OCJ - Research Assistant

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOB DESCRIPTION



 

POSITION TITLE : Research Assistant	PAY GRADE : 18
BUSINESS UNIT : Problem-Solving Courts (PSC)	Salary Range: $71,647
POSITION CLASSIFICATION : Exempt	Date Posted: 9/17/2026

This is a full-time, limited duration position fully devoted to support the Circuit Court of Cook County Problem-Solving Court programs which are funded by Adult Redeploy Illinois grant with opportunity for continuation. The Office of the Chief Judge is the lead agency and is seeking a Research Assistant to provide administrative , operational, and analytic support to the Director of the Problem-Solving Courts.

OVERVIEW
The Research Assistant for the Problem-Solving Courts provides vital administrative and data support to the Director of Problem-Solving Courts and the court teams. This position plays a key role in ensuring accurate, consistent, and timely data collection and maintenance for program monitoring, grant reporting, and performance evaluation. The Research Assistant manages data workflows, supports quality assurance efforts, and coordinates with court staff and partner agencies to gather, clean, and organize information used to track program activities and participant outcomes. In addition to data responsibilities, the Research Assistant will serve as an administrative partner to the Director, assisting in daily operational tasks, preparation of reports, and maintenance of organized systems needed to support efficient and effective program oversight. This role is essential to supporting the integrity of the Problem-Solving Courts’ operations and helping ensure compliance with program standards and grant requirements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The essential functions of the Research Assistant include the following:

• Collect, clean, and maintain data from all 20 Problem-Solving Court locations;
• Assist with ongoing data quality assurance to ensure accuracy, consistency, and completeness;
• Maintain and update centralized datasets used for reporting, grant compliance, and program evaluation;
• Prepare routine and ad hoc data summaries for the Director of Problem-Solving Courts and internal stakeholders;
• Build and manage data tracking tools for program participants, court activities, and outcomes;
• Support the Director of Problem-Solving Courts with administrative tasks related to data tracking, reporting schedules, and documentation management;
• Coordinate the receipt and organization of data submissions from court locations and partner agencies;
• Assist in generating charts, metrics, and other visualizations needed for program monitoring and presentations;
• Help ensure data collection practices across court locations align with established standards and grant requirements;
• Communicate with court staff and external partners to clarify data requirements or address discrepancies;
• Monitor deadlines for reporting obligations and help prepare materials for submission;
• Support continuous improvements in data workflows and documentation systems;
• Provide administrative and organizational support to the Director in managing project tasks and priorities as assigned;
• Assists with other miscellaneous matters as required by the Director;
• Meet productivity standards as established by the Director of Problem-Solving Courts and Grant Project Director.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in a Human Services field, Criminal Justice, Social Work, Public Administration, Data Science, or a related field.
• Experience: At least 1–2 years of experience in data entry, data management, research assistance, grant reporting, program evaluation, or a closely related area.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Familiarity with court operations, criminal justice system processes, or human services settings (preferred but not required);
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills;
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and other data management tools;
• Experience with databases or data platforms is preferred;
• Ability to collect, clean, and organize large sets of data from multiple sources;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team across multiple court locations;
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to all Court Rules of Conduct;
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and meet deadlines;
• Technical aptitude and comfort learning new software or data systems as needed.

QUALIFIED APPLICANTS MUST SUBMIT:

• Letter of interest addressed to Honorable Charles S. Beach, Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, addressing work experience and the qualifications for this position;
• Application for Employment for the Circuit Court of Cook County;
• Applicant’s current resume

Late or incomplete application submissions will not be considered. Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.
 
Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the . Please apply by filling out the application at our .

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.