General Description

POSTING TYPE: Open, Competitive

DEPARTMENT: Community Corrections

HOURS: Part-time

PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $35.20 /hr- $39.61 /hr (Grade 108)

FULL SALARY RANGE: $35.21 /hr- $55.01 /hr

LOCATION: Juvenile Service Center, Hastings, MN

UNION: AFSCME 450

CLOSE DATE: 4:30 p.m. on 1/23/2026

There is currently one opening for a part-time Shift Lead Probation Officer in the Juvenile Service Center (JSC) located in Hastings, MN. This position is on a 3 day on, 6 day off rotation and includes overnights, weekends, and holidays as scheduled. This position is assigned to work inside a secure juvenile facility.

Community Corrections' Mission Statement: To transform lives, promote equity and increase community safety.

Community Corrections' Diversity and Inclusion Mission Statement: As a system we are committed to dismantling institutional racism and healing historical trauma. We are moving forward as a place where inclusion, respect, acceptance, growth, and teaching are expected. We will recognize our individualities. We will listen to every voice, recognize our biases, and grow towards a more equitable and inclusive culture. We will help each other learn by modeling, teaching, and listening.

Probation officers establish professional relationships with adult and juvenile clients involved in the criminal justice system. The primary responsibility of a probation officer is to actively and directly facilitate client change. This requires a holistic view of human behavior. Dakota County seeks probation officers who see themselves as change agents for their clients, engaging clients, assessing their barriers to success, supporting access to needed services, motivating clients to seek change, and extending interventions that lead clients to greater success. The JSC Probation Officer-Shift Leader work alongside supervisors to manage building operations and resident programming.

Community Corrections is part of the Community Services Division. Community Services includes Social Services, Public Health, Veteran Services, and Employment and Economic Assistance. The division is focusing on Integrated Service Delivery and meeting the needs of all of our clients no matter which department(s) are providing services. We work with our clients to support their needs for housing, employment, transportation, health care, education, financial assistance and empowerment.

Applicants for this vacancy will be considered for future JSC Probation Officer Shift Lead positions for the next six months.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Corrections, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Psychology, Social Work, Education or related behavioral science field, AND 12 months experience in corrections, human services or related behavioral science field

  • Required license(s):

    • Valid driver's license
    • First Aid/CPR certificate within 6 months of hire. (For Probation Officers working in the secure residential facility or the day treatment program. Training provided by the facility.)

• To be eligible for hire, an applicant must successfully complete a background check and meet the criminal history background criteria required to access certain networks/systems necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. The law and/or County policy will disqualify applicants with a particular criminal history background from employment in this position.

• Pursuant to Dakota County Policy, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive. “Safety-sensitive position” means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 181.950, subdivision 13.

Duties & Responsibilities

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

• Work alongside the Supervisor to actively manage building operations and programming, including meals, medication delivery, and completing well-being checks. Oversee these operations in the absence of supervisor.
• Facilitate the referral and intake process at the Juvenile Service Center to include screening and assessment. Receive and accurately process referrals from Law Enforcement, Dakota County Crisis, and other Corrections Departments.
• Process new resident intakes, including use of the Risk Assessment Instrument, fingerprints, drug screenings, and completion of the intake process.
• Be a leader to other staff, interns, and volunteers, including providing direction during crisis situations.
• Support the resident’s work on their case plans created by the case manager to target criminogenic needs.
• Employ motivational interviewing to aid clients in constructing intrinsic reasons for behavioral change.
• Promote skill building by utilizing EBP strategies.
• Maintain complete client records and documentation in keeping with department, state, and legal standards.
• Coordinate staff to perform specifically defined client services, including assigning staff to work in living units when there is no supervisor on duty.
• Respond to citizen or other criminal justice professionals' requests for information.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities And Work Environment

• Knowledge of criminal behavior and/or juvenile delinquency, and of the criminal justice system in Minnesota.
• Knowledge of trauma informed care and working with clients with mental health needs.
• Knowledge of group dynamics.
• Knowledge of the criminal justice system in Minnesota; working knowledge of the functions of its component parts.
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Standards outlined in the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).
• Knowledge of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI).
• Knowledge of Integrated Service Delivery and the ability to assess a person's social, economic, educational, mental health, and physical health needs and make necessary referrals.
• Knowledge of dynamics of family functioning.
• Knowledge and ability to apply Evidence Based Practices with detained juveniles.
• Ability to use rewards, reinforcements, and interventions appropriately with juveniles, to be fair and understanding, while being firm and consistent.
• Knowledge of data privacy rules, practices, and confidentiality.
• Ability to adapt to change to support organizational change, development, growth, and progress.
• Ability to use Motivational Interviewing with juveniles to encourage cognitive behavioral change.
• Ability to make decisions under stress, while abiding by Departmental and State policies and guidelines. Including the ability to use de-escalation skills to resolve conflicts.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others to accomplish tasks, plan and resolve problems.
• Ability to support residents in completing their case plan goals.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to apply departmental policies and procedures to assigned duties.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and have good time management.
• Ability to learn and appropriately use the department’s Controlled Force Model.
• Ability to use computers and learn various database systems including CSTS, CSIR, MNCIS, Statewide Supervision System, CJINN, and others.
• Ability to work effectively with diverse groups and deal with different perspectives.
• Ability and openness to adapt to change, to grow and progress, and the desire to acquire new skills and develop professionally.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a secured correctional 40 bed facility. Some limited travel or transportation of clients may be required. Lifting requirement of up to 20 pounds on an occasional basis. Exposure to hazardous physical conditions such as mechanical parts, electrical currents, and vibrations; hazardous materials such as chemicals, blood, and other body fluids; and exposure to intense noise may occur. Equipment used may include, but is not limited to, computer, scanner, printer, calculator, telephone, EHM/GPS equipment, camera and copy machines.

SELECTION PROCESS: The examination/selection process for this classification will consist of a rating of your training and experience from the application materials submitted. The top scoring candidates will be forwarded to the hiring department for further consideration.