JPD - Deputy Chief Probation Officer

Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois•Chicago, IL

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Deputy Chief Probation Officer (DCPO) serves as a senior manager responsible for providing leadership, management, and oversight of an assigned operational area within the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department. The DCPO is accountable for ensuring effective service delivery, high-quality probation practice, workforce performance, operational consistency, and achievement of Department goals and priorities. The DCPO provides direct leadership and supervision to Probation Supervisors and other assigned staff and is responsible for translating Department priorities, policies, and evidence-based practices into consistent day-to-day operations. The position establishes performance expectations, monitors quality and outcomes, develops supervisors, addresses performance and operational concerns, and ensures staff have the direction, resources, and support necessary to effectively serve youth and families. As a member of the Department's senior management team, the DCPO works collaboratively with other senior managers and organizational leaders to advance Department-wide priorities, strengthen cross-divisional coordination, identify and resolve systemic barriers, and foster a culture of accountability, continuous learning, collaboration, and improvement.

Requirements

Meet Administrative Office of Illinois Court’s (AOIC) CMO/Non-Director eligibility requirements which include:
A master’s degree in management, public administration, criminal justice, or social services, and three or more years of employment in probation/court services, at least two of which are at a supervisory level. For juvenile detention personnel, at least one of the required years must be in juvenile detention/residential services.
A bachelor’s degree and five or more years employment in probation/court services, at least three of which are at a supervisory level. For juvenile detention personnel, at least one of the required years of employment must be in juvenile detention/residential services.
Thorough knowledge of juvenile probation operations, evidence-based juvenile justice practices, case management, court processes, and applicable laws, standards, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of management principles, workforce development, performance management, quality improvement, and organizational change.
Skill in coaching, developing, and holding supervisors accountable for performance and results.
Skill in analyzing operational and performance data and translating findings into effective management decisions.
Ability to lead complex operations, establish priorities, allocate resources, manage competing demands, and respond effectively to emerging issues.
Ability to think critically, exercise sound independent judgment, identify systemic problems, and develop practical solutions.
Ability to lead organizational change and effectively implement new policies, practices, programs, and Department initiatives.
Ability to communicate effectively, build collaborative relationships, manage conflict, and work across organizational boundaries.
Ability to perform work in an office, court, and community-based environment, including prolonged periods of sitting, computer use, and travel within Cook County.
Ability to move throughout Department and court facilities and access various work locations as required.
Ability to operate standard office equipment and perform routine tasks requiring manual dexterity.
Ability to occasionally lift, carry, or move work-related materials weighing up to 20 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Ability to effectively manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment in responding to changing operational needs, and adapt plans, resources, and assignments as necessary to ensure continuity and effectiveness of Department operations.
Pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check.
Use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership, direction, and oversight for assigned programs, units, services, and operational functions.
Establishes goals, priorities, performance expectations, and work processes consistent with Department mission, policies, strategic priorities, and applicable standards.
Ensures supervisors effectively manage day-to-day operations and that services are delivered consistently, efficiently, equitably, and with a high level of quality.
Identifies operational challenges, risks, resource needs, and emerging issues and develops appropriate solutions or elevates matters to Department leadership when necessary.
Leads and supports implementation of Department-wide initiatives, organizational changes, policies, programs, and evidence-based practices within the assigned area.
Collaborates across divisions to resolve operational barriers, coordinate services, and advance Department-wide objectives.
Provides direct supervision, coaching, performance management, and professional development to Probation Supervisors and other assigned staff.
Establishes clear expectations and holds supervisors accountable for staff performance, service quality, policy compliance, and achievement of operational goals.
Reviews and evaluates supervisor performance and ensures timely, meaningful performance feedback and evaluations.
Develops the leadership capacity of supervisors through coaching, consultation, feedback, and professional development.
Addresses performance, conduct, workplace conflict, and accountability concerns promptly and consistently in collaboration with Human Resources as appropriate.
Ensures adequate staffing, coverage, workload distribution, and deployment of personnel to meet operational needs.
Ensures services and interventions provided to youth and families meet Department standards for quality, effectiveness, equity, and evidence-based practice.
Conducts and/or oversees high-level case reviews, case conferences, practice reviews, and other quality management activities.
Uses quality assurance findings, performance data, case information, and stakeholder feedback to identify strengths, practice gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
Holds supervisors accountable for addressing identified practice concerns and implementing corrective or improvement strategies.
Partners with identified staff to strengthen evidence-based practice, implementation fidelity, quality assurance, coaching, and continuous improvement.
Monitors performance measures and youth outcomes and uses findings to inform operational decisions, resource allocation, and improvement efforts.
Communicates Department priorities, expectations, organizational changes, and decisions clearly, consistently, and accurately.
Maintains regular communication with supervisors and staff and promotes timely, respectful, transparent, and constructive communication.
Builds collaborative relationships with judges, court stakeholders, community partners, service providers, and other internal and external partners.
Facilitates communication and coordination across units and divisions to promote consistency and effective service delivery.
Models professionalism, integrity, accountability, active listening, collaboration, and respectful workplace behavior.
Addresses workplace conflict promptly and constructively and promotes a healthy and collaborative work environment.
Evaluates staffing, workload, schedules, resources, and operational capacity to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Uses data to identify resource needs and make recommendations regarding staffing, programs, services, and deployment of resources.
Ensures appropriate oversight of employee attendance, scheduling, leave, payroll/timekeeping, training requirements, and other workforce management responsibilities.
Identifies resource gaps and recommends changes necessary to support Department priorities and operational effectiveness.
Ensures responsible stewardship of Department and public resources.
Proactively identifies and mitigates operational, safety, personnel, and service-delivery risks within the assigned area.
Provides leadership during critical incidents and ensures appropriate Department protocols, notifications, documentation, and follow-up occur.
Ensures supervisors and staff appropriately respond to safety concerns, unusual incidents, and other emergent situations.
Participates in post-incident review and identifies opportunities to strengthen practice, policy, or organizational response.
Elevates significant risks, incidents, performance concerns, and organizational issues to Department leadership and appropriate support functions.