Executive Director​/Trial Court Administrator

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court is seeking its next Executive Director, a position commonly known in courts as the Trial Court Administrator. Reporting to the Chief Judge, the Executive Director leads the people, budget, and operations of a court organization serving all of Lake County.

The 19th Judicial Circuit serves Lake County, Illinois, from the county seat in Waukegan, with additional facilities in Vernon Hills and branch courts in Mundelein, Round Lake Beach, and Park City. The Circuit is led by the Chief Judge, who is elected by the 16 circuit judges.

The organization employs approximately 265 people across eight divisions:
Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation and Detention Services, Psychological Services, Judicial Operations, Budget and Finance, Human Resources, Legal Services, and Judicial Information Services and Technology. Each division is led by an experienced director.

As Executive Director, you are the senior non-judicial administrator of the Circuit. The Chief Judge and Executive Director work as a productive pair: the Chief Judge sets strategic direction, and the Executive Director leads the organization that carries it out. This is a significant leadership opportunity where you will lead an experienced team of eight division directors, oversee organizational and operational priorities, and works closely with judges, Lake County officials, and justice-system partners to support the effective administration of the Circuit.

• Partner with the Chief Judge to translate strategic priorities into effective court operations.
• Provide administrative direction across eight divisions.
• Support continuity of court administration through leadership transitions.

• Lead, coach, and develop eight division directors and senior staff.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and collaborative working relationships across the leadership team.
• Support succession planning and leadership continuity throughout the Circuit.
• Oversee personnel management, performance management, employee relations, and recruitment throughout the Circuit.

• Provide executive oversight of labor relations in partnership with the Director of Human Resources.
• Participate in collective bargaining and the resolution of grievances and arbitration matters.
• Ensure collective bargaining agreements are interpreted and administered consistently across all divisions.

• Develop the Circuit's annual budget and present it to the Lake County Board and its committees.
• Evaluate new program requests and provide guidance on grant applications and coordination.

• Maintain an effective working relationship with the Lake County Board on budget and administrative matters.
• Build strong working relationships with justice partners, including the Clerk of the Circuit Court, State's Attorney's Office, Public Defender's Office, Sheriff's Office, and County Administrator's Office.
• Monitor legislation, court rules, and administrative directives and develop appropriate policy responses.

You are a seasoned government executive with a strong record of leading people, managing complex operations, and building effective organizations. You bring sound judgment, collaborative leadership, and the ability to work successfully across departments, governing bodies, and external partners.

• A proven ability to coach and develop senior staff.
• Experience working with elected officials, boards, commissions, judges, or other governing bodies.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
• The ability to balance strategic leadership with practical problem…