• Works with department staff, community resources, employers and partnering agencies to coordinate the delivery of career and technical education services and programs to help residents at the Krier Center achieve meaningful employment and related academic goals;
• Sources career & technical education (CTE) services, employers and programs based on the needs of program participants;
• Interviews and assesses residents’ aptitudes, existing job skills, identifies employment interests, educational/ technical/ career interests, and determines work habit modification requirements;
• Coordinates and/or provides job readiness classes or events for program participants;
• Provides instruction, encouragement and guidance regarding residents’ work habits, appropriate job behavior, job skill development and handling of employment problems;
• Maintains individual case and chronological documentation on program participants;
• Monitors residents’ progress in the program and job performance;
• Coordinates department involvement with and acts as liaison to various outside programs;
• Prepares statistics, performance indicators information, work unit activity reports, evaluations on program and grant activities, and provides input on budgetary matters affecting the program; and
• Participates with the appropriate Deputy Chief Probation Officer and outside agencies in the development of programs or grant proposals which will benefit residents with employment readiness.

Minimum Education and Experience. Bachelor’s degree conferred by a college or university accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board plus three years of social service experience. One year of experience must include full-time casework, counseling, community or group work in social service, community, corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with juvenile age youth. One year of graduate study in criminology, corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology, sociology, or other related field may be substituted for the one year of casework experience.

Special Requirements. Must secure and maintain certification as a Juvenile Supervision Officer by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department. Must secure and maintain a favorable background investigation. Must clear a psychological assessment, a pre-employment physical and a pre-employment drug screen test. Must have a valid driver’s license, motor vehicle liability insurance, personal injury insurance and a personal vehicle or alternate available means of transportation. May be required to work more than 40 hours during the workweek and to work non-traditional hours.

Knowledge. Must have knowledge of Texas Juvenile Justice Code and Penal Code Laws; knowledge of basic instruction techniques; knowledge of the Texas Employment Commission’s child labor laws; knowledge of federal and state employment laws; knowledge of federal and state labor, employment and training programs; knowledge of the Texas Education system and processes; knowledge of job readiness curriculum and best practices; knowledge of interviewing techniques; knowledge of community resources; knowledge of case management techniques; and knowledge of support service programs and eligibility requirements.

Skills. Must have skill in supervising professional and clerical employees; skill in dealing with hostile or violent individuals; skill in operating a computer and basic office equipment; skill in case management; interpersonal skills to interact effectively with troubled juveniles, employees, and the general public; and skill in dealing with juveniles and families in crisis. skill in logical problem solving; skills in analyzing and preparing spreadsheets; skill in organizing and maintaining records; and skill in operating computers using standard word processing, database and spreadsheet software; skill in supervising and managing staff; skills in managing task, team building and work assignments.

Abilities. Must have ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to motivate, mentor and coach; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with businesses, potential employers, co-workers, County employees, outside organizations and the general public; ability to respond effectively to questions and complaints; ability to organize and maintain data; ability to prepare reports; ability to operate personal computer, and basic office equipment. Ability to plan, organize and prioritize work; ability to organize in a logical manner; and ability to take corrective actions as needed.

Supervisory Responsibility. Employee receives general direction when performing the essential functions. Employee may modify or combine known methods in order to achieve work goals. Primary supervisory responsibility is for counseling, providing work assignments, and training for the program. Job has impact on work unit operations and public image.

Judgment, initiative and decision-making. Independent judgment is required to assess individual probationer job skills and match them with employment opportunities. Uses moderate discretion to complete work assignments. Initiative is constantly required to complete work assignments. Conflicting or incomplete data is occasionally encountered in decision-making. Decisions are made regarding policy interpretation, project planning and individual work priorities.

Contacts. Constant with youth, career and technical education providers and other outside organizations, school district personnel, facility management and line-staff, co-workers, and the general public. Frequent contact with other government agencies, employers and Department Heads. Occasional contact with other county employees. Communication is primarily in person, via telephone and through written correspondence.

Working Conditions. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Working conditions are primarily inside a correctional facility environment. While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee regularly is exposed to emergency situations in which there is the possibility of danger or physical injury. The employee has frequent contact with other employees both within and outside of the assigned department, law enforcement and juvenile justice system officials, and youth. The employee must remain calm and professional in tense, emotionally charged, and stressful situations. The employee frequently must work under time pressures to meet deadlines and must perform multiple tasks simultaneously. The employee must work closely with others as part of and/or a leader of a team. The employee constantly must present a positive attitude as a role model for youth. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but may be noisy and distracting.
Physical Demands. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, run, twist, kneel, and climb. The employee is required to utilize hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate duress alarms, two-way radios, handcuffs, and shackles. The employee is required to reach with hands and arms, and talk and hear. The employee may be required to lift and/or move objects weighing up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

In order for your application to be consider for the position you will need to complete the supplemental question section of the application. Supplemental questions are being asked due to the position having certification standards, federal and state laws that apply for hiring.

The position you are applying for requires you to obtain certification from the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD). In order to determine if you are eligible to obtain the TJJD certification you must complete the supplemental question of the application. In addition, there are federal and state laws that apply for hiring for this position. In accordance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) (115.317) we are unable to employ individuals who have (1) engaged in sexual abuse in a prison, jail, lockup, community confinement facility, juvenile facility, or other Institution (as defined in 42 U.S. C. 1997); (2) has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force, or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse; or (3)has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in (2) of this section.