Career Opportunity

DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE FACILITIES

Recruitment: RTF0123024-01099329

Published: July 12, 2022

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About:

The San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department (JPD) provides services to youth who are alleged or have been found to have committed law violations under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Juvenile Court and manages the Juvenile Justice Center, which houses both the official reception and detention center for youth who are detained as a result of an arrest for alleged criminal misconduct or a court order in San Francisco and San Francisco’s current long-term Secure Youth Treatment Facility.

The mission of the Juvenile Probation Department is to serve the needs of youth and families who are brought to our attention with care and compassion; to identify and respond to the individual risks and needs presented by each youth, to engage fiscally sound and culturally competent strategies that promote the best interests of the youth; to provide victims with opportunities for restoration; to identify and utilize the least restrictive interventions and placements that do not compromise public safety; to hold youth accountable for their actions while providing them with opportunities and assisting them to develop new skills and competencies; and contribute to the overall quality of life for the citizens of San Francisco within the sound framework of public safety as outlined in the Welfare & Institutions Code.

San Francisco is engaged in unprecedented efforts to re-imagine our approach to youth justice, with racial equity at the center of these efforts. City leadership has committed to broad system change, including the closure of the current Juvenile Hall, through collaborative processes that center the voice of youth, families, and community institutions. With the number of young people involved in the justice system – and in secure custody – at historic lows, San Francisco is poised to effect significant change to all aspects of our juvenile justice system, including reimagining secure custody – from the physical design to the programs and services provided to our young people.

JPD is committed to this process, and to a transformed approach to juvenile justice that can improve the lives of BIPOC youths, families, and communities, by achieving the following organizational equity centered goals:

• Reimagine how the City addresses juvenile crime, from referral through reentry, in collaboration with the community and our system partners, emphasizing research and evidence-based practices, and sustainably addressing pervasive racial disparities throughout the system. 
• Advance a Whole Family Engagement strategy that places racial equity at its center to ensure that all youth have equal access to successful outcomes, and that advances youth-and family-centered case plans and goal development, with the supports and resources necessary to help justice-involved youth thrive. 
• Bolster equitable leadership development opportunities for BIPOC staff; implement change that meaningfully improves the workplace experience of BIPOC staff; enact our organizational belief of redemption and helping people to succeed. 

The Director of Juvenile Facilities will lead transformational change efforts within the Division, reimagining how the Department addresses secure care and programming for detained youth and young adults grounded in positive youth development, research and evidence-based practices, and in collaboration with the community, the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and system partners. The Director will foster a culture of constant quality improvement, organizational accountability, and support the development and sustainable implementation of the Department’s racial equity action plan.

This is a unique opportunity to join a team that is devoted to re-imagining Juvenile Justice, committed to racial equity, and focused on ensuring long-term public safety through the development, enrichment, and accountability of young people we serve throughout San Francisco. Click here to read more about the San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department (JPD)

Role description

Reporting directly to the Chief Probation Officer, the Director of Juvenile Facilities oversees all operations of San Francisco’s secure juvenile institutions (the “Juvenile Justice Center,”). The Juvenile Justice Center is a 150-bed youth facility, which provides residential services for minors and young adults up to age 25 under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court, in a secure setting 24-hours a day, seven days a week. This facility currently provides programming and operations for both San Francisco’s Juvenile Hall and San Francisco’s Secure Youth Treatment Facility.

Youth and young adults in the facility fall into four categories:

• In custody awaiting investigative action immediately after admission
• In custody per court order pending further court hearings
• In custody awaiting placement as per a court ordered disposition
• Committed by the court to a post-disposition term of stay

While in custody, youth and young adults receive educational, medical, behavioral health, positive youth development, and spiritual services.  Additionally, facility staff provide supervision, manage the daily needs of youth and young adults, and provide general counseling in collaboration with other government agencies and community partners.

Key Responsibilities

1. Interpreting, coordinating, and enforcing existing federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and standards for Juvenile Hall and Secure Youth Treatment Facility operations, including but not limited, to compliance with biennial inspections by the Board of State and Community Corrections;
2. Planning and establishing goals and objectives aligned with the Department’s and the City’s vision for juvenile justice, including the City’s efforts to replace the current Juvenile Hall with a new facility that is youth-centered, rehabilitative, and trauma-informed;
3. Developing and monitoring programs, services, facilities, and activities in collaboration with youth, families, and community stakeholders, as well as partner agencies, including the San Francisco Unified School District and Special Programs for Youth of the Department of Public Health, that advance positive youth development and racial equity, and in support of the implementation of the City’s DJJ Realignment Plan
4. Supervising the staffing of juvenile facilities in accordance with established standards; providing training and staff development; and fostering a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.   
5. Performing related duties as required.

How to qualify

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited 4-year college or university with major coursework preferably in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, social work, public administration or business administration or related fields; AND

Experience:  Five years of verifiable experience providing care, security, counseling and discipline for juveniles in a residential correctional  facility operated by a County, State or Federal agency; AND 

Licenses/Certifications: Possession of a valid California driver license at the time of appointment

What else should I know?

Desirable Qualifications 

1. Exceptional verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively influence and communicate with a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, families, community, And partner agencies.
2. Experience with transformational change in large organizations and/or government agencies.
3. One year of verifiable experience supervising peace officers who provide care and/or supervision of juveniles under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court.
4. Knowledge and familiarity of a broad range of residential care facilities serving juveniles under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. 

Appointment Type

This is a Full-Time Permanent Exempt (PEX) position exempt from the Permanent civil service (PCS) process, serving at the discretion of the Appointing officer. Incumbents will be required to succeed in the civil service examination for this classification to be considered for a PCS appointment.

Selection Procedures  

Applications materials including the supplemental questionnaire will be reviewed for relevant qualifying experience.   Only those applicants who most closely meet the requirements for this position will be invited to participate in the selection process.  Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed an invitation to interview. Qualified applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified of the exact date and time.

Applications Open: Friday, June 24, 2022 

Applications Close: Sunday, July 24 at 11:59pm (extended because Smart Recruiters system will be down from July 16 through July 18)

Range A compensation for this classification is between $124,696 and $159,146
Further compensation information about this class is available in the compensation manual.

POST Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training

Information on the Hiring Process

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.