Youth Specialist (Juvenile Correctional Officer)

State of Ohio • Highland Hills, OH

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking a Youth Specialist (Juvenile Correctional Officer) to join their diverse team. This role involves overseeing facility functions and providing mentorship, experience, and knowledge to the youth in their care. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a solid background and a passion for rehabilitating youth. DYS is committed to improving Ohio's future by rehabilitating youth and empowering families and communities, believing that all youth should have the opportunity to live up to their greatest potential, and that staff are their greatest resource. DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio, statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.

Requirements

• High school diploma or G.E.D.
• Valid driver's license
• Must successfully complete Juvenile Correctional Officer assessment
• Must be 21 years of age at time of application
• Strong willingness to show up and give 100% every day
• The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check that includes results from BCI & FBI, Public Safety, and State of Ohio Taxation.
• An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

Nice To Haves

• No prior experience in corrections is necessary

Responsibilities

• Provide safety, security, custodial care, & surveillance of assigned youth
• Utilize provided training to observe, intervene, and de-escalate youth behavior and conflicts
• Manage and maintain security and a positive interaction during and after family visits
• Complete all required documents (reports, logs, evaluations etc.)
• Oversee movement on facility grounds and outside trips
• Monitor and instruct youth on general housekeeping duties
• Maintain awareness of unusual behavior and crisis situations
• Collaborate and provide information to division leadership

Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)
• DYS is a "qualifying employer" for the purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
• New Youth Specialists receive their first pay increase after six (6) months of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED