Judicial and Legislative Relations Supervisor

The Office of Judicial and Legislative Relations (OJLR) is looking for a dynamic and motivated professional to play a key role in supporting the judiciary’s legislative work and guiding the team that provides essential coordination and administrative support to the Board for Judicial Administration and Washington’s trial court associations.

As the Court Program Supervisor, you will operate as an expert-level professional, working independently and confidently on complex issues, research, and projects. Reporting to the Associate Director, you’ll be at the center of the Administrative Office of the Courts’ legislative activity reviewing and tracking bills, helping shape analysis, facilitating agency collaboration, and supporting the development of legislative proposals. You will also help organize meaningful meetings and events that strengthen relationships across the judicial, legislative, and executive branches.

This role also offers the opportunity to lead and develop a talented team of coordinators, analysts, and specialists who support the Board for Judicial Administration and the associations serving Washington’s superior, district, and municipal courts. You’ll work closely with staff and partners across the justice system to ensure consistent, timely, and effective support for key statewide initiatives.

Washington Courts Employment Opportunity

Administrative Office of the Courts

Judicial and Legislative Relations Supervisor

Office of Judicial and Legislative Relations

Our Mission: To advance the timely, effective, and equitable operations of the Washington State judicial branch.

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) is looking for top-performing employees who embody its core values of integrity, inclusion, accountability, and teamwork.It is committed to both employee growth and work-life balance.

Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace.

POSITION DETAILS

Job #: 2026-33

Status: Regular, Full-Time*

Location: Olympia, Washington

Salary: Range 77: $106,104 - $139,236 per year (DOQ).

Opens: April 30, 2026

Closes: May 10, 2026. AOC reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time.

WASHINGTON STATE RESIDENCY AND TELEWORK INFORMATION

AOC requires employees to reside in Washington State. Any exceptions must be approved. If you are invited to interview and currently reside outside of Washington State, seek more information about residency requirements from the AOC hiring manager of this recruitment.

This position requires you to be in the office at least two (2) days per week.

Supervision and Team Leadership

• Provides full supervision for analysts, coordinators, specialists, and other OJLR staff, including overseeing daily operations, planning and managing workloads, setting expectations, and evaluating performance.
• Guides staff development by overseeing onboarding, identifying training needs, supporting professional growth, and offering mentoring and coaching.
• Manages administrative and operational needs, including leave approvals, overtime and travel authorization, purchasing, equipment requests, and budget tracking for the unit.
• Addresses workplace issues and resolves conflicts; elevates needs, concerns, and recommendations to the Associate Director and Division Director, including those related to hiring and disciplinary actions.
• Serves as the primary liaison to internal service units such as HR, Staff Services, and IT.

• Participates as a member of the agency’s management team and interacts with external stakeholders, all levels of division staff, and non-division staff assigned to specific projects.
• Contributes to decision-making for OJLR’s work, helping scope, prioritize, and align activities with agency priorities and stakeholder input and impact.
• Ensures the team’s work products – such as meeting materials, reports, and other communications – are complete, accurate, and properly maintained.
• Identifies funding needs for the team and oversees budgets; may assist with developing or managing grant opportunities when applicable.

Legislative Coordination and Analysis

• Coordinates the agency’s legislative workflow, including managing bill review processes; assigning bills to internal subject-matter experts; conducting preliminary/light analysis to determine routing; tracking legislative activity, deadlines, and impacts; preparing bill summaries; and supporting development of agency request legislation in close partnership with the Associate Director.
• Staffs internal legislative meetings, including legislative team and screen team meetings, ensuring materials, agendas, and follow-ups are complete and timely.
• Manages the setup and maintenance of bill-tracking software workflows and templates; provides internal training to staff on use of legislative tools and processes.
• Submits required lobbying reports, ensuring compliance with public disclosure reporting requirements.
• Coordinates communication and scheduling with court partners and other branches of government for legislative-related meetings, events, and activities.
• Analyzes and evaluates proposed legislation and its probable impact on AOC and judicial branch partners; prepares briefs and provides input to the Associate Director.

