Chief United States Pretrial Services Officer

US District Courts, Northern District of California • San Jose, CA

19h • Onsite

About The Position

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California is seeking a Chief U.S. Pretrial Services Officer to manage federal pretrial services for the entire district. This executive management role involves overseeing all aspects of the U.S. Pretrial Services Agency, which includes 21 officers and 10 administrative/support staff. The district covers 15 counties in Northern California, with headquarters in San Francisco and courthouses in San Jose, Oakland, and Eureka. The position requires managing staff, finances, and operations to ensure effective investigative work for the courts and supervision of individuals on pretrial release, while adhering to statutory and Judicial Conference requirements. The role also involves maintaining liaison with the court, developing policies and procedures, managing personnel matters, and ensuring staff are adequately trained and evaluated. The Chief Officer directs financial services, including budget management and compliance with government regulations, and interacts with the Administrative Office of the Courts and Federal Judicial Center to maintain best practices. Occasional performance of supervisory or officer duties may be required, and extensive overnight travel is necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• Three years of specialized experience in the investigation, supervision, counseling, and guidance of individuals under supervision in pretrial services programs, probation, or community corrections.
• Three years of substantial management experience earned after the bachelor's degree has been granted.
• No substitutions are permitted for the degree or experience requirements.

Nice To Haves

• A bachelor’s degree in a field such as criminal justice, criminology, psychology, sociology, human relations, business, or public administration.
• Substantial management experience which provided a thorough understanding of the organizational, procedural, and human aspects of managing an organization, including financial management, space and facilities management, oversight of information technology and human resources functions and long and short-range planning.
• Substantial knowledge of and management experience in a Pretrial Services and/or Probation office (experience in a federal pretrial services or probation office is highly preferred).
• Completion of a graduate degree in a closely related field from an accredited university.
• Proven leadership skills that include an adaptable, engaging and solution-oriented communication style.
• Proven problem-solving abilities that demonstrate an ability to gather and analyze relevant data and work collaboratively with others.
• Well-developed analytical and writing skills, including the ability to summarize technical information accurately, clearly, and concisely.
• Knowledge of federal judiciary strategic direction, policies, and procedures.
• Strong organizational leadership and management skills that include the ability to coach and develop staff, and to plan, implement and manage organizational changes.
• Experience in resolving complex personnel issues and developing and implementing programs to recognize and motivate staff.
• Demonstrated commitment to and expertise in evidence-based supervision practices and treatment, and the development of organizational practices rooted in evidence-based principles to improve defendant outcomes and reduce recidivism.

Responsibilities

• Organizes the pretrial services office to ensure expeditious handling of investigative work for the courts and effective supervision of persons on pretrial release.
• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets statutory, Judicial Conference, and Administrative Office requirements for the administration of pretrial services; promulgates policies, procedures, and guidelines to meet these requirements.
• Maintains administrative liaison with the court of jurisdiction to include promulgating policies, procedures, and guidelines to meet the unique needs of the court along with standards to ensure an appropriate level of service delivery.
• Selects candidates for appointments as pretrial services officers/officer assistants and hire administrative/support positions; administers all other personnel matters including promotions, salary increases, disciplinary actions, dismissals, subject to approval as appropriate; determines all personnel are adequately trained; ensures the work of all subordinates is systematically evaluated.
• Manages the staff of the office including all clerical, professional, supervisory, and administrative personnel.
• Makes estimates of personnel, space allocation, and operating allowance needs; approves requisitions, certifies vouchers for payment, and maintains appropriate fiscal controls in all matters pertaining to travel expenses and purchases of service, equipment, and supplies.
• Establishes and administers continuing in-service training programs to ensure high-quality service delivery through staff development.
• Solicits contracts for carrying out the pretrial services functions.
• Maintains an effective system of communication providing pertinent information at all levels; delegates decision-making responsibility at appropriate levels; provides qualitative and quantitative measures of work performance; and assures accountability in the performance of duty.
• Maintains liaison with the chief judge, other judges, and magistrate judges; makes specific recommendations regarding court-related criminal justice issues with particular emphasis on matters relating to sound pretrial release and detention practices.
• Establishes and maintains cooperative relationships with other pretrial services and probation offices to ensure all requests for assistance from other districts are met promptly and effectively.
• Directs the Pretrial Services Agency’s financial service functions, including management of the annual budget and oversight of purchasing, contracting, internal controls, and accounting functions in compliance with U.S. Government and Judicial Branch regulations and controls.
• Maintains national standards and interacts with the Administrative Office of the Courts (“AO”), Federal Judicial Center (“FJC”), and other districts to ensure best practices and to maintain effectiveness.
• Occasionally, performs the duties of a supervisory pretrial services officer and/or pretrial services officer.
• Performs such other functions as required by the court.

Benefits

• Accrual of 13 days of paid vacation for each of the first three years of service; 20 days for each of years three through fifteen; and 26 days for each of years fifteen and higher.
• 11 paid national holidays per year.
• Optional participation in the Federal Employees Health Insurance Benefits program.
• Optional participation in the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance program.
• Optional participation in dental and vision insurance programs.
• Optional participation in flexible spending account programs.
• Participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) that includes a retirement pension program.
• Optional participation in the Thrift Savings Plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive