Ascension LLC is seeking a highly experienced Judicial Process Mapping Subject Matter Expert (SME) to serve as the Lead Research Consultant for a high-visibility engagement supporting the Maryland Judiciary’s Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC).

This individual will serve as the primary technical authority responsible for designing and executing a statewide assessment and mapping of data-related business processes across all 24 Maryland Circuit Courts. This role is mission-critical, as it directly influences the Judiciary’s ability to improve data governance, data quality, and statewide reporting consistency.

The ideal candidate is a senior-level consultant with deep expertise in court/judicial systems, business process mapping, and stakeholder-driven research methodologies. This individual must be capable of leading complex, multi-jurisdictional assessments, synthesizing qualitative and quantitative findings, and delivering presentation-ready outputs for executive decision-making.

This is the most scrutinized role in the evaluation, and the selected candidate must clearly demonstrate technical leadership, domain expertise, and the ability to independently drive results.

Position Summary

The Lead Research Consultant will lead all technical and analytical aspects of the engagement, including:

• Development of the Project Work Plan and Data Collection Plan
• Design and execution of stakeholder engagement strategies (interviews, focus groups, surveys)
• Documentation and mapping of up to 10 judicial business processes across the case lifecycle
• Development of process maps, swimlane diagrams, and data flow models
• Analysis of data governance, data quality, and process inefficiencies across court systems
• Delivery of a Business Practice Inventory and final findings

This role requires a self-directed, highly analytical professional who thrives in ambiguous environments and can translate complex operational realities into structured, actionable insights.

The consultant will work closely with AOC leadership and stakeholders including clerks, judges, administrators, and researchers to ensure outputs are accurate, validated, and aligned with enterprise data governance goals.

Day-to-Day / Core Responsibilities

• Lead development of the Project Work Plan, including methodology, timeline, and stakeholder engagement strategy
• Design structured data collection approaches (interviews, focus groups, surveys, document reviews)
• Develop interview guides and research instruments aligned to AOC-defined business processes
• Conduct stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and engagement sessions across 24 Circuit Courts
• Coordinate with AOC and stakeholders to schedule and execute engagement activities
• Analyze current-state business processes related to case lifecycle data entry and management
• Map end-to-end data flows across systems (Enterprise Justice, MDEC modules, etc.)
• Develop process maps, swimlane diagrams, and workflow visualizations
• Identify variations, inefficiencies, and data quality gaps across jurisdictions
• Validate findings with AOC stakeholders and refine outputs based on feedback
• Develop a comprehensive Business Practice Inventory and supporting documentation
• Prepare executive-level briefings, reports, and final presentation materials
• Support bi-weekly status meetings and provide progress updates to AOC leadership