Juvenile Court Manager of Probation Services

Pierce County•Tacoma, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Pierce County Juvenile Court is a national leader in youth justice, committed to improving outcomes for the community by working closely with young people and families. This role offers an opportunity to advance reform work, prepare young people for successful adulthood, and support change within the system and the community. The department is an innovative leader in the youth justice field, recognized for its reform policies, practices, and programs. It was selected as one of two sites nationally to pursue Probation Transformation in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Juvenile Court system is dedicated to addressing systemic racism and improving outcomes for all community members. The Probation Manager will play a key leadership role in advancing the values of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI), which focuses on fair access, strong community partnership, and practices that match the developmental needs of young people. This position guides staff in using evidence-based approaches, building collaboration with community partners, and ensuring probation services align with JDAI’s core strategies. The work is done in close partnership with judicial officers, requiring a balance of legal requirements with innovation, consistency, and youth-centered decision-making. The leader will support a system that prioritizes rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunities for youth to grow. Success in this role involves prioritizing the safety and security of youth and staff through effective behavior management and de-escalation skills, responding with compassion to difficult experiences, and maintaining focus in high-conflict environments. Critical thinking, bias reduction, and advocacy based on the needs and values of young people and families are essential. Responsiveness to community needs and persuasive communication are also key. The role can be emotionally demanding, emphasizing the importance of personal well-being. The position offers opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training, and will build connections with partners in child welfare, education, mental health, community supports, substance-use treatment, and economic stability services. The ideal candidate will be adaptable, forward-thinking, attentive to community needs, and compassionate, supporting the safety and well-being of young people under Juvenile Court jurisdiction and advancing the vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are encouraged to build on their strengths and reach their potential.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s Degree with course work in corrections, social work, management or a closely related field.
At least 5 years experience in the juvenile justice field.
At least 2 years of which must have been in a supervisory position, in which compensated employees were supervised.
Must complete the first line supervisor and management training at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission prior to completion of the first year in service.
A valid Washington State driver’s license.
Successful completion of a Pierce County background investigation and polygraph exam before employment.

Nice To Haves

Additional education in management and supervision is preferred.
Additional education and experience may substitute for these requirements.

Responsibilities

Plans, administers, and coordinates the activities of department units, develops program objectives and operational goals, updates procedures and existing guidelines as necessary to meet changing conditions.
Evaluates individual and program accomplishments against established standards, goals, and timetables, and recommends remedial, motivational, or laudatory action as appropriate.
Works collaboratively with the judicial officers assigned to Juvenile Court, advocating for probation’s needs and perspectives while ensuring practices, recommendations, and decisions align with the legal direction and authority of judges and commissioners.
Manages and provides leadership to multiple teams, including Juvenile Probation Counselors, Case Monitors, the Diversion Coordinator, Extra-Hire staff, interns, and volunteers, ensuring cohesive service delivery and consistent adherence to departmental standards.
Collaborates closely with key areas of Pierce County Juvenile Court—Detention, Dependency, Operations, and the Clerk’s Office—to support integrated practices, shared priorities, and effective communication across the organization.
Plans, assigns, reviews, and evaluates the work of subordinate employees; defines responsibility and authority of subordinate positions and establishes standards of performance; recommends merit step increases; recommends promotional actions.
Recommends resolution of employee grievances at the department level; recommends and executes disciplinary actions.
Plans and implements in-service staff education, training and development; provides technical assistance with extremely complex or atypical problems.
Prepares budget requests and amendments; approves and controls program expenditures in line with assigned budget.
Communicates program objectives and goals to interested community groups, the general public, and other governmental agencies.
May serve in place of the Juvenile Court Deputy Court Executive when that person is absent.
Performs related work as required.
Willingness to assume statewide leadership role(s) per Deputy Court Executive directives.
Develops, maintains, and oversees community partnerships.
Must be able to travel to assigned work locations.