Judicial Governance and Court Community Support

• Works closely with the court community and AOC colleagues to identify, analyze, and promote opportunities to improve court operations in areas supported by OJLR.
• Supports statewide court improvement by facilitating discussions with the BJA and court associations, elevating issues identified through staff and partners, and contributing to policy development processes.
• Collaborates with other units across the agency on shared goals, strategic planning, and cross-team initiatives.
• Collaborates with stakeholders, court associations, community and national organizations on issues relevant to the team’s work.
• Identifies opportunities for education for the courts and works with professional education staff to develop educational programs.
• Represents the agency in meetings, events, conferences, taskforces, and work groups, etc.

Other Responsibilities

• Performs other duties as assigned.

A combination of education and experience demonstrating a working knowledge of the functions of the position may be considered in meeting the qualifications baseline.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, public, or judicial administration, political or social science, or closely allied field

AND

• Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in policy or program development and/or project management.

• One (1) year in a supervisory or lead role and/or managing or directing groups or teams.

THE IDEAL APPLICANT WILL ALSO HAVE SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Strong leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams, stakeholders, and all levels of the court community.
• Proven ability to analyze complex issues, solve problems, think critically, and make sound, well-reasoned decisions aligned with organizational goals.
• Skilled in managing staff, time, and resources to achieve objectives; able to set priorities, adjust workload, mentor team members, and ensure high-quality performance.
• Proficient with common office productivity and collaboration tools (e.g., Microsoft 365 applications) and able to communicate effectively through written reports, presentations, and technical or non-technical information exchanges.
• Capable of multi-tasking, coordinating multiple projects, identifying risks, developing action plans, and integrating ideas into effective strategies and solutions.
• Demonstrated professionalism, integrity, initiative, and accountability, with the ability to learn quickly, build trust, and provide sound advice and recommendations to leadership.
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail, able to manage competing priorities and maintain accuracy and follow-through during periods of high workload and urgency.
• Knowledge and understanding of the interaction, mission, and objectives of interested groups, boards, committees, and the judicial community.
• Knowledge and understanding of the justice system with specific focus on the Washington State court system; laws, procedures, and practices within appellate courts and courts of limited and general jurisdiction; and trends in court administration.
• Knowledge of legislative processes, procedures, and timelines, with the ability to track bills, interpret statutory language, and assess impacts on court operations.
• Proven ability to coordinate legislative activities across multiple stakeholders, synthesize input, and support development of concise, accurate bill analyses and summaries.
• Proven ability to manage sensitive or time-critical issues in a politically nuanced environment, exercising discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment.

For more information about the position,to review the job description, application submission requirements, supplemental questions, inquire about benefits, or to apply for the position CLICK HERE TO APPLY!

• Completed online application;
• Current resume;
• Cover letter that explains how your qualifications (or background) and experience align with the position's requirements.

• Writing Exercise:
  • Select one bill from the 2026 session of the Washington State Legislature, regardless of whether it was enacted, that you believe would have an impact on court operations, judicial administration, or court users. Provide a brief response (approximately 1-2 paragraphs) that includes a short summary of what the bill does (in your own words) and a clear explanation of how the bill could affect courts or court users, including which court levels or roles would be most affected. Your response should reflect your own analysis and judgment and should focus on practical, specific impacts rather than general or theoretical statements.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• The workweek may include evening and weekend hours.
• Overnight travel may be required based on business needs.
• This position is not overtime eligible.

The AOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on gender, pregnancy, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, physical, mental or sensory disability (actual or perceived), use of a service animal, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, age, HIV or Hepatitis C status, or any other basis protected by federal or state law. Persons of disability needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this announcement in an alternative format, please contact the AOC Human Resource Office, at (360) 705-5337, or fax (360) 586-4409, or via email toRecruitment@courts.wa.gov.

Candidates who are offered a job with AOC must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship by the employer for a visa now or in the future.

AOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements of the federal government eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identify and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements for that form.

AOC does not use E-verify; therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visitwww.uscis.gov

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

SPECIAL NOTE: Before a new hire, a background check, including criminal history, will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability andcompetence to perform in the job.