Family Court Service Director

Salary: $111,360.60 - $140,906.28 Annually
Location : Watsonville Courthouse, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 00050
Department: Self Help / Law Library / Family Services
Division: Family Court Services
Opening Date: 09/18/2026
Closing Date: 10/11/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

DEFINITION

Under general supervision of the Director of Operations, and general direction of the Superior Court, the Family Court Services Director (FCSD) administers the program and supervises the staff of the Family Court Services unit. The FCSD oversees program development, quality assurance, compliance, and technology and data driven systems supporting FCS operations; and preforms expert level child custody recommending counseling (CCRC) duties. The FCSD conducts child custody recommending counseling, investigations, prepares recommendations, responds to ex parte requests, dependency and guardian mediations, stepparent adoptions, freedom from custody and control and marriage of a minor matters.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Family Court Services Director is a single position classification and is distinguished from the Child Custody Recommending Counselor (CCRC) in that in addition to performing CCRC services, the incumbent provides coordination, supervision and training to the clerical and counseling staff.

REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES

• Conduct daily child custody and recommending counseling sessions and complete reports
• Plans, develops, coordinates, implements and evaluates Family Court Services programs within the guidelines provided by the Court and California statutes
• Assigns cases, supervises and reviews work of counseling staff
• Provides child custody recommending counseling services to litigants and handles high-conflict and sensitive cases
• Reviews legislation related to Family Court Services, attends legislative updates, develops and updates procedures and protocols based on legislative, caselaw and policy changes, and makes recommendations to court administration on the implementation of changes.
• Provides training on new laws, regulations, and policies that impact program procedures and documents.
• Determine data gathering techniques required to obtain needed information, design data record-keeping systems on an on-going basis to evaluate resources and level of service.
• Provides operational, statistical, performance, and compliance reports for executive leadership on request.
• Actively coordinates Family Court Services activities with various governmental and community agencies including attending the Family Law Bench Bar meetings (approximately twice a year)
• Attends professional conferences and workshops and participates in regional and national level Family Law organizations including Bay Area FCS Directors Association meetings.
• Provides public information to interested lay and professional groups
  • Trains, supervises and evaluates work performed by staff members including performance evaluations, and coaching.
  • Maintain the list of local supervised visitation providers and ensure they meet the criteria for the court referral list
  • Maintain current FCS information on the Court's website and Sidebar (intranet)
  • Meet with judges to update them on new law, FCS policy and to work collaboratively together
  • Develop and implement effective administrative practices to improve work processes and that align with the court's overall goals of being a paperless organization
  • Adopts, supports and sustains program improvements through the use of existing and emerging technologies to improve program services and operational efficiency consistent with the Court's strategic goals.
  • Ensure FCS operations and staff compliance with courtwide technology policies on system usage, cybersecurity, remote access and physical security of IT assets.
• EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
  Knowledge of:
  
  • Court system of California as it relates to family law cases and a variety of civil procedures and community resources
  • Principles and techniques of interviewing, counseling, investigation and mediation
  • Terminology of family law and civil procedures
  • Relevant family law decisions affecting divorce and parenting plan arrangements
  • Laws and procedures relating to child sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect
  • Adult psychopathology, family psychology and system dynamics
  • Child development theory
  • Clinical issues related to children
  • Recent developments, current literature, and sources of information related to child abuse, the effects of divorce on children, and child custody research
  • Pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes, and regulations including those affecting conciliation, mediation work and mental health issues
  • Substance abuse problems and their relationship to Family Court issues
  • Principles and practices of supervision and training
• Ability to:
  
  • Coordinate activities with a variety of governmental and community agencies
  • Supervise and coordinate the work of assigned hourly and professional staff
  • Assist in the development of community resources
  • Design procedures and set standards to ensure a quality work product
  • Analyze program data and use metrics to inform improvements
  • Implement technology policies and support staff in adopting new systems
  • Assess the physical and emotional needs of children and adults

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Education and Experience:

The following requirements must be met:
• Master's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in clinical psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, behavioral science, or a closely related field.
• Two years of professional experience providing counseling or psychotherapy related to family conciliation for the courts, working with a population similar to that served by the County.
• (Highly preferred) Two years of supervisory or administrative management experience within Family Court Services, or in a closely related court-based family services program.

Special Requirements:

Possession of a license issued by the State of California as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Marriage, Family and Child Therapist (LFMT) or Clinical Psychologist, and completion of Domestic Violence training program in accordance with Section 1816 of the Family Code. The person must also meet the criteria in Family Code 1815 and requirements must be met annually pursuant to California Rule of Court 5.210 and 5.215.

Possession of a valid California Class C drivers' license

WORKING CONDITIONS

The work environment is professional, generally clean inside buildings with limited exposure to dust, fumes, odors, and noise. Incumbents will be working under sometimes difficult and stressful conditions, with frequent deadlines and expectation to produce high quality work under limited time constraints. The ability to work independently as well as closely with others is required.

Background Investigation: Fingerprinting is required.

Physical Demands:

• Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use a keyboard and video display terminal daily
• Hearing to communicate with the public and court staff
• Dexterity and coordination to handle files and single pieces of paper
• Strength to occasionally lift objects weighing up to 25 lbs. such as files, stacks of papers, reference and other materials
• Ability to move from place to place within an office and courthouse
• Some reaching for items above and below desk level

Position will tentatively start in January of 2027.
EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
MANAGEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES

Vacation Leave: 1 year of service = 15.25 days per year; after 15 years of service = 30.25 days per year. Maximum balance is 2 ½ times annual accrual. Balance paid out upon separation. Available for use after 12 months.

Administration Leave: Employees will receive 40 hours of administrative leave upon appointment. Employees shall earn administrative leave according to the currently established accrual rate of .0385 hour earned per hour of service. Admin Leave can be taken in cash or time off. Maximum balance is 120 hours. Balance paid out upon separation.

Sick Leave: Six days per year; available for use after 6 months.

Holidays: 14.5 paid holidays per year.

Retirement: CalPERS retirement plan (2% at age 62) integrated with Social Security; employee contributes 7.75% of salary pre-tax.

Medical: The Court contracts with CalPERS for a variety of health plans. For most plans Court contributions pay a large majority of the premiums for employees and dependents. Opt-Out for cash is available.

Dental: Court pays for employee and dependent coverage.

Vision: Court pays for employee and dependent coverage.

Life Insurance: Court paid $50,000 term policy for employee only; supplemental employee-paid plan available for employee and dependents.

Short Term Disability: Court paid; provides 66 2/3 of weekly salary up to maximum of $2,000 per week.

Long Term Disability: Court paid; provides 66 2/3 of monthly salary up to maximum of $9,000 per month.

Fitness/Health Incentive: Employees may receive an annual payment of no more than $200.00 for such expenses as gym memberships, physical fitness classes, smoking cessation or weight control programs.

Deferred Compensation: 457b plan available; employee voluntary deductions only.

Retiree Health Program: Retirees with at least 5 years of service with our court will have a portion of their monthly CalPERS health insurance cost paid. For retirees with at least 25 years of service, the Court will pay a 100% of the premium for the lowest cost applicable CalPERS HMO or Medicare HMO insurance premium not to exceed $1,000.00 Employees must work with the Court for at least 5 years to qualify and each employee
contributes 1% of their base pay on a pre-tax basis to partially fund the Court's retiree health program.
01

Describe your supervisory experience. If you have limited or no direct supervisory background, explain how you would approach managing both hourly and salaried employees in a Family Court Services environment, including how you would navigate differing rules, expectations, and performance standards for each group. Word limit: 300 words
02

Explain how your past professional experience-including counseling, mediation, program administration, or work within court based or family services settings-makes you an excellent fit for the Family Court Services Director role. Highlight specific responsibilities that align with the duties and requirements listed in this job posting. Word limit: 300 words
03

The Family Court Services Director is responsible for program development, quality assurance, compliance with statutory and local rules, and adoption of data driven processes and technology. Describe a situation where you led or contributed to a program improvement, implemented a policy or procedural change, or integrated technology to enhance operations. What was the outcome? Word limit: 300 words
Required Question