Juvenile Court Manager of Probation Services

Job description

Probation Manager

Pierce County Juvenile Court is a national leader in youth justice. Many of our policies, practices, and programs are recognized across the country. We are committed to improving outcomes for the whole community by working closely with young people and families. While our reform work has brought positive results, we know more progress is needed. Parts of the current system create wide-ranging differences in outcomes for children and families, especially those who have not been well served in the past.

If you want to help move this work forward, prepare young people for successful adulthood, and support change inside the system and in the community, this role offers that opportunity.

Your compassion, active listening, support, empowerment, and advocacy for young people and families will be valued. We welcome your perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can grow, and together we can make a strong impact in the community.

Pierce County Juvenile Court is strongly committed to the principles of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This work centers on fair access, strong community partnership, and practices that match the developmental needs of young people. These approaches help reduce the use of detention and improve outcomes for youth and families.

The Probation Manager will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using evidence-based approaches, building collaboration with community partners, and ensuring probation services align with JDAI's core strategies. The work is done in close partnership with a dedicated group of judicial officers who operate under case law and statute. As a result, the Probation Manager must balance legal requirements with innovation, consistency, and practices that keep young people at the center of decision-making.

Together, this leader and the court's judicial and management team will support a system that prioritizes rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunities for youth to grow.

You will prioritize the safety and security of youth and staff by using effective behavior-management and de-escalation skills. Responding to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with compassion will support success in this role.

You must be able to work in a high-conflict environment while staying focused on strengths and helping cases move forward. You will think critically, challenge assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. You must be responsive to community needs and communicate persuasively. You will respond to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with practices that remove obstacles to participation. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for long-term success in child welfare.

As the justice system continues to evolve, we welcome forward-thinking, creative, and compassionate people who thrive in fast-changing, innovative environments.

This position offers opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training. You will also build connections with partners in child welfare, education, mental health, community supports, substance-use treatment, economic-stability services, and other areas affecting young people and families.

You should be adaptable, forward-thinking, attentive to community needs, and compassionate while supporting the safety and wellbeing of young people under Juvenile Court jurisdiction. You will help advance our vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are encouraged to build on their strengths and reach their potential. You will help instill hope by setting goals, identifying paths forward, and believing in the possibility of change.

Core daily responsibilities include planning, administering, and coordinating the activities of department units, developing program objectives and operational goals, updating procedures and existing guidelines as necessary to meet changing conditions. You will evaluate individual and program accomplishments against established standards, goals, and timetables, and recommend remedial, motivational, or laudatory action as appropriate.

You will work collaboratively with the judicial officers assigned to Juvenile Court, advocating for probation's needs and perspectives while ensuring practices, recommendations, and decisions align with the legal direction and authority of judges and commissioners. You will manage and provide leadership to multiple teams, including Juvenile Probation Counselors, Case Monitors, the Diversion Coordinator, Extra-Hire staff, interns, and volunteers, ensuring cohesive service delivery and consistent adherence to departmental standards.

You will collaborate closely with key areas of Pierce County Juvenile Court—Detention, Dependency, Operations, and the Clerk's Office—to support integrated practices, shared priorities, and effective communication across the organization. You will plan, assign, review, and evaluate the work of subordinate employees; define responsibility and authority of subordinate positions and establish standards of performance; recommend merit step increases; recommend promotional actions.

You will recommend resolution of employee grievances at the department level; recommend and execute disciplinary actions. You will plan and implement in-service staff education, training and development; provide technical assistance with extremely complex or atypical problems. You will prepare budget requests and amendments; approve and control program expenditures in line with assigned budget. You will communicate program objectives and goals to interested community groups, the general public, and other governmental agencies.

You may serve in place of the Juvenile Court Deputy Court Executive when that person is absent. You will perform related work as required. You will be willing to assume statewide leadership role(s) per Deputy Court Executive directives. You will develop, maintain, and oversee community partnerships. You must be able to travel to assigned work locations.

Our recruitment practices emphasize a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. We recognize applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Pierce County is committed to fostering a Welcoming Workplace where employees are supported, respected, and able to thrive. We believe a strong public workforce is representative of the community it serves and that fair and just access to opportunity strengthens public service.

To be considered for this opportunity:

Submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or visiting

Attach the following documents: College transcripts or diploma, Cover Letter.

Any other materials you believe support your application, such as evaluations, awards, or certificates.

If you do not have internet access, you may visit a public library or WorkSource location. If you need an accommodation during the application or testing process or need this announcement in another format, call Human Resources at at least two days before you need assistance.

This is a competitive process. Applications are reviewed for the quality and quantity of education and experience. Applicants whose qualifications best match the County's needs will move forward. Short-notice scheduling may occur for written or oral exams, performance tests, or interviews.

We use email for most communication. Add piercecountywa.gov and neogov.com to your safe-sender list and check your junk folder as needed. The online application requires detailed information, so please plan adequate time.

All required materials must be submitted before the listed closing date and time.

Pierce County is committed to creating a welcoming environment with broad access to opportunity at every stage of employment. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain a workforce with a wide range of experiences and perspectives, all dedicated to serving our community. County employees make a visible impact across Pierce County. Join us in keeping Pierce County a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

We cannot sponsor employment visas at this time.

Worksite address

tacoma, WA, 98417, US

Who can apply

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