Parole and Probation Officer

Multnomah County • Portland, OR

2d • $41 - $53 • Onsite

About The Position

This work matters. Are you a motivated community corrections professional or social counselor who is a force for positive change in a fast-paced environment? Do you share our vision of community safety through positive change? Are you a counselor with no law enforcement experience? We can train you. Are you a sworn officer with no counseling experience? We can train you. As a Sworn Parole and Probation Officer (PPO) with Multnomah County's Department of Community Justice (DCJ), you can play a key role in creating a stronger, safer community. You will help your clients develop pro-social behaviors using core correctional practices. You'll use cognitive interventions and behavioral practices with clients to promote accountability and lasting behavior change. You’ll have the autonomy and discretion to manage your workload and schedule in order to meet the needs of the clients. If you're seeking a growth opportunity where you can challenge your professionalism, continually learn, be collaborative, and positively impact your community, this may be the right position for you. The position of Parole and Probation Officer is dynamic, requiring commitment to genuine curiosity, continuous feedback, ability to make arrests, flexibility to work with others, and a willingness to immediately respond to situations or emergencies 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. We encourage applicants to consider their purpose in this demanding and complex public service career opportunity, as it presents challenges, yet equally offers high rewards and satisfaction. Selected applicants must successfully complete a 12-month trial service training period to evaluate their effectiveness in the position. Multnomah County DCJ was one of the first to use EPICS case management and Evidence Based practices, we take pride in leading the way with innovative solutions. Some examples of evidence-based practices that we use include: Motivational Interviewing: You'll establish rapport with Justice Involved Individuals and enhance their motivation to succeed through collaborative communication, confronting issues in a non-threatening manner, and using positive and negative reinforcements. You'll identify each client's needs and risk factors, develop timelines to help them meet their goals, and implement action plans for clients and their families. EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision): You will be trained and use a research driven case management model specifically designed to address the highest criminogenic risk domains. EPICS includes a focus on the use of cognitive behavioral interventions. Effective Communication: Your ability to communicate in a respectful manner and adapt your communication style for diverse audiences will be key to working effectively with clients, community partners and co-workers. Your writing skills and attention to detail will enable you to prepare accurate, well-written reports and documents for the courts, treatment agencies and other stakeholders, often within tight timelines. All candidates must be able to communicate and interact effectively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds. Investigation and Public Safety Work: You will conduct field investigations, adhering to specific protocols and standards, to uncover facts that are often hidden, unique or complex. You will utilize your crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation skills to keep the community, your clients and yourself safe. You’ll make decisions to arrest in accordance with departmental rules and procedures. You’ll coordinate, conduct arrests, and transport as necessary. Organization and Time Management: You will be responsible for organizing and prioritizing your own workload to meet strict deadlines. (This can be challenging in a setting where work tasks and priorities change frequently.) You will work independently and as part of a team, and you'll develop creative and innovative ideas to handle your caseload as efficiently as possible. We encourage bilingual applicants to apply. Some positions require oral and written fluency in English and a second language. The Department of Community Justice is looking for Criminal Justice professionals who can demonstrate expertise in the following areas: Strategic Planning / Leadership: You will develop goals and direction based on the overall county/department mission and vision to increase community safety through positive change. Results Through People: You will help achieve results through the contribution of others by motivating and inspiring growth and productivity. Relationships and Community: You will build positive and sustainable relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders. Leading Cross-Culturally: You will foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision, mission, and goals of the organization. Team Building: You will develop, inspire, and foster employees to work collaboratively. Organizational Savviness: You will demonstrate understanding and good judgment of organizational culture and interpersonal relationships, with both internal and external groups, to identify opportunities of mutual interest and benefit. Delivery: You will ensure services are provided by quality processes through monitoring and understanding. Outcomes: You achieve quality outcomes for the individual, the organization, and the county. Personal Development: You will strive for an honest and accurate assessment of oneself and demonstrate willingness for continuous improvement. Functional/Technical: You possess specific knowledge about laws, regulations, certifications, licensure and skills for specific assignments. At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values. Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change. More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at: www.multco.us/dcj. Serving the Public, Even During Disasters. Every day, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

Requirements

• Must be able to pass the certification requirements of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) within eighteen months of hire.
• State statutes on DPSST exclude from attendance any person convicted of any mandatory disqualifying event.
• Bachelor's degree in either criminal justice, administration of justice, psychology, sociology, social work or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Six months experience in either responsible social counseling, case management, community corrections, law enforcement, or corrections, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Must be a United States citizen or in the process of finalizing U.S. citizenship and completed within 18 months of hire.
• Must have a valid driver's license.
• Must successfully pass a physical examination.
• Must successfully pass a psychological evaluation.
• Must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including being fingerprinted before the first day of employment.
• Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Attach a resume indicating how you meet the required minimum qualifications, including employer name, location, dates of employment, your title, and a summary of your responsibilities and if applicable, the number of employees under your supervision.
• Submit a cover letter addressing interest in the opportunity, specific examples of experience and skills aligning with the job description, how minimum and preferred qualifications are met, and confirmation of reviewing Critical & Essential Tasks of a Parole and Probation officer, identifying any challenges or barriers and providing explanations. Limit to one page if possible.

Nice To Haves

• Social counseling experience that includes case management, community supervision, and/or community corrections; and directing, motivating and assessing clients.
• Law Enforcement experience, including corrections.
• Current or recent (within 2.5 years) Parole/Probation officer certification by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) pursuant to ORS 181.640. DPSST Number must be provided in the Supplemental Application Questions portion and you must attach a copy of your certification.
• Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. Some positions require oral and written fluency in English and a second language.

Responsibilities

• Help clients develop pro-social behaviors using core correctional practices.
• Use cognitive interventions and behavioral practices with clients to promote accountability and lasting behavior change.
• Manage workload and schedule to meet client needs.
• Respond to situations or emergencies 24-hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Establish rapport with Justice Involved Individuals and enhance their motivation to succeed through collaborative communication.
• Identify each client's needs and risk factors, develop timelines to help them meet their goals, and implement action plans for clients and their families.
• Communicate in a respectful manner and adapt communication style for diverse audiences.
• Prepare accurate, well-written reports and documents for the courts, treatment agencies and other stakeholders.
• Conduct field investigations, adhering to specific protocols and standards.
• Utilize crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation skills to keep the community, your clients and yourself safe.
• Make decisions to arrest in accordance with departmental rules and procedures.
• Coordinate, conduct arrests, and transport as necessary.
• Organize and prioritize workload to meet strict deadlines.
• Develop creative and innovative ideas to handle caseload efficiently.
• Develop goals and direction based on the overall county/department mission and vision to increase community safety through positive change.
• Help achieve results through the contribution of others by motivating and inspiring growth and productivity.
• Build positive and sustainable relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders.
• Foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the vision, mission, and goals of the organization.
• Develop, inspire, and foster employees to work collaboratively.
• Demonstrate understanding and good judgment of organizational culture and interpersonal relationships, with both internal and external groups, to identify opportunities of mutual interest and benefit.
• Ensure services are provided by quality processes through monitoring and understanding.
• Achieve quality outcomes for the individual, the organization, and the county.
• Strive for an honest and accurate assessment of oneself and demonstrate willingness for continuous improvement.
• Possess specific knowledge about laws, regulations, certifications, licensure and skills for specific assignments.

Benefits

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
• Defined benefit pension after five years of vesting; company picks up the employee's share of the retirement contribution (6% of subject wages).
• Police and Fire 25-year retirement
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, bereavement, military etc.).
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts.
• Free annual Trimet bus pass.
• Access to wellness resources.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF).

What This Job Offers

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