Director of Juvenile Detention

Sevier, County of (TN); Sevierville (TN); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Sevier County seeks a Director for the Juvenile Detention Center to provide leadership, administrative oversight, and operational direction. The role oversees intake, custody, security, transportation, records, and release activities, while coordinating with courts, law enforcement, emergency services, families, and partners.

Responsibilities include budgeting, staff development, and ensuring compliance with laws and county expectations.

Qualifications

• Associates degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Minimum five years of progressively responsible experience in juvenile/adult detention or similar corrections.
• Ability to obtain a Tennessee driver's license and maintain insurance.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Juvenile Detention Center and set operating priorities.
• Develop and implement operating policies and procedures; supervise staff and ensure compliance.
• Oversee intake, custody, security, transportation, records, and release activities.
• Coordinate with courts, law enforcement, emergency services, families, and partners.
• Administer the annual operating budget and monitor expenditures.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Policy development

Operations management

Staff development

Education

Associates degree or equivalent

Job description

The Director of the Juvenile Detention Center provides leadership, administrative oversight, and operational direction for the Sevier County Juvenile Detention Center. The position is responsible for the safe, secure, efficient, and compliant operation of the facility, supervision and development of assigned personnel, development and implementation of operating policies and procedures, administration of the facility budget, oversight of intake, custody, security, transportation, records, and release activities, and coordination with courts, law enforcement agencies, emergency services, families, and other partners. The Director is responsible for protecting the legal and civil rights of juveniles in custody, maintaining appropriate security and operational controls, and ensuring facility practices are responsive to applicable laws, regulations, training requirements, and County expectations. Job performance will be evaluated by the Deputy County Mayor and Chief Operating Officer based on leadership, effectiveness, facility condition, staff development, responsiveness, safety, and stewardship of County resources.

• Provides overall leadership and direction for the Juvenile Detention Center and establishes operating priorities, policies, procedures, performance expectations, and security practices necessary for safe and effective facility operations.
• Develops, implements, reviews, and updates operational policies and procedures and ensures assigned personnel understand and comply with established requirements.
• Directs and supervises facility personnel, assigns and reviews work, monitors performance, addresses policy or procedure violations, and promotes consistent, professional, and accountable operations.
• Oversees intake activities for juveniles taken into custody, including searches, collection of required identification and medical information, inventory and documentation of personal property, and entry of required information into facility records and databases.
• Ensures appropriate review and maintenance of documentation relating to the intake, custody, supervision, transportation, and release of detained juveniles.
• Oversees security operations, including required observations, routine and random security checks, searches of juveniles and facility areas, perimeter and grounds inspections, contraband control, and maintenance of required monitoring logs.
• Ensures juveniles are appropriately supervised during housing, recreation, education, meals, visitation, transportation, and other facility activities.
• Oversees the provision of meals, prescribed medications, medical attention, and other required services to juveniles in custody in accordance with established procedures.
• Assesses and responds to medical, behavioral, traumatic, security, and other emergency situations and determines or coordinates the appropriate course of action within the authority of the position.
• Responds to disturbances, dangerous or volatile situations, and other significant incidents and takes appropriate action to protect juveniles, employees, visitors, and the facility.
• Oversees and, when operationally necessary, assists with transportation of detained juveniles to court appearances, medical appointments, emergency facilities, correctional facilities, or other authorized destinations.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with local and regional law enforcement agencies, courts, emergency services, governmental agencies, and other organizations involved in juvenile custody and detention.
• Monitors changes, developments, and trends affecting juvenile detention and recommends or implements appropriate changes to facility policies, procedures, training, and operations.
• Coordinates employee training schedules and ensures personnel complete required initial, recurring, and specialized training and maintain applicable certifications.
• Develops and administers the annual operating budget; monitors expenditures and available resources to ensure compliance with approved appropriations, County financial controls, and operational priorities.
• Compiles operational data and prepares reports, statistics, presentations, and other information for County leadership, boards, commissions, courts, regulatory agencies, or other authorized entities as required.
• Ensures facility records and required documentation are accurate, organized, secure, accessible to authorized personnel, and maintained in accordance with applicable requirements.
• Interacts professionally with detained juveniles, family members, attorneys, law enforcement personnel, court officials, employees, and the public while maintaining appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Keeps the Executive Team informed of significant incidents, security concerns, staffing issues, regulatory matters, budgetary needs, and other issues affecting facility operations.
• Performs other incidental and related duties as required and assigned.

Required:

• Associates degree or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience sufficient to perform the essential duties.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience working in a juvenile or adult correctional or detention setting.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Tennessee driver's license and ability to be insured at standard vehicle liability rates.
• Ability to successfully complete and maintain training and certifications required for assigned juvenile detention duties, including CPR and First Aid and applicable facility operations and non-lethal intervention training.
• Ability to successfully complete required pre-employment screening in accordance with County policy.

SUPERVISORY REQUIREMENTS

This position has significant supervisory and management responsibilities and provides leadership to Juvenile Correctional Officers, administrative staff, supervisors, and other personnel assigned to the Juvenile Detention Center. Responsibilