Cheif Circuit Mediator at U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta, Georgia

Job Description:

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit invites applications for the position of Chief Circuit Mediator. This position is located on-site in Atlanta, Georgia or Miami, Florida. Applications are being accepted through April 18, 2025, or until the position is filled. The salary range is:

     Atlanta pay scale - $181,672 - $236,174

     Miami pay scale - $182,963 - $237,853

To apply, please send an application packet that includes (1) a cover letter addressed to Cheryl Vessels, Assistant Circuit Executive for Human Resources; (2) a resumé detailing background, qualifications, and experience in mediation; (3) a three-page to five-page self-edited writing sample; and (4) a certificate of good standing as a member of the appropriate bar. Application packets should be emailed in one single PDF attachment to human_resources@ca11.uscourts.gov. Please indicate “Chief Circuit Mediator” in the subject line.

The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation as a condition of employment.

POSITION SUMMARY: The Chief Circuit Mediator is an executive position with legal and administrative responsibilities. The Chief Circuit Mediator, who serves under the direction of the Chief Judge and the Circuit Executive of the Eleventh Circuit, presides at mediations in civil appeals and oversees the work of professional staff in two offices within the Eleventh Circuit. The primary purpose of circuit mediation is to settle appeals and any related cases. This position is located in the Kinnard Mediation Center.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: 

The Chief Circuit Mediator directly supervises circuit mediators whose duties include: leading discussions of procedural and substantive legal issues; conducting analyses of an appeal’s settlement value; probing each party’s interest in an effort to help the parties create and explore alternatives to continued litigation; managing all administrative functions for the Kinnard Mediation Center involving personnel, statistical reporting, automation, fiscal, procurement, and budget; establishing and enforcing operating procedures and standards; developing organizational goals and objectives; and performing other functions and special projects within the Eleventh Circuit as assigned. 

REQUIREMENTS: Applicants must possess at least ten years of increasingly responsible administrative and managerial experience in court or executive management that demonstrates thorough knowledge of the basic concepts, principles, and theories of management; the ability to understand the managerial policies applicable to the court; the ability to exert strong leadership in the mediation program, which is a vital component of the appeal process; and the ability to deal tactfully with high level members of the public and private sectors. At least three years of experience must have been in a position of substantial management responsibility.

In addition, five years of progressively responsible legal work experience in the practice of law, legal research, legal administration, or equivalent experience received after graduation from law school is required.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Graduation from an accredited law school, practice before the highest court of a state or territory of the United States, and at least ten years of post-graduate experience, a substantial portion of which involved trial and appellate work in federal courts, and active membership in good standing in the bar of the highest court of a state or the District of Columbia;
• Significant training and experience in mediation;
• Knowledge of and experience working with the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure;
• Thorough knowledge of all aspects of civil law and legal procedures;
• A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics, costs, impacts, and strategies of the litigation process;
• The ability to analyze complex legal and practical aspects of an appeal;
• An aptitude for collaborative problem-solving and consensus building processes;
• The ability to deal persuasively and tactfully with strong-willed and sophisticated counsel and parties and to develop creative and practical solutions in appeals involving a wide range of disputes and personalities;
• The ability to work independently without supervision, exercising judgment and discretion to maintain party confidences, control direction of negotiations, and modify the subsequent course of proceedings;
• Ability to conduct mediations via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or other secure video conferencing platforms;
• Demonstrated ability to lead with a vision, develop and execute strategic plans, and foster effective working relationships.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS:

• Knowledge of digital scheduling programs and automation;
• Experience using technology to streamline workflows and improve efficiency;
• Ability to implement AI-driven scheduling for mediation sessions via court-approved portals; and
• Experience implementing digital transformation projects to modernize mediation processes.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The Eleventh Circuit encompasses the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia. Appellate filings originate from decisions of federal district and bankruptcy courts and administrative agencies within the circuit.                                                          

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: Applicants must be United States citizens or eligible to work for the federal government. All applicant information is subject to verification. All offers of employment are provisional pending successful completion of a background check or investigation and a favorable employment suitability determination. Selectees to high-sensitive positions such as this must successfully complete a ten-year background investigation, and subsequent favorable suitability determination, and every five years thereafter will be subject to a re-investigation. It is the policy of this court that all new personnel are hired for a twelve-month initial probationary period, at the end of which time their work and progress will be evaluated. All court employees are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Employees. Employees of the United States Circuit Court are considered “at-will” employees, and, as such, may be terminated with or without cause. The Office of Personnel Management civil service position classification standards and appeal procedures do not apply to federal court employees. This position is subject to Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for payroll deposit.

Salary/Compensation: $181,672 - $236,174 per year

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