Court Administrator - General Sessions Court

Salary: $183,424.00 Annually
Location : Nashville, TN
Job Type: Full-Time Non Civil Service
Job Number: GSC08939
Division: General Sessions Court
Department: GSC Administration
Opening Date: 10/08/2026
Closing Date: 10/15/2026 11:59 PM Central

Position Description
The Court Administrator is a Non-Civil service position whom performs managerial and administrative duties to assist the General Sessions Court judges overseeing the daily operation of the court as defined in Section 14.19 of the Metropolitan Charter, which includes planning , directing and supervising activities of the court business office, and acting as liaison with judges, General Sessions departments, courts, government agencies, the Bar Association, Administrative Office of the Courts and the public.

Typical Duties

• Oversees the Court's budget, personnel, payroll, security, information technology, and administrative operations; developing the annual report; actively manages the work of Court Administration; ensures appropriate delegation, supervision, performance management, and accountability of staff; and regularly advises the Presiding Judge regarding operational matters.
• Proactively identifies operational needs and potential challenges, develops and implements appropriate solutions, and ensures timely follow-through on projects, assignments, deadlines, and other Court priorities.
• Maintains regular and proactive communication with all General Sessions Judges and department programs to identify and address the operational needs, priorities, and concerns of each division and of the Court as a whole.

Minimum Qualifications

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Judicial Administration, Political Science, Political Management, Organizational Leadership, Management, Law, or another closely related field and Six (6) years of increasingly responsible administrative, management, executive, or organizational leadership experience, including at least three (3) years of substantial management experience involving responsibility for personnel, programs, operations, or organizational functions.

***Additional experience may be considered in lieu of education, and vice versa. (1:1 Ratio)***
Candidates with accreditations earned in a foreign institute are encouraged to apply.

Note: Per Metro Ordinance No. SO94-1078. All employees of the Metropolitan Government shall be residents of the State of Tennessee or become residents of the state within six (6) months of employment as a prerequisite to employment with the Metropolitan Government.
Preferred Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a complex organizational environment, including collaboration with senior leadership, elected officials, governmental agencies, external partners, or other key stakeholders.
• Prior experience working within Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County government and demonstrated familiarity with Metro government operations and key governmental and justice-system partners is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in executive leadership, organizational management, and strategic planning.
• Strong government-relations experience and demonstrated ability to work effectively with elected officials, governmental agencies, legislative bodies, and other key stakeholders.
• Works with the Presiding Judge and Chief Financial Officer on the preparation of the annual budget to the Office of Management and Budget including the Metro Council, as well as responsible for working with the Presiding Judge to generate an Annual General Sessions Court Report.
• Demonstrated experience in project management, organizational problem solving, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational budgeting, fiscal management, resource development, and strategic advocacy.
• Strong personnel-management experience, including performance management, employee accountability, and performance evaluations.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully serve and communicate with multiple executives, elected officials, or organizational principals with differing priorities.
• Demonstrated sound judgment, integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change and implementing new programs, policies, or systems.
• Experience using data and technology to improve organizational operations and decision-making.
• Demonstrated commitment to effective and accessible public service.
• Strong professional writing skills, including experience drafting executive, legal, governmental, policy, or comparable official documents.

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?

• No diploma
• High School Diploma or Equivalent
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctoral Degree

02

If you have a degree, indicate your major field of study in the area below.
03

How many years of progressively responsible administrative, management, executive, or organizational leadership experience do you have?

• No Experience
• One Year
• Two Years
• Three Years
• Four Years
• Five Years
• Six Years
• Seven Years
• Eight Years
• Nine Years
• Ten Years
• Eleven Years
• Twelve Years or More

04

Briefly describe your progressively responsible administrative, management, executive, or organizational leadership experience. If none, N/A.
05

How many years of management experience do you have involving responsibility for personnel, programs, operations, or organizational functions?

• No Experience
• One Year
• Two Years
• Three Years or More

06

Briefly describe your experience managing an organization, department, or office. Include the approximate number of employees supervised and the scope of your responsibilities. If none, N/A.
07

Describe your experience working within Metropolitan Nashville government or another complex governmental organization. Include your experience working across departments or agencies to accomplish organizational objectives. If none, N/A.
08

Describe your experience working with elected officials, executive leadership, legislative bodies, governmental agencies, and other external stakeholders. Please provide an example of a matter in which you were required to build consensus or coordinate among individuals or organizations with differing interests. If none, N/A.
09

Describe your experience developing, managing, or advocating for an organizational budget. Include any experience working with finance departments, legislative bodies, or other governmental entities concerning funding or resource allocation. If none, N/A.
10

Describe a significant operational problem you identified in an organization. How did you determine the cause, who did you engage to address it, what action did you take, and what was the result?
11

Describe a significant project or initiative for which you were responsible from planning through implementation. How did you establish goals, coordinate stakeholders, measure progress, and ensure completion?
12

The Court Administrator works for a Court consisting of eleven independently elected General Sessions Judges, while working most closely with the Presiding Judge. Describe your experience serving multiple principals, executives, elected officials, board members, or other decision-makers whose priorities may differ. How did you maintain communication and effectively serve the organization as a whole?
13

Describe your experience with personnel management, including employee performance, workplace issues, organizational policies, and accountability.
14

Describe your familiarity with the Nashville-Davidson County justice system and the role of the Metropolitan General Sessions Court. If your professional background has not been in the court system, describe how your experience would prepare you to learn and effectively administer a court organization.
15

What do you believe are the most important qualities of an effective Court Administrator, and why are you interested in serving the Metropolitan General Sessions Court?
Required Question