken as a result of this information. Residency Law: In accordance with N. J. S. A. 52:14-7 (L. 2011, Chapter 70), the "New Jersey First Act," all persons newly hired by the Judiciary within one year must establish, and then maintain, principal residence in the State of New Jersey. Any person may request an exemption from that requirement from the Employee Residency Review Committee in the Department of Labor & Workforce Development on the basis of either hardship or employer critical need. HOW TO APPLY: