RESPONSIBILITIES
• Recommends selection of staff; trains staff and proposes internal and external training courses and workshops; provides career development and planning for staff; approves time off requests; reviews and approves time sheets; evaluates employee performance and conducts performance reviews; and administers discipline as required.
• Provide strategic direction for Center of Excellence (COE) staff.
• Review industry materials and guidelines to identify and assess fit of new system or business process solutions for trial court and Shared Services Center requirements and resources, as well as supportability for the COE.
• Direct and Review Project Management Office updates, including constant review of ongoing maintenance, trouble-ticket, and change request items.
• Oversee all aspects of Project Management for the COE, including setting project standards, project planning of time and resources, approving design, configuration and development, and providing organizational change management.
• Conduct lessons learned sessions for all significant COE efforts.
• Ensure appropriate integrated functional system design of the Phoenix SAP Finance and HR Payroll systems.
• Review Change Requests to ensure that requirements have been adequately captured, alternatives and integration points have been analyzed, level of effort estimates and timelines are reasonable, and testing, documentation, and communication plans are complete.
• Review design documentation regularly to ensure compliance with standards and thorough analysis of technical and functional impacts.
• Review and approve test plans to ensure adequacy and oversee completion when executed.
• Act as primary liaison between the Judicial Council's Information Technology (JCIT) office and the COE.
• Review and approve system maintenance activities.
• Conduct Integration meetings with JCIT's Center of Excellence management.
• Set development standards and review design and delivery documentation to ensure compliance with them.
• Manage vendor relationships to ensure that Trial Court Administrative Services office and JCIT receive the service they require from software and integrator vendors.
• Lead/participate in meetings with SAP software account representatives.
• Lead/participate in meetings with System Integrator services account representatives.
• Review and approve monthly billings from System Integrator services provider.
• Manage functional Subject Matter Expert tasks for procurement of IT services.
Working Conditions The Judicial Council strives for work life balance and includes substantial vacation and holiday time. In addition, we offer an excellent benefits package including pension, medical, dental, and vision coverage, flexible spending, up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs, student loan forgiveness as part of Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), and retirement savings plans. In San Francisco, the office is only a 7-minute walk from the Civic Center BART station. In
The Judicial Council offers hybrid work arrangements for many positions. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person at the Judicial Council's San Francisco or Sacramento office at least two days per week, based on their office leader's direction, and reside in the areas surrounding these locations. To be eligible for Judicial Council employment and participation in the Judicial Council's Hybrid Work Program, a prospective or current employee's primary residence/remote work location must be in the State of California and within a 150-mile driving radius of their assigned reporting location.
Sacramento, the office is located minutes from downtown, just north of Discovery Park.
Minimum Requirements This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.
Additional Documents - Job Application Package Checklist
Position Details Job Code #:
JC-529088
Position #(s):
156-100-3427-XXX
Working Title:
Principal Manager I
Classification:
PRINCIPAL MANAGER I $10,475.00 - $15,713.00
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
Sacramento County
Telework:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Permanent, Full Time
Department Information OVERVIEW
The Judicial Council of California is accepting applications for the position of Principal Manager I in the Branch Accounting and Procurement office. This is a senior leadership opportunity for an experienced manager to lead the Branch Accounting and Procurement Center of Excellence (COE), which supports mission-critical enterprise systems and business processes serving the Judicial Council and California's trial courts.
Working with considerable independence, the Principal Manager I provides strategic and operational leadership for a team of managers and professional staff responsible for enterprise SAP Finance, Procurement, and HR Payroll systems. The position establishes priorities, oversees complex projects and system enhancements, guides business process improvement and organizational change, and provides governance over system design, maintenance, and vendor-delivered services.
The Principal Manager I serves as a key bridge between business operations and technology, working closely with executive leadership, Information Technology Services, court stakeholders, and external vendors. The successful candidate will bring strong leadership and sound judgment, the ability to manage competing priorities and complex stakeholder relationships, and a commitment to developing staff and delivering reliable, sustainable solutions that support the statewide administration of justice.
Department Website: http://www.courts.ca.gov/careers
Application Instructions Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 10/2/2026
Who May Apply
Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply. Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).
How To Apply
Completed Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. A completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included, when submitting your application in hard copy.
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Judicial Council of California
Primary Cert Contact
Attn: Please Apply in the Benefits Section below
455 Golden Gate Avenue
San Francisco , CA 94102-3688
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Desirable Qualifications In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree and six (6) years of professional analytical or managerial experience in assigned
function, including, but not limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research,
and advising, including at least three (3) years of supervisory/management experience. An additional
four (4) years of professional experience as noted above may substitute for the bachelor's degree.
Or, additional directly related experience and/or education may be substituted on a year-for-year
basis.
OR
Master's degree in a directly related field for the assigned discipline and three (3) years of
professional-level analytical or managerial experience in assigned function, including, but not
limited to, program analysis, development, implementation, research, and advising, including at least
three (3) years of supervisory/management experience.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS
• High level of knowledge and experience in support of "live" SAP systems, SAP implementation, and/or SAP deployment projects. This experience should include analysis of complex system or process issues and complete solution delivery.
• High level of knowledge and experience in Project Integration Management, preferably in an SAP environment.
• High level of knowledge and experience with Microsoft Office tools.
• Experience and success with handling sensitive issues in a politically charged environment.
• High degree of organizational skills to manage multiple projects and maintenance efforts with limited resources and competing priorities.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to create or review and edit messages for various audiences.
OTHER INFORMATION
Please note, if you are selected for hire, verification of employment eligibility or authorization to work in the United States will be required.
Benefits HOW TO APPLY
This position is Open Until Filled and requires the submission of our official application, a resume, and response to the supplemental questions. To ensure consideration of your application for the earliest round of interviews, please apply by Thursday, September 10, 2026 .
To complete an online application, please visit our careers page at www.courts.ca.gov/about/careers and search for Job ID# 6729 .
The Judicial Council provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities who request such accommodation. Reasonable accommodation needs should be requested through Human Resources at (415) 865-4260. Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) is available by dialing 711. Once connected, provide the relay operator with the number for Human Resources: 415-865-4260.
PAYMENT & BENEFITS
Salary Range: $10,475 - $15,713 per month
Please note due to statewide fiscal conditions, the posted salary range is subject to a temporary 3% reduction. In exchange for this temporary reduction, judicial branch employees accrue an additional 5 hours of paid personal leave per month through June 30, 2027.
Some highlights of our benefits package include:
• Health/Dental/Vision benefits program
• 14 paid holidays per calendar year
• Choice of Annual Leave or Sick/Vacation Leave
• 1 personal holiday per year
• Up to $130 per month reimbursement for qualifying commuting costs
• CalPERS Retirement Plan
• 401(k) and 457 deferred compensation plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance
• FlexElect Program
• Pretax Parking
• Long Term Disability Program (employee paid/optional)
Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.
Contact Information The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.
Department Website: http://www.courts.ca.gov/careers
Human Resources Contact:
Willie Yapching
(415) 865-8944
[email protected] Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for
