ACCESS, INNOVATION, & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (AICE) DIRECTOR - 78729

Executive Service Annual Salary: $175,000.00 - $182,000.00 Closing Date: 07/12/2026 Position designated as Hybrid. Background check required. Applicants may be required to provide information about criminal history. About the Organization The Tennessee Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) serves as a trusted resource to assist in improving the administration of justice and promoting confidence in the judiciary. It is the administrative arm of the State's judicial branch. Job Overview The Access, Innovation, & Community Engagement (AICE) Director is a strategic leader and member of the AOC's Executive Leadership Team who directs the operations of the AICE Division. The AICE Division is the operational arm of the AOC responsible for advancing Tennessee's access to justice agenda; the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) serves as the advisory body that informs the work. This role requires a forward‑thinking, collaborative professional who can translate the changing needs of court users into actionable initiatives that remove barriers to justice. Key Responsibilities Direct AICE Division operations; lead, supervise, and develop staff; manage budget, planning, and reporting. Oversee program managers responsible for the Rule 31 Mediator Listing Program, State Interpreter Program, Justice Bus events, statewide pro bono initiatives, continuing education, and grant administration for VORP and the Parent Education and Mediation Fund Program. Serve as liaison to the ATJC and oversee administrative support for strategic planning, Commission and committee meetings, and working groups. Lead initiatives providing self‑represented litigants with information, forms, and tools needed to navigate court, including plain‑language forms, court navigator programs, self‑help centers, and digital tools. Build partnerships with legal aid organizations, pro bono programs, law school clinics, and the private bar to expand legal services statewide. Coordinate initiatives reducing logistical, financial, language, and disability‑related barriers, including e‑reminder programs, remote hearing support, language access, and ADA compliance. Identify and pilot opportunities to simplify procedures, modernize workflows, and adopt technologies that reduce burdens on litigants and court staff. Oversee ATJ communications for the AOC, ATJC, and Tennessee Supreme Court, including Help4TN Month and Pro Bono Month campaigns. Coordinate Pro Bono Recognition Events, Justice Bus, listening conferences, regional meetings, and statewide training events. Identify, pursue, and administer grant funding; monitor external opportunities and administer existing programs under Rule 11 and the annual registration donation. Research and evaluate civil justice processes; track and report on ATJ outcomes for the ATJC, Tennessee Supreme Court, AOC leadership, and the public. Collaborate with national organizations (NCSC, SRLN, ABA) and local stakeholders; represent the AOC at state and national convenings. Ensure AICE programs comply with the ADA, Title VI, and WCAG 2.1 standards. Serve as a trusted advisor to the AOC Executive Leadership Team, Tennessee Supreme Court, and ATJC. Minimum Qualifications Active license to practice law in Tennessee. Minimum of five years of relevant employment experience with demonstrated leadership, program management, and stakeholder engagement experience. Experience working within a state court system or appearing as counsel regularly is required; experience working with the Tennessee courts is preferred. Strong commitment to working with underserved and marginalized communities, self‑represented litigants, and limited English proficient litigants is required. EEO Statement Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens. The State strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. The State’s policy is to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws. For more information, visit #J-18808-Ljbffr State of Tennessee