Assistant Superintendent - Program Management II - Lookout Mtn Youth Service Center

State of Colorado•Golden, CO

15d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Superintendent is an Appointing Authority delegated by the Youth Center Director and reports to the Division as necessary regarding agency status and progress. The position implements Division of Youth Services initiatives, including trauma-responsive environments and behavior management or treatment models, and directly supervises assigned supervisory and management positions. It also contributes to leadership and management efforts to improve youth center operations and implement the DYS strategic plan. The position participates in the Youth Center Assistant Directors Group, indirectly supervises other employees, has on-call responsibilities, and may serve as liaison to the Facilities Management Division. The role oversees assigned program areas, personnel, budgets, safe and secure operations, community and agency representation, and data-informed improvement. It works with the Youth Center Director and internal and external partners to maintain quality programming, staffing, compliance, and youth transitions. The position is based at Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center in Golden, Colorado, and employees are required to work at their assigned location during scheduled work times. Work arrangements may change. Training, meetings, and other travel may be required. Applicants must be Colorado residents and at least 21 years old, have no felony convictions or history of domestic violence, and hold a current, valid, unrestricted Colorado driver’s license. Continued employment depends on successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program, and mandatory annual training. A full background screening is required.

Requirements

Nine years of professional experience in corrections, law enforcement, probation/parole, or another area of public safety; alternatively, an equivalent combination of education and experience demonstrating the ability to manage operations in a secure, trauma-responsive environment.
Colorado residency.
At least 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
Current, valid, unrestricted Colorado driver’s license.
Successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program, and mandatory annual training as a condition of continued employment.
Successful completion of the required background screening, which may include CBI name and fingerprint checks, court and fraud database checks, reference checks, professional license verification where applicable, drug screening, PREA screening, and applicable child- or adult-contact checks.
Ability to work at the assigned work location during scheduled work times.
Ability to travel for training, meetings, and other work-related purposes as required.
Ability to document qualifications and work experience in the official State of Colorado online application; supporting documentation must be uploaded for consideration.

Nice To Haves

Secure juvenile custodial expertise, including knowledge of detention or pretrial programming and clinical or treatment considerations for youth serving long-term sentences.
Understanding of the Colorado Children’s Code or other juvenile laws, criminal procedures, and SB94 mandates or functions.
Experience operating secure custody settings and understanding adolescent development and its effects on institutional needs and patterns.
Expertise overseeing contractors and serving as a contractor liaison.
Five or more years of supervisory and administrative experience in juvenile justice or secure residential settings.
Experience with quality assurance oversight and accountability.
Experience managing large, complex systems or organizations, including multi-site operations and cross-functional teams.
Expert knowledge of Colorado juvenile laws, criminal procedures, and State Personnel Board rules.
Experience directly supervising leadership positions, including coaching, mentoring, performance oversight, and strategic direction.
Relevant years of state service experience.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise direct-care supervisory staff and assigned program-area managers, and indirectly supervise other agency staff.
Serve as Appointing Authority for assigned areas; set performance standards; conduct performance planning and appraisals; support staff development; and initiate or conclude corrective or disciplinary actions as needed.
Ensure supervisors carry out their supervisory responsibilities in accordance with State, Department, Division, and Youth Center expectations, including implementation of the Reflective Supervision Model.
Monitor and approve formal leaves of absence, conduct regular performance evaluations, make promotion recommendations, and manage personnel resources in accordance with applicable rules and policies.
Ensure compliance with statutes and policies governing seclusion and physical response.
Plan, coordinate, monitor, evaluate, and oversee assigned youth center functions and ensure quality control and continuous improvement aligned with DYS policy, compliance standards, statutes, and approved practices.
Implement the DYS Strategic Plan and support trauma-responsive, safe, prosocial programming, including skills development, safety and self-care plans, calming spaces, group processes, incident debriefings, positive reinforcement, and psychoeducation or treatment groups.
Partner with behavioral health, direct-care, and administrative supervisory staff to ensure quality programming.
Maintain working relationships and communication with school officials, contract providers, detention screening agencies, law enforcement, DYS client managers, regional and central office staff, and DYS leadership to support bed management and youth transitions.
Maintain required staffing levels through recruitment, selection, training, scheduling, and retention.
Work with the Youth Center Director to develop the annual budget, monitor expenditures, ensure appropriate resource use, and manage personnel funds, allocations, vacancy savings, overtime, holiday accruals, and PREA funding.
Act as agency signing authority for purchasing cards and checkbooks when necessary, and manage movement of allocations among job codes without violating encumbered or contractual agreements.
Ensure the youth center provides safe and secure care; inspect and improve facilities, processes, equipment, movement, staff positioning, schedules, unit assignments, and group composition.
Oversee compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act and monitor new-staff training for safe practices.
Provide or oversee staff training in verbal de-escalation, physical response, youth development, and trauma-responsive practices; ensure training meets DYS policy and agency needs.
Recruit, screen, interview, select, train, monitor, coach, and evaluate staff; apply State Personnel Board rules and work with HR, timekeeping, benefits, employee support programs, and other relevant offices.
Serve on agency boards and participate in department, division, regional, community, and committee processes as assigned; provide escorted educational tours and communicate effectively across the organization.
Protect the constitutional and legal rights of youth in custody; maintain contacts with families, judges, vendors, and law enforcement to support residential adjustment, transition, policy communication, training, and investigations.
Co-lead application of current trauma-responsive treatment theory for juveniles to support effective programming.
Draft, implement, and monitor internal measurement systems; collect and communicate data on safety, staffing, incidents, seclusion, physical response, injuries, and other identified areas.
Identify and address concerns revealed by data, apply process-improvement strategies, standardize improvements in procedures, respond to data requests, and use data to inform decisions.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer-supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year, plus vacation and sick leave
State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center
Employee Wellness program
Work-life programs, including flexible schedules and training
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program