QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.
  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.

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.

EDUCATION

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.

• Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• How to Apply

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.
Preference given to applications received by April 18, 2025.

IF YOU ARE RELYING ON YOUR EDUCATION TO MEET QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.
Help

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.
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.

Annual Salary Range:

• Atlanta pay scale - $181,672 - $236,174
• Miami pay scale - $182,963 - $237,853