Position Description

About Harris County Juvenile Probation (HCJPD)
The Harris County Juvenile Probation Department (HCJPD) provides supervision and services to youth between the ages of 10 and 17, who are under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court. HCJPD is the largest juvenile probation department in Texas with approximately 1,100 employees and over 3,500 youth referred to the department annually. HCJPD programs and services operate under the direction of the Harris County Juvenile Board. The Administration building is located in Downtown Houston, Texas, with several field offices throughout the County and three secure residential facilities.

• 
  Make an impact: Working for HCJPD gives you the opportunity to continue to serve your community and be a positive role model for young people. Our pace of work enables fast learning and fosters an environment where you can make a positive impact.
• Professional Growth: We are committed to growing the capabilities of our staff. We are building a learning community where you can work with diverse individuals, explore new ways of thinking, and expand your capabilities. Our employees are Juvenile Justice Practitioners who share their knowledge to enhance each other’s growth.

About Residential Services:
The Residential Services Division consists of a Juvenile Detention Center and two post-adjudicated facilities. The facilities house youth who are awaiting court and youth who are placed into the department’s custody by the juvenile courts. The facilities provide direct care and supervision for all youth placed with the department along with providing mental health and behavioral treatment programs.

About the Position:
The Facility Administrator manages operations of a Pre-Adjudicated Facility. The Facility Administrator ensures a safe, secure, educational and therapeutic environment for residents, staff and service providers while overseeing that all HCJPD and TJJD code of ethics, policies, procedures and standards are being enforced. The Facility Administrator directs, guides and inspires the management team and staff to work together in all areas to provide the residents with the services needed to prepare them to reintegrate with their families and community while becoming a productive citizen.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manages a safe, healthy and secure facility.
• Oversees all functions and daily operations of the residential facilities for juveniles, adhering to all departmental policies and procedure, Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) standards, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) guidelines, federal, state and local statues at all times.
• Provides staff orientation, in-service training and a regular and continuous professional development program.
• Monitors employees' performance and manages employee disciplinary matters as warranted.
• Develops subordinates by providing guidance, supervision and expertise to staff.
• Oversees that all reports on daily population and statistical categories are maintained and in compliance with state and local standards.
• Maintains program and facility records and ensures that accurate data related to the juvenile resident population is made available, accessible and used as the basis for planning, management and evaluation.
• Ensures that policies, services and programs are in place to meet the residents’ needs and provides the residents with skills to make positive changes while in custody that will enable them to return to the community with reduced risk to re-offend.
• Coordinates with contract vendors and agencies to ensure that required or court-ordered services are provided to residents and the parents when applicable.
• Oversees that work schedules for the 24-hour facilities ensure adequate staffing and supervision of the facility to ensure the safety of residents, staff and visitors.
• Assesses and informs the Deputy Director or designee about budgetary needs of the facility.
• Assesses and determines resource needs for the facility.
• Assists with the commission and application of federal grants or donations to fund resources for the facility.
• Maintains reviews and updates policy and procedures to guide operations that are in accordance with statutory guidelines and current case law.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university and
• Five (5) years of supervisory experience in the field of juvenile justice or
  related field

OR

• Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice or a related field and
• Three (3) years of supervisory experience in in the field of juvenile justice or
  related field

PLUS

• Five (5) years of employment in Criminal Justice, Corrections, Public Administration or Social Services
• Must be at least 21 years of age
• A valid driver's license (Texas, upon hire) and a good driving record
  • Must provide and maintain proof of automobile liability insurance upon employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Be knowledgeable of agency policies and procedures, TJJD and PREA standards; federal, state, and local statutes.
• Be knowledgeable of state and federal regulatory agency standards, budgetary guidelines, building and fire codes.
• Be knowledgeable of economic, emotional, educational, occupational, and social factors, which influence residents’ behavior.
• Be knowledgeable of contract vendor services and requirements.
• Be knowledgeable of the departmental divisions and Juvenile District Courts.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain an active certification in accordance with TJJD requirements.
• Must be 21 years of age.

Additional Requirements:

• Upon receiving a conditional job offer, every applicant undergoes a criminal background check, drug screening and psychological assessment.
• Employees who hold this position are required to possess and maintain a valid Texas Driver's license. Employee must maintain liability insurance in at least the minimum amounts required by law.
• All applicants are required to present evidence of a tuberculosis (TB) skin test. In the event of a positive test, the applicant will be required to provide additional documentation.
• Every employee is subject to random testing for drug and alcohol or if there is a reasonable suspicion to believe that the employee is under the influence of a substance prohibited by this policy while in the course and scope of employment.
• If public emergency is declared by county, staff could be assigned to other duties and/or facilities and/or under the supervision of another county department.
• This position involves working with challenging youth where use of crisis intervention and de-escalation strategies may be necessary to ensure the safety of both youth and staff.

NOTE: To qualify for this position, required education, experience, knowledge and skills must be clearly stated on your application's employment history. Resumes are welcome, but we do not use any information provided on your resume to qualify and refer you to the Hiring Department for consideration.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time | An essential staff position
• 40 hours per week | On-call 24 hours per day
• Emergency situations may require availability at any time
• Evenings and Weekends may be included

Location:

• JDC (1200 Congress St. Houston, TX 77002)

Salary:

• $48.96 Hourly
• Depends on Qualifications
• Based on 26 Pay Periods

Criminal History Checks for positions requiring state certifications:
Applicants applying for a position requiring a state certification must adhere to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) Standards. Before making an offer of employment for a position eligible for certification, HCJPD will verify that the applicant meets the background qualification for the position according to TJJD Standards 344.300 & 344.400

§344.400 Disqualifying Criminal History:
(a)Applicants for Certification. An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification or for employment in a position requiring certification:
(1) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony listed in Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 42A.054 (formerly known as “3(g) offenses” under former Article 42.12) or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition; or
(2) deferred adjudication or conviction for a sexually violent offense as defined in Article 62.001, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD), regardless of the date of disposition.
§344.410 Other Criminal History:
(1) An individual with the following criminal history is not eligible for certification, employment, or otherwise providing service in a position requiring certification without prior review and approval by TJJD as provided in §344.420 of this chapter:
(A) deferred adjudication or conviction for a felony other than those referenced in §344.400(a) of this chapter or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than 10 years prior to the date the review is requested; or
(B) deferred adjudication or conviction for any Class A or B misdemeanor in Texas or a substantially equivalent violation against the laws of another state or the United States (as determined by TJJD) if the date of deferred adjudication or conviction was less than five years prior to the date the review is requested.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Wellness
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• 10 days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service. Accrual rates increase based on years of service.
• 10 county holidays plus one (1) floating holiday
• Professional development opportunities
• Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
• Healthcare Reimbursement Account
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.