SPECIAL INFORMATION:

• An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period.
• The successful applicant will be subject to a background check, including the Child Protection Services & Nurses registry.
• Working hours may include occasional evenings & weekends.
• Some travel will be required as this position oversees Youth Court operations in Musselshell, Golden Valley, Wheatland, and Meagher Counties.

Nature of Work:

This is supervisory, administrative, and professional youth probation work as the Chief Probation Officer of a smaller youth probation program of the 14th Judicial District Court in Roundup, Montana.

Work includes planning, organizing, supervising, and participating in providing youth probation services in a district court. The nature of the probation program supervised by employees occupying positions in this class is characterized by the following: the number of clients served require the incumbent to carry a large caseload; the number of professional youth probation officers and any support staff are in the range of one to four in mostly rural areas of the state. Formal supervision is exercised over staff in the department. Work is performed with considerable independent judgment, discretion, and decision making under the general direction of the district court judge or chief judge in a two-judge district. Work is evaluated, through meetings and reports, for the manner in which the probation program conforms to the provisions of the Youth Court Act, policies established by the judicial officer(s) in the district, judicial branch policies and procedures, guidelines established by the probation officers’ association.

Essential Functions: (Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed)

• Serves as chief probation officer of the district as provided for in the Montana Youth Court Act and directives of the court; plans, schedules, assigns, directs, motivates, and evaluates the work of subordinate(s); develops policies and procedures for the department.

• Confers with judicial officer to identify and assess youth probation needs; develops goals, plans, and measurements to establish, maintain, and improve the quality of services offered to youth in the district.

• Prepares and administers the department’s annual budget; prepares grant applications and administers provisions of grants; maintains statistics on the department activities and prepares reports of accomplishments.

• Serves as the department’s liaison with the county attorneys, law enforcement agencies, schools, and public and private social services agencies; serves on committees and boards as assigned; prepares and presents speeches to groups such as school classes, civic groups, the media, and other professional organizations.

• Provides the full range of probation services to a large number of youths in one or more counties in the district.

Working Conditions:

The work is performed primarily in an office environment and involves exposure to normal, everyday risks which require normal safety precautions typical of offices. Employees may be exposed to violent or non-compliant youth or family members and be on-call for work evenings and on weekends. Latex gloves are worn when obtaining urine samples. Work may also involve driving long distances in a variety of weather conditions.

Physical Demands:

This position requires activities such as sitting for long periods, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing stairs, lifting, moving, and carrying light to medium objects, operating office equipment.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:

Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices and laws of youth probation and corrections including the Montana Youth Court Act.

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of youth counseling, crisis intervention, and youth psychology and culture.

Thorough knowledge of child and adolescent development, basic drug testing techniques and results, chain of evidence, chemical dependency, community treatment resources, and dynamics of abuse and neglect.

Considerable knowledge of the service programs for youth provided by private and public agencies in the area.

Knowledge of the operation of a personal computer with word processing, spreadsheet, or database applications as required by assignments.

Knowledge of modern supervisory principles and practices.

Knowledge of budget preparation and administration.

Ability to effectively plan, assign, direct, and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.

Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports containing findings, conclusions, recommendations, and justifications.

Ability to accurately document contacts/observations.

Ability to organize time and effectively manage workload.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the youth and their families, school personnel, subordinate staff, judicial officer(s), private and public human service agencies, professional groups, and the public.

Ability to maintain the confidentiality of information.

Ability to be perceptive, versatile, flexible yet firm and matter of fact when necessary.

Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Ability to apply the provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act.

Ability to persuade assigned youth and their families to work for positive behavioral changes.

Ability to deal with upset, angry, and emotionally charged people and resolving conflicts.

Skill in operating a personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet and database applications as required by assignments.

Qualifications:

Possession of a master’s degree in the behavioral sciences; a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in the behavioral sciences and at least one year’s experience in work of a nature related to the duties of a probation officer; or a bachelor’s degree in any field and at least 3 years’ experience in work related to the duties of a probation officer.

Licensure and Certification Requirements:

Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Montana driver's license; proof of insurance if using a personal vehicle on State business.