About this opportunity

County of San Mateo, CA lists this Deputy Probation Officer I/II - Probation Department (Open and Promotional) opportunity in redwood city, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.

Job description

Salary:

$98,758.40 - $137,737.60 Annually

Location : County of San Mateo, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Job Number: C002G

Department: Probation Department

Opening Date: 05/07/2026

Bargaining Unit: 30

Description

PLEASE NOTE: This recruitment was amended on October 15, 2026, to reflect that the acceptance of applications will be temporarily placed on hold beginning October 20, 2026, at 6:00 P.M. PT. If you are interested in being considered for the upcoming testing rounds scheduled for October 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2026, we encourage you to submit your application by October 20, 2026, by 6:00 P.M. PT.

We will resume accepting applications on January 15, 2027.

Empower Communities: Join us as a Deputy Probation Officer !

Please review our above Bulletin for information about the position.

Directions for applying for this Open and Promotional recruitment are provided below.

The San Mateo County Probation Department's role as a partner in the County's criminal justice system is to contribute to community safety through its law enforcement, court services, pretrial, supervision, and treatment referral functions. To learn more about the department, visit:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE EXAMINATION PROCESS

Qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) Selection Examination for the Deputy Probation Officer I/II position. If you have taken the BSCC exam within the last six months at another agency and you would like to utilize that T-score, please attach your exam results to the application. If your exam date is over six months from time of application, you must retake the BSCC to be considered for the Deputy Probation Officer I/II position.

To learn more about preparing for the written exam, please review the Candidate Orientation Booklet here:

Qualifications

Experience Requirement:

Deputy Probation Officer I- One year of experience in a human services capacity involving communicating and interacting with a diverse population either on an individual or group basis for the purpose of interviewing, counseling or rehabilitating, such as in the role of an institutional counselor, peace officer, or mental health or social services professional.

Deputy Probation Officer II - Two years of experience performing duties comparable to those of an entry level Deputy Probation Officer I in San Mateo County.

Knowledge of: Authoritative probation casework objectives, principles, methods and related court procedures; individual and group behavior; general resources needed to assist in prevention and control programs relating to delinquency and crime; California Penal and Welfare and Institutions, Health and Safety and Vehicle Codes; problems, needs, attitudes and behavior patterns of adult and juvenile probation and the community; community resources available to probationers; interviewing principles and techniques; general symptoms and effects of drug and alcohol use and abuse, emotional disorder and mental illness; counseling and crisis intervention principles and techniques; and court procedures.

Skill/Ability to: Interview effectively and obtain information through interrogation and observation; relate to and communicate effectively with residents of the community; deal effectively with persons under emotional stress; read and interpret complex written material; function as a team member; establish and maintain effective working relationships with other agencies, employees, supervisors and the general public; interpret legal information effectively; read and understand complex legal documents; prepare clear and concise oral and written reports; and work under stress; meet the physical abilities requirements as defined by the California State Board of Corrections.

Licensure/Certification: Possession of a class C California driver license or equivalent.

Other Requirements: Must be at least 21 years of age on or before date of appointment.

Must be legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law.

Must not have been convicted of a felony.

Deputy Probation Officers I must complete 200 hours of core probation officer training coursework within one year of appointment.

Must successfully pass a background investigation prior to employment.

Application/Examination

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score.

A supplemental application questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard San Mateo County employment application. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required employment application and supplemental questionnaire.

The examination will consist of a written test (weight: 100%). All tests will be held in San Mateo County, California. Applicants must participate at their own expense. Qualified applicants will be notified of the date, time, and place of the tests. Applicants must adhere to the dates listed below. Applicant requests for alternate test dates and times will not be granted. Applicants successful on the written test will have their name placed on the eligible list, which will be used to fill anticipated vacancies.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

This is a continuous recruitment which may close at any time. The final filing date will be posted 5 days in advance in the San Mateo County Human Resources Department.

Apply immediately. This recruitment is open on a continuous basis, and selections may be made at any time within the process.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date: October 20, 2026, 6:00 PM PT BSCC Written Exam: October 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2026

Departmental Panel Interviews: TBD

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

San Mateo County is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon ) (Deputy Probation Officer I/II - C001/C002)

We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required. A degree in criminal justice, corrections, counseling, psychology, sociology, or a closely related social or behavioral science is preferred. Do you meet this requirement? (A "No" response will disqualify you from this recruitment.) Yes

If you answered YES to the previous question, indicate where you obtained your Bachelor's Degree and your major.

Deputy Probation Officer I requires one year of experience in a human services capacity involving communicating and interacting with a diverse population, either on an individual or group basis, for the purpose of interviewing, counseling, or rehabilitating, such as in the role of an institutional counselor, peace officer, or mental health or social services professional.Deputy Probation Officer II requires two years of experience performing duties comparable to those of an entry-level Deputy Probation Officer I in San Mateo County.List the following for the experience that qualifies you for the position: 1) Your exact title.2) Job duties.3) Length of experience in months. 4) Employer.Detailed information should be found in the "Work History" section of your application.

You must be at least 21 years of age on or before the date of appointment. Are you at least 20.5 years of age at the time of submitting this application? Yes

You must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Do you meet this requirement? (If "YES", you will be required to submit proof of your legal authorization to work in the United States prior to employment.) Yes

If you have taken the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) California - Selection Examination for the Adult Corrections Officer, Juvenile Corrections Officer, and Probation Officer exam within the last six months and would like to submit your T-score in lieu of retaking the BSCC exam, you must attach proof of a documented valid T-Score at the time of application. If you do not attach your BSCC score or if your exam date is over six months from the time of application, you must retake the BSCC exam to be considered for the Deputy Probation Officer I/II position. Have you attached your qualifying T-score? I have attached my score and understand that if my score is over six months old from the time of application that I must re-take the BSCC with County of San Mateo to be considered for this position.

I have not taken the BSCC Exam.

Possession of a Driver's License is required for this position. Do you have a valid driver's license? Yes

You must be fingerprinted for purposes of search of local, state and national fingerprint files to disclose any criminal records. Do you agree to provide your fingerprints for this purpose? Yes

You must sign an "Authorization for Release of Information" form prior to employment. Your signature on that form is verification that the information you have provided on your employment application is accurate and complete. Do you agree to sign that form? Yes

Required Question

Worksite address

redwood city, CA, 94061, US

Who can apply

Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.

Deputy Probation Officer I/II - Probation Department (Open and Promotional)