Juvenile Probation Counselor 2 – Probation Unit

Why It's a Great Opportunity:  Pierce County Juvenile Court is a national leader in youth justice. Many of our policies, practices, and programs are recognized across the country. We are committed to improving outcomes for the whole community by working closely with young people and families. While our reform work has brought positive results, we know more progress is needed. Parts of the current system create wide-ranging differences in outcomes for children and families, especially those who have not been well served in the past.

If you want to help move this work forward, prepare young people for successful adulthood, and support change inside the system and in the community, this role offers that opportunity.

Your compassion, active listening, support, empowerment, and advocacy for young people and families will be valued. We welcome your perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can grow, and together we can make a strong impact in the community.

 
Why It's a Great Department: Pierce County Juvenile Court is an innovative leader in the youth justice field. It is home to where reform policies, practices, and programs are nationally recognized. Pierce County Juvenile Court was one of two sites in the nation to be selected to pursue Probation Transformation in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Juvenile Court system is proud to be a national leader in working with young people and families to address systemic racism and improve outcomes for all people in our community. Even with the successes in our reform journey, we know that there is more work to do as the structure of our current system is designed to produce disparate outcomes for BIPOC children and families, as well as marginalized communities. 
   
Your passion for leading with compassion, listening, supporting, empowering, and providing resources and advocacy to young people and families will be valued here. We welcome and embrace your diverse perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can change, and together, we will make a powerful impact in the community.
 
Our Guiding Principles
We Practice Gratitude: We put relationships first and show appreciation for others.
We Value Differences: We respect a wide range of opinions, cultures, and experiences.
We Maintain a Growth Mindset: We focus on effort, perseverance, and helpful feedback.
We Choose Courage Over Comfort: We face challenges and difficult conversations with care, and support one another. 
We Practice Authenticity:  We are genuine, speak truthfully, and seek to understand experiences different from our own.

How to be Successful in the Role: 

Pierce County Juvenile Court is strongly committed to the principles of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This work centers on fair access, strong community partnership, and practices that match the developmental needs of young people. These approaches help reduce the use of detention and improve outcomes for youth and families.

The Probation Manager will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using evidence-based approaches, building collaboration with community partners, and ensuring probation services align with JDAI’s core strategies. The work is done in close partnership with a dedicated group of judicial officers who operate under case law and statute. As a result, the Probation Manager must balance legal requirements with innovation, consistency, and practices that keep young people at the center of decision-making.

Together, this leader and the court’s judicial and management team will support a system that prioritizes rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunities for youth to grow.

You will prioritize the safety and security of youth and staff by using effective behavior-management and de-escalation skills. Responding to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with compassion will support success in this role.

You must be able to work in a high-conflict environment while staying focused on strengths and helping cases move forward. You will think critically, challenge assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. You must be responsive to community needs and communicate persuasively. You will respond to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with practices that remove obstacles to participation. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for long-term success in child welfare.

Your Future in this Role: 

As the justice system continues to evolve, we welcome forward-thinking, creative, and compassionate people who thrive in fast-changing, innovative environments.

This position offers opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training. You will also build connections with partners in child welfare, education, mental health, community supports, substance-use treatment, economic-stability services, and other areas affecting young people and families.

Strategic Responsibilities and Values: 

You should be adaptable, forward-thinking, attentive to community needs, and compassionate while supporting the safety and wellbeing of young people under Juvenile Court jurisdiction. You will help advance our vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are encouraged to build on their strengths and reach their potential. You will help instill hope by setting goals, identifying paths forward, and believing in the possibility of change.

How to be Successful in the Role:
Success in this position is measured by the ability to build and sustain positive relationships, coach, teach and mentor young people while maintaining healthy boundaries. Keeping the safety and security of young people and staff as priority, by using successful behavioral management skills and de-escalation techniques. Responding to situations that arise through a trauma informed lens and with a compassionate approach will also contribute to the success of the individual in this role.

• Ability to work in a high conflict environment and remain strength-based while supporting cases moving forward in a way that leads to positive outcomes for young people and families.  
• Ability to think critically, challenge assumptions, combat bias and advocate through the lens/values of the young people and families you serve, even when they may differ from your own.   
• Be culturally humble and responsive.
• Write and speak in a persuasive way.
• Respond to situations that arise and to individuals through a trauma informed and anti-racist lens.
• Secondary trauma is a reality in our work. The ability to be mindful and be healthy will ensure long term success in the field of child welfare.

Your Future in the Role:
As the justice system continues to improve and reform, we welcome forward thinking, creative, and compassionate people who thrive working in everchanging and innovative environments.

This position has opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training, as well as creating many connections within child welfare, education, mental health, community resources, substance use disorder, poverty and other areas that impact the young people and families we serve.
 
Core Daily Responsibilities:
Pierce County Juvenile Court probation department is committed to making a powerful contribution to the health and safety of our community.   Through a race equity and inclusion focus, we envision a safe, connected community where all youth and families are supported and empowered to build on their strengths so they can reach their potential.  By actively engaging with youth and families, we are building positive and trusting relationships that best advocate for the needs of our families. Our role is to ensure every family and youth are well informed throughout their interaction with the court and receive the right resources and supports to be successful.  Subsequently, every youth and family should feel valued and empowered throughout their experience and enabled to transition successfully into the community.

• Meet young people and families in their homes, in the community, at schools, etc. Build relationships with young people and all parties involved with a case.
• Gather fact-based information to make informed recommendations to the court and ensure the court has all relevant information to make well informed decisions.
• Participate in the court process – write court reports, file and respond to motions, testify at trials and court hearings.
• Facilitate relationships and advocate outside of court to ensure a child and family’s needs are being met by the system and community.
• Collaborate with parents, service providers, agencies, or other support systems in the lives of the young people served, to form a support network for them and their family for their long-term success.
• Facilitate/co-facilitate in teaching groups of young people that are involved in Evidence Based and Positive Youth Development programming.
• Stay up to date with current trends in child welfare, mental health, substance use disorder, poverty, racism, bias, etc.
• Develop, facilitate, and participate in training for ongoing educational requirements and ongoing certification.
• Maintain the highest integrity and follow the rules of conduct for Juvenile Probation Counselors and Pierce County employees.

 A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Strategic Responsibilities and Values:
You should be adaptable, forward-thinking, trauma informed, and compassionate, while maintaining the safety, security, and wellbeing of young people under the jurisdiction of Pierce County Juvenile Court. You should support the vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are supported and empowered to build on their strengths, so that they can reach their full potential. You should instill hope in those you serve through creating goals, finding pathways, and believing in the possibility of change.

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in social work or human services field, counseling, criminal justice and juvenile systems, social or behavior sciences or related field and 
• One or more years’ experience in a related field. 
• Additional education and experience may substitute for the recruitment requirements.

Special Requirements: 

• A valid Washington State driver's license is required.
• Ability to successfully complete a Pierce County background investigation and polygraph exam is required before employment.

To be considered for this opportunity please:

1) Complete and submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to:   www.piercecountywa.org/jobs.

2) Attach the following documents to your online application:  

• College transcripts or college diploma
• Other documents which you feel would facilitate this process or assist us in determining your suitability for the position.  Examples:  job performance evaluations, awards, certificates, decorations, etc.

Other Important Information:

• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any Work Source location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.  
• This is a competitive selection process.  Your application form will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed.  Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration.  Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include written and/or oral examinations, performance examinations, and interviews. 
• Notification of application status normally occurs 4 to 6 weeks after the closing date.  Please do not contact us regarding the status of your application.  You will be contacted once an outcome has been reached.  We primarily communicate via e-mail during the application process. E-mails from piercecounty.org and/or neogov.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk e-mail folders.  
• The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information.  Be prepared to spend an hour or two entering the required information.  It may be helpful to you if you print the announcement, gather the information, then enter the information. 
• In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.  Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place to live, work, and raise a family?