Position Summary

The Court Administrator ensures that the Sandia Tribal Court operates effectively and efficiently. Responsibilities include supervision and management of Tribal Court staff, preparing the court’s budget, obtaining and distributing public information, and ensuring court documents are processed accurately, scanned and filed. The Court Administrator has day-to-day responsibility for managing all court operations including case management, courtroom support, quality assurance, safety, and security. Work includes the overall management of the civil, criminal, traffic, juvenile, and conciliation case flow functions. Work is performed with independence under the direction of the Tribal Judge and Tribal Administration Director.

Our philosophy is built on the principles of integrity, fairness, collaboration, communication, and recognition for performance excellence. Meeting all performance standards leads to attracting and retaining a qualified workforce, provide opportunities for qualified team members, and contribute towards the ongoing success at Pueblo of Sandia today and in the future.  

 Essential Duties And Responsibilities

1. Develops, interprets, and executes policies, mandates, and operational plans; serves as records custodian; resolves problems; collaborates with other Pueblo departments for transparency, other government agencies, and the public.
2. Interprets and executes statutory mandates, rules of court, and judicial policies as they relate to the Sandia Tribal Court.
3. Assigns or supervises and directs the work of all court staff, directs personnel management including recruitment, hiring, training, motivation, performance evaluation, and discipline.
4. Prepares contingency plans for local court in case of emergencies, and coordinates with local law enforcement on courthouse security issues.
5. Supervises the financial aspect of court operations including the collection and receipt of fines and fees; maintains custody of funds; maintains financial records; prepares, monitors, and manages annual budget.
6. Coordinates, organizes, and supervises the management of the various case processing activities of the court with regard to guidelines, work procedures, and case flow management; oversees court scheduling, case assignment and file processing; monitors statistical data; prepares reports.
7. Advises Tribal Judge and the Tribal Administrative Director concerning the administrative procedures of the court; identifies deficiencies in documents submitted in-person and online, and drafts proposed recommendations and orders upon request.
8. Resolves complaints on court related matters from the public, law enforcement, and others.
9. Reviews documentation for accuracy, has strong attention to detail and excellent follow-through experience.
10. Prepares and issues final court orders and executes judgments.
11. Notifies Tribal Judge of impacting legislation.
12. Drafts correspondence, memoranda, legal documents and Tribal Council Resolutions.
13. Responsible for upkeep and maintenance of the Pueblo’s law library, updates laws, customs, fines, and Tribal Judge Handbook.
14. Back-up to all court staff positions.
15. Assists the Tribal court Judge with hearings, drafting or correspondence, court orders, and court forms.
16. Assists the Judge by screening calls/visitors; schedules appointments; Court scheduling and case file preparation; prepares and distributes court orders.
17. Monitors cases proceeding through the court process, ensuring that proper procedures are followed.
18. Performs legal research activities; files paperwork and related court documents; compiles, analyzes, and presents financial and statistical data and reports.
19. Performs legal research by authorization of the Governor for other Tribal departments.
20. Possesses strong interpersonal skills demonstrates a professional, knowledgeable with all internal/external contacts.
21. Punctual and regular attendance is an essential responsibility for all team members and are expected to report to work based upon the assigned scheduled each day in accordance with the Attendance Policy for Pueblo Sandia. 

 Additional Responsibilities

1. Performs additional duties and responsibilities as necessary or assigned.

 Key Performance Indicators

This position has Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) identified as a measurement of success.  KPI’s will be shared with all team members who work in this job title and feedback will be provided regarding the successful completion of the KPI’s as part of the performance review process.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

1. Ability to pass stringent background investigation.
2. Ability to operate general computerized office machines and equipment.
3. Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
4. Ability to deal effectively with the public.
5. Ability to work odd and unusual hours and stand-by schedules.
6. Knowledge of bookkeeping and/or accounting practices.
7. Knowledge of legal brief preparation and requirements.
8. Knowledge of Tribal Court administrative procedures and practices.

   Education And Experience

Required

1. High School Diploma, GED certification or equivalent.
2. Bachelor Degree in Criminal Justice, Social Work or related field and two (2) years of directly related experience. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling six (6) years may substitute for the required education an experience.  
3. Five (5) years’ experience performing administrative functions in a legal office or courtroom setting.
4. Two (2) years supervisory experience.

License/Certifications/Registrations

1. Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted New Mexico Driver’s License.
2. Must be able to successfully pass a stringent background investigation and character investigation in compliance with PL 101.630.
3. Will require a pre-employment and random drug screening.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The following selected physical activities are required to perform the essential functions of this position

Physical Requirement

Description

Balancing

Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling and walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. This factor is important if the amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.

Feeling

Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.

Finger Dexterity

Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

Grasping

Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

Hearing

Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound.

Lifting

Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. (Maximum 40 lbs.)

Pulling

Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul, or tug objects in a sustained motion.

Pushing

Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force to thrust forward, downward, or outward.

Reaching

Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.

Seeing

The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.

Walking

Job requirements include, in the performance of duties, walking throughout the work area, on various work surfaces throughout internal or external locations.

Seeing

The ability to perceive the nature of objects by the eye.

Sitting

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Standing

Particularly for sustained periods of time.

Stooping

Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.

Talking

Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

List Working Conditions Required

1. Work is performed in an office setting.
2. Required to operate a Tribal vehicle to attend meetings, conferences, etc.
3. Work is performed during the week; some weekend work required.

The Content Of This Job Description Does Not Restrict Management’s Right To Assign Or Reassign Duties And Responsibilities To This Job At Any Time.

The Job Description Reflects The Assignment Of The Essential Functions Of The Current Position But Does Not Prescribe Or Restrict Tasks That May Be Assigned. The Essential Functions Are Specified But Are Subject To Change At Any Time For Various Reasons, Including Management Discretion.

The Pueblo Of Sandia Reserves The Right To Make Changes To The Job Description Whenever Necessary.

Selected Candidates Must Submit To And Pass A Pre Employment Drug And Alcohol Screening As Part Of The Pre Employment Process.  Drug And Alcohol Screening Will Continue Through Post Hire Testing To Be Conducted By A Third Party Random Number Generator.  Selected Candidates Must Submit To And Pass A Criminal Background Screening As Part Of The Pre Employment Process.

The Pueblo Of Sandia Is An Equal Opportunity Employer (Eoe). Qualified Applicants Are Considered For Employment Without Regard To Race, Color, Religion, Sex, National Origin, Age, Marital Status, Disability, Sexual Orientation, Or Any Other Characteristic Protected By State Or Federal Law.