ACCESS, INNOVATION, & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (AICE) DIRECTOR

ACCESS, INNOVATION, & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (AICE) DIRECTOR

Administrative Office of the Courts

Court Services Division

Nashville, TN

Annual Salary: $175,000.00 - $182,000.00

Closing Date: 07/12/2026

This position is designated as Hybrid.

For more information, visit the link below:

Background Check:

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who We Are and What We Do:

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, one of the three fundamental divisions of Tennessee state government. The judicial branch provides an essential check on the legislative and executive branches through judicial review. The AOC supports the Tennessee Supreme Court, intermediate appellate courts, trial courts, and courts of limited jurisdiction by managing programs, resources, and operations that enable the courts to function efficiently.

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, while the Tennessee Access to Justice Commission (ATJC) serves as the advisory body that informs the work. The AICE Director leads AICE Division staff and programs, serves as liaison to and provides administrative support for the ATJC, and partners closely with the Tennessee Supreme Court, judges, court personnel, legal aid and pro bono programs, and community stakeholders statewide. 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. Please visit the TnCourts Employment page for a more in-depth description of the position.

Key Responsibilities:

Division Leadership: 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.

ATJC Liaison & Support: Serve as liaison to the ATJC and oversee administrative support for strategic planning, Commission and committee meetings, and working groups.

Access to Legal Information: Lead initiatives providing self-represented litigants with the information, forms, and tools needed to navigate court, including plain-language forms, court navigator programs, self-help centers, and digital tools.

Access to Legal Advice: Build partnerships with legal aid organizations, pro bono programs, law school clinics, and the private bar to expand legal services statewide.

Access to Court Proceedings & Services: Coordinate initiatives reducing logistical, financial, language, and disability-related barriers, including e-reminder programs, remote hearing support, language access, and ADA compliance.

Simplifying Court Procedures & Innovation: Identify and pilot opportunities to simplify procedures, modernize workflows, and adopt technologies that reduce burdens on litigants and court staff.

Access to Justice Communications: Oversee ATJ communications for the AOC, ATJC, and Tennessee Supreme Court, including #Help4TN Month and Pro Bono Month campaigns. Partner with the AOC Communications team to align messaging and maximize outreach impact.

Tennessee Supreme Court ATJ Events: Coordinate Pro Bono Recognition Events, Justice Bus, listening conferences, regional meetings, and statewide training events.

Grants & Resource Development: Identify, pursue, and administer grant funding. Monitor external opportunities and administer existing programs under Rule 11 and the annual registration donation.

Research, Evaluation & Reporting: Research and evaluate civil justice processes; track and report on ATJ outcomes for the ATJC, Tennessee Supreme Court, AOC leadership, and the public.

National & Local Stakeholder Collaboration: Collaborate with national organizations (NCSC, SRLN, ABA) and local stakeholders; represent the AOC at state and national convenings.

Compliance & Accessibility: Ensure AICE programs comply with the ADA, Title VI, and WCAG 2.1 standards. Executive Collaboration: 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 and a 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. A strong commitment to working with underserved and marginalized communities, self-represented litigants, and limited English proficient litigants is required.

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 and 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. It is the State's policy 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.