Career Opportunity

Juvenile Hall Counselor, On-Call, JUV 8562

Recruitment: REF4235T

Published: June 16, 2026

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal.

About:

THIS IS AN AS-NEEDED POSITION, LIMITED TO 1040 HOURS IN A ROLLING 12 MONTH PERIOD

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth & innovation, urban development, arts & entertainment, as well as social issues & change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our City what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

• Applications Open: June 16, 2026
• Applications Close: No earlier than 11:59pm on July 5th, 2026
• Hourly range for 8562/8320 position: $40.46 - $49.18 (new rates effective July 1, 2026)
• On-Call Counselors must be available to work weekends

Are you passionate about Juvenile Justice, Public Safety, and the Community we serve? Are you a dedicated professional who wants to maximize their impact in the lives of some of San Francisco’s most marginalized youth and young adults? If so, we encourage you to take advantage of this 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). 

The San Francisco Juvenile Probation Department’s mission is to serve the needs of youth, young adults and families who are brought to our attention with care and compassion.  We engage fiscally sound and culturally competent strategies that promote the best interests of the youth, and provide victims with opportunities for restoration.

Our equity-centered goals are to:

• Reimagine how the City addresses juvenile delinquency;
• 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
• Bolster equitable leadership development opportunities for all staff throughout the Department. 

Role description

Under general supervision, the 8562 Counselor, Juvenile Hall, is responsible for the care, custody, safety and welfare of juveniles detained at Juvenile Hall.

Working Conditions:

Appointees will be required to meet State mandated training requirements as defined by Standards for Training in Corrections (STC) and must satisfy the State criteria for peace officer status including but not limited to:

• 40 hours of on-site training during first week of job

In addition, staff are required to respond to emergency conditions, which may involve physically controlling and restraining hostile youth and young adults. Vision and hearing must be sufficient to perform the duties of the position. May involve considerable amounts of standing, walking and/or when necessary, running. This includes the ability to lift and/or move with assistance objects weighing up to 50 lbs. or more. Staff may be assigned to work day, swing and graveyard shifts, holidays and weekends.

Essential duties include, but are not limited to: 

1. Supervise and assess behavior of detained youth in an assigned living unit; responsible for the daily care of detained youth, directs and guides youth through daily schedules, including wake-up, meals, hygiene, unit cleanup, and scheduled movement throughout the facility; Maintains consistent close and active supervision of youth and young adults to prevent incidents and ensure the safety of both youth and staff. Implement appropriate behavior‑management strategies to reinforce positive youth development and consult with supervisors as needed.

2. Maintains routine and emergency headcounts of all detained youth assigned to the unit and conducts required state‑mandated security checks of rooms. Monitors visiting sessions to ensure the safety and security of youth and staff. Administers emergency first aid until medical personnel arrive and responds to critical incidents that may require the use of approved physical intervention techniques to restrain hostile detained youth and maintain facility safety. Performs pat searches and room inspections to identify and confiscate contraband.

3. Completes incident reports, behavior reports, individual case reports, and other ancillary departmental forms and reports; maintains contemporaneous notes in unit logbook to ensure adherence to legal requirements and behavioral tracking. Maintains and updates electronic databases and case management systems.

4. Conducts ongoing individual and group counseling sessions with trauma-informed techniques; listens and responds to questions, concerns, complaints, and requests; Assists in working to problem-solve to assist young people. Collaborates with Deputy Probation Officers to track a youth’s behavioral progress and rehabilitation goals.

5. Directs leisure time activities; teaches and encourages good sportsmanship.

6. Transports residents to and from various locations; directs and controls residents’ movement to ensure the safety and security of the residents.

7. Facilitates the admittance and release process of detained youth.

8. Confers with departmental personnel and representatives of outside agencies.

How to qualify

Education:
Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

License and Certification:

Possession of a valid California driver license.

Possession of a valid Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate.

Substitution:
Experience as a counselor in a juvenile detention facility or experience involving the organization, detention, or suspension of youth groups in a recreational or correctional program may substitute for up to two (2) years of the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. One (1) year equals thirty (30) semester units or forty-five (45) quarter units.

Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring 

Knowledge of:

• Crisis Intervention
• Interviewing
• Individual and group counseling principles and techniques
• De-escalation strategies

 Ability to:

• Organize and supervise group activities
• Ability to handle stressful situations 
• Enforce rules
• Accurately observe behavior
• Apply appropriate "use of force" in self-defense or restraint procedures
• Remain alert to potential problems
• Handle emergency situations
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with others
• Communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively in individual and group situations

Verification:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

What else should I know?

Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference

How to Apply:

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ and begin the application process.

• Select the “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion:
At the City and County of San Francisco, we share a commitment to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community. Each member of our organization is responsible and accountable for what they say and do to make San Francisco an inclusive and equitable place to live and work by employing fair and just practices to and for all.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst Joanna Luong at Joanna.Luong@sfgov.org.

                                                                  SELECTION PROCEDURES

Reminder:

• We communicate via e-mail, please ensure you have access to the e-mail address you have register with. All communications related to this recruitment will be sent to the e-mail you have registered with. 
• All testing components will be scheduled in-person, please plan accordingly if you progress in the hiring process.

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Exam:
Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a performance examination. This examination is two hours and thirty minutes and designed to measure general cognitive abilities that are important for performing successfully as an Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, or Probation Officer. While some exam questions may use job-related examples, no prior knowledge or training is needed to complete the exam. The BSCC has developed a Candidate Orientation Booklet Exam that can be reviewed here. 

         Testing Dates: 

         Testing tentatively to be scheduled at various times throughout the week of August 10, 2026
         Location: 

         Anticipated to be 375 Woodside Ave, San Francisco, CA 94122                                               

** This is a standardized examination. Therefore, test questions and answers are not available for public inspection or review. **

                                                               TIMELINE

BSCC Exam: 
Tentatively scheduled for the week of August 10, 2026 (Subject to change pending applicant counts)

Departmental Interviews: 
September 2026

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.