Juvenile Detention Director

JobsQuest

5d•$159,000 - $199,000

About The Position

The Juvenile Detention Director is responsible for providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of Jefferson County’s Youth Detention Facility. This role ensures that the center operates as a safe, secure, and rehabilitative environment for residents while maintaining compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards. The Director serves as the primary liaison between the detention center, county leadership, community partners, and oversight agencies, representing the facility in meetings, hearings, and public forums. The Jefferson County Youth Detention facility is a 24-hour, seven day a week residential center for youth. Residents are between the ages of 9 and 18, have committed a felony, and been ordered by Family Court into detention. The Jefferson County Youth Detention facility has an 80-bed capacity. In this capacity, the Director manages daily operations and supervises staff to ensure accountability, professionalism, and adherence to established policies. They are tasked with developing and implementing procedures and programs that promote safety, rehabilitation, and efficiency. A critical aspect of the role is ensuring that youth receive appropriate educational, medical, mental health, and recreational services, while fostering a culture of respect, dignity, and fairness. The Director assists with facilitating the educational programs and ensures that residents receive instruction that aligns with the requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education to provide grade level appropriate curriculum and instruction in accordance with the Alabama Course of Study and / or the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) guidelines. The Director emphasizes evidence-based practices that support rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, helping young people transition successfully back into their communities. The position also requires strong attention to compliance and safety. The Director oversees security protocols to safeguard youth, staff, and visitors, while ensuring the facility meets federal, state, and local requirements. They monitor facility conditions and address safety or maintenance concerns promptly. In addition, the Director prepares and manages the facility’s budget, oversees resource allocation, and seeks out grants or funding opportunities to support programs and services. Finally, the Director plays a vital role in community and stakeholder engagement. They collaborate with courts, law enforcement, school board, and social service agencies to strengthen support systems for residents and families. By building partnerships and fostering collaboration, the Director ensures that the detention center is not only a place of accountability but also a foundation for rehabilitation and growth. This position demands ethical leadership, strategic decision-making, and a deep commitment to youth development and public service.

Requirements

Possesses a bachelor’s degree in juvenile justice, criminal justice, corrections, public administration, education, social or behavioral sciences, business administration, or related field
Held role with progressive experience in a detention/correctional facility or with probation services
Held managerial role within a detention/correctional facility or probation function
Experience managing a work unit
Managed a work unit (10 or more people)
Experience as a 2nd level manager (i.e., supervised a supervisor)
Responsible for setting goals and making key decisions at a unit level
Good knowledge of the principal and practices of accounting and the methods of administering and monitoring finances, including preparing, submitting, and managing a budget for a department
Responsible for evaluating the performance of those within a unit
Experience implementing and monitoring work unit strategy
Responsible for a concrete substantial change effort
Developed and implemented a strategic initiative
Responsible for managing and delivering results on several high-level projects at the unit level (i.e., more than individual level objectives)
Experience interacting with key internal and external stakeholders
Experience working in a high stress environment involving multiple constituents and working under pressure, dealing with multiple deadlines, and plan workload
Responsible for a function that delivers services to internal and external customers
Held roles involving forging positive interpersonal working relationships
Responsible for the development and growth of multiple others (e.g., coaching activities, formal mentoring)
Responsible for delivering complex communications to multiple parties (verbal and/or written)
Experience working in environments that require adherence to high professional and ethical standards
Exposure to essential work tasks and/or processes in non-profit or government, or in a private organization that has constraints resembling those in the public sector

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in criminal justice, corrections, public administration, social or behavioral sciences, business administration, or related field
Held role with progressive exposure to juvenile or youth services
Experience working with, or knowledge of, court and probation systems
Experience working with, or knowledge of, state and/or federal regulations relating to juveniles
Considerable knowledge of current issues and developments in the field of Juvenile Justice in general and Juvenile Detention in specific
Experience facilitating an education program to ensure students receive instruction that aligns with requirements by a governmental education agency to provide grade level appropriate curriculum in accordance with a mandated course of study
Experience overseeing volunteers, teachers, and contract providers
Engaged in concrete personal development activities (e.g., formal programs, taking on stretch assignments, integrating a development plan into daily activities)
Held roles in which they have delegated important responsibilities to others
Proficient with maintaining cordial working relationships with supervisors, staff members, contractors, and the public
Schedules and organizes a variety of activities involving numerous individuals
Prepares professional written complex reports, correspondence, and forms relating to the staff and facility operations
Responsible for guiding the implementation of an innovative solution (e.g., organizational process, product)
Held roles in which they were responsible for resolving conflicts and driving consensus
Responsible for completing a negotiation at work
Makes oral presentations to groups and individuals concerning the detention care program
Works with County Manager, Commissioners, elected officials and other department heads to discuss and coordinate various facets of the detention center
Demonstrates a track record of ethical professional behavior
Demonstrates a track record of understanding and respecting the practices, customs, and values of people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures

Responsibilities

manages daily operations and supervises staff to ensure accountability, professionalism, and adherence to established policies
developing and implementing procedures and programs that promote safety, rehabilitation, and efficiency
ensuring that youth receive appropriate educational, medical, mental health, and recreational services, while fostering a culture of respect, dignity, and fairness
assists with facilitating the educational programs and ensures that residents receive instruction that aligns with the requirements of the Alabama State Department of Education
oversees security protocols to safeguard youth, staff, and visitors, while ensuring the facility meets federal, state, and local requirements
prepares and manages the facility’s budget, oversees resource allocation, and seeks out grants or funding opportunities to support programs and services
collaborate with courts, law enforcement, school board, and social service agencies to strengthen support systems for residents and families