DETENTION / TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATOR

Ellis, County of (TX); Texas; On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Ellis County seeks a seasoned Detention Center Manager to supervise 24/7 juvenile operations and transportation. You will guide daily programming, ensure safety, and enforce state and county policies.

This role demands strong leadership, audit experience, and coordination with courts, schools, and law enforcement. You will oversee staff performance, provide in-service training, and manage budgets while maintaining compliance with TJJD standards.

Qualifications

• Be at least 21 years of age.
• Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License.
• Meet criminal history employment guidelines as provided by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD).
• Two years of experience in secure detention, residential or correctional facilities or a related field.
• One year of experience with compliance and state audit procedures (preferred).
• Two years of supervisory experience (preferred).
• Be eligible for and maintain Juvenile Supervision Officer (JSO) certification by the TJJD.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the general operation, welfare, and security of the juveniles within the Juvenile Detention Center.
• Plan, organize, control, and direct daily operational and programmatic activities.
• Maintain up-to-date Policy and Procedure Manual and distribute updates to staff.
• Coordinate personnel records including training certifications and background checks.
• Develop and monitor pre-adjudication program services such as daily programming and detention intakes.
• Direct training to ensure staff compliance with department policy and regulatory standards.
• Participate in budget development for detention and transportation services.
• Manage scheduling, attendance, and overtime to ensure adequate staffing.
• Maintain accurate documentation of facility events and incident reports.
• Serve as liaison with parents, courts, schools, probation, and law enforcement.

Skills

Staff supervision

Policy compliance

Training & development

Interagency coordination

Crisis intervention

Job description

This position operates under the general direction of the Deputy Director and the Facility Administrator / Director of Juvenile Services, to ensure all aspects of both detention operations and transportation of juveniles, maintain compliance with both state and local codes, by being accountable for the day-to-day coordination and management of the operational aspects of the Juvenile Detention Center.

Management entails participating in the selection, hiring, and training staff; collaborating with service providers; communicating with parents; and overseeing facility inspections, statistical collection, and program development. The position is familiar with and supports programming required by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department and for the delivery of pre-adjudicated detention services.

The intent of this job description is to provide an overall summary of essential duties; however, there may be additional job-related tasks other than those specifically identified, which may be required to complete the job successfully. An individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Duties include the following.

• Supervise the general operation, welfare, and security of the juveniles within the Juvenile Detention Center;
• Perform managerial work such as planning, organizing, controlling, and directing daily operational and programmatic activities as directed by the Deputy Director and or the Facility Administrator;
• Ensure that the Policy and Procedure (P&P) Manual is up-to-date and available to all staff; as well as ensure that an updated copy is provided to all staff upon any updates or changes from the P&P Manual;
• Work closely with the Compliance / Training Manager in maintaining accurate and confidential personnel records for each detention staff, which shall include:
  1. Proof of age
  2. Documentation of criminal background check
  3. Completed job application
  4. Training records / to include proof of JSO and or JPO certification
  5. Documentation of promotion, demotion, termination and / or any other personnel actions
• Monitor, coordinate, and develop pre-adjudication program services, such as:
  1. daily programming
  2. classroom management
  3. crisis intervention
  4. behavior management
  5. security
  6. control
  7. juvenile court supervision
  8. detention intakes
  9. transportation

• Ensure effective control of the operation by directing timely in-service training and monitoring personnel compliance with Department policy, procedures, and regulatory standards, as well as state standards;
• Participate in the overall development of the annual operating budget for detention and transportation;
• Directly manage and supervise detention / transportation personnel including training, evaluating, disciplining, and monitoring professional behavior in the workplace;
• Develop and monitor staff work schedules, attendance, and leave requests and obtain pre-approval overtime to ensure adequate staff coverage;
• Ensure assigned staff maintain accurate, clear, and concise documentation of facility events in appropriate logbooks, JCMS, and reports relevant to their job responsibilities;
• Assist in resolving youth grievances in accordance with facility policies and state regulatory requirements;
• Developed skills in working with at-risk-youth;
• Serve as liaison between the assigned services areas, parents, community, probation, courts, law enforcement, school districts, and program services to ensure continuity in service delivery;
• Prepare and submit required program reports for both the Juvenile Board and Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
• Perform all other related duties involved in the operation of transportation and or detention of juveniles;
• Provide in-service training for JSO and JPO staff to ensure that all staff are properly trained to complete the supervision and transportation of juveniles;
• Conduct both internal and state-mandated audits;
• Develop performance improvement plans (PIP’s) as needed to address areas that are lacking or are in non-compliance;
• Ensure that the necessary data is collected, documented and presented to the Deputy Director and or Facility Administrator, the Juvenile Board and the State Auditors;
• Serve as a liaison between Juvenile Services and the Courts, Social Services Agencies, Schools and other professional disciplines, as needed;
• Maintain monthly employee evaluations and develop performance improvement plans (PIP’s) to address areas of concern for staff.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & LICENSES:

• Be at least 21 years of age;
• Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License;
• Meet criminal history employment guidelines as provided by the Texas Juvenile

Justice Department;

• Two (2) years of experience in secure detention, residential or correctional facilities or a related field;
• One (1) year of experience with compliance and state audit procedures (preferred)
• Two (2) year of supervisory experience (preferred);
• Be eligible for and maintain Juvenile Supervision Officer (JSO) certification by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD);

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBITIES:

This position requires one to possess the ability to supervise the day-today operations of staff members working in various programs within detention. This position must maintain a high level of communication professionalism; as well as, possess a thorough knowledge of local government standards and Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) requirements, to include, but not limited to: the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Texas Family Code (TFC) and Texas Education Code (TEC). This position will assist in the hiring, evaluating and delegating disciplinary action to detention / transportation staff; as well as be responsible for the direct supervision and training of detention / transportation staff. This position is responsible for the overall scheduling of detention and transportation staff, to ensure that state-mandated staff-to-juvenile ratio is maintained at all times.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Regular attendance is essential. The position requires punctual attendance, as well as the possibility of working beyond a 40-hour work week, to ensure staffing ratios are met at all times, in the detention facility. Detention operates 24 hours per day, 365 days a year; therefore, this position may require one to work outside of normal business hours, to include, but not limited to: evenings, overnight, weekends and holidays. As well as this position may be required to work during various types of weather, to include, but not limited to rain, wind, ice, sleet or snow.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBIES:

This position requires one to possess the ability to supervise the day-today operations of staff members working in various programs within detention. This position must maintain a high level of communication professionalism; as well as, possess a thorough knowledge of local government standards and Texas Juvenile Justice Department (TJJD) requirements, to include, but not limited to: the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Texas Family Code (TFC) and Texas Education Code (TEC). This position will assist in the hiring, evaluating and delegating disciplinary action to detention / transportation staff; as well as be responsible for the direct supervision and training of detention / transportation staff. This position is responsible for the overall scheduling of detention and transportation staff, to ensure that state-mandated staff-to-juvenile ratio is maintained at all times.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations, if able, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position typically requires manual dexterity, talking, hearing, seeing, grasping, standing, walking, repetitive motions, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, climbing, driving a vehicle, walking on an incline, working well with others. May be exposed to smoke and fire during fire emergencies; may also be exposed to hazardous substances when facility maintenance is being performed and when conducting routine housekeeping duties. May be exposed to contagious medical diseases. Must be able to use verbal de-escalation skills and non-violent physical restraint techniques to ensure the safety and security of juveniles and staff.

Performing the essential functions typically requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

NOTICE:

The above job profile does not include all essential duties of this job. All applicants and / or employees with disabilities are encouraged to contact the Human Resources Department to review and discuss the essential functions of the job, so that an applicant and / or employees can evaluate the job in greater detail to determine if he / she can safely perform the essential functions of this job with or without reasonable accommodation.

DISCLAIMER:

Job profiles are not intended, nor should they be construed to be, an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, tasks, skills, efforts, working conditions, or similar behaviors, attributes, or requirements associated with a job. A job description is not a comprehensive job profile. It is intended for the sole purpose of acquainting a person who is unfamiliar with such a position with a brief overview of the position’s general direction and scope.

An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of CPS and background checks, including reference checks, license checks, and criminal history checks.