DCS LIEUTENANT - 11042026-82523

State of Tennessee; Somerville (TN); On-site; USD 51,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee in Somerville, TN is seeking a full-time DCS supervisor to oversee staff, ensure secure operations, and manage shift coverage in a high-security youth services environment.

Minimum education is a high school diploma or GED with four years' relevant experience in corrections, law enforcement, or security. Applicants must meet driver standards and pass background and drug tests as part of the pre-employment process.

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school or high school equivalent (GED/HiSET).
• Experience must be equivalent to four years of full-time work within youth or adult corrections, military, law enforcement, or security work experience.
• This experience could include working with trauma-exposed youths, justice-involved youths, at-risk youths, and youth mentoring programs geared toward reducing recidivism or minimizing exposure to or involvement into the justice system.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates staff to ensure institutional schedule is being followed properly in a timely manner without compromising the safety and security of the institution.
• Acts as the shift supervisor on a daily basis and makes decisions for the facility in the absence of senior management.
• Ensures that constant supervision of youth is being maintained and authorizes searches to prevent and detect contraband.
• Addresses and resolves youth and/or staff conflicts immediately before situations escalate.
• Monitors all security posts daily to ensure procedures are followed and needs of youth are addressed.
• Consults with outside law enforcement officials regarding incidents and informs superiors of events requiring attention.
• Completes and checks facility incident reports, disciplinary reports, and inventories.
• Oversees large staff of DCS Officers, Corporals and Sergeants.

Skills

Decision Quality

Directs Work

Communicates Effectively

Action Oriented

Self-Development

Complex Problem Solving

Time Management

Writing

Critical Thinking

Speaking

Deductive Reasoning

Inductive Reasoning

Reaction Time

Education

Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school or high school equivalent (GED/HiSET)

Tools

Handheld Radios

Mechanical Restraints

Motor Vehicles

Personal Computer

Telephones

Job description

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 11/04/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information

Opening Date/Time 11/04/2026 12:00AM Central Time

Closing Date/Time 11/10/2026 11:59PM Central Time

Salary (Monthly) $4,608.00 - $6,893.00

Salary (Annually) $55,296.00 - $82,716.00

Job Type Full-Time

City, State Location Somerville, TN

Department Children's Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, FAYETTE COUNTY

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school or high school equivalent (GED/HI Set). Experience must be equivalent to four years of full-time work within youth or adult corrections, military, law enforcement, or security work experience. This experience could include but is not limited to, working with trauma-exposed youths, justice-involved youths, at-risk youths, and youth mentoring programs geared toward reducing recidivism or minimizing exposure to or involvement into the justice system.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• Must be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Possess a valid driver's license prior to and during employment;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Have no conviction for a felony;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointment authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment screening test for use of illegal drugs.
• Submit to and pass a pre-employment physical exam administered by a licensed physician that relates to the essential functions of the position.

Overview

Under direction, is responsible for supervisory children's services work of considerable difficulty; and performs related work as required. This is the highest class in the DCS Officer sub-series. An employee in this class is assigned to work in an institutional setting providing student and officer supervision as the shift supervisor at a large institution or the supervisor of a 24-hour schedule at a smaller institution. This class differs from DCS Sergeant in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for acting as an assistant shift supervisor at a large institution or as a supervisor of two shifts at a small institution.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates staff to ensure institutional schedule is being followed properly in a timely manner without compromising the safety and security of the institution. Acts as the shift supervisor on a daily basis. Makes decisions for the facility in the absence of senior management and takes appropriate actions.
• Ensures that constant supervision of youth is being maintained. Authorizes searches on youth, staff and areas to prevent and detect any contraband. Addresses and resolves youth and/or staff conflicts immediately before situations escal.
• Monitors all security posts on a daily basis to ensure compliance with procedures and to address youth needs.
• Consults with outside law enforcement officials regarding institution incidents. Advises superiors of events that require immediate attention. Informs security manager of procedures, schedules or other institutional functions that may need to be changed.
• Completes and checks facility incident reports, inquiry reports, disciplinary reports, chemical bin cards, maintenance requests and tool inventories.
• Oversees large staff of DCS Officers, DCS Corporals and DCS Sergeants.

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Decision Quality
• Directs Work
• Communicates Effectively
• Action Oriented
• Self-Development

Knowledge

• Administration and Management
• Public Safety and Security
• Law and Government

Skills

• Complex Problem Solving
• Time Management
• Writing
• Critical Thinking
• Speaking

Abilities

• Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive Reasoning
• Reaction Time

Tools & Equipment

• Handheld Radios
• Mechanical Restraints
• Motor Vehicles
• Personal Computer
• Telephones

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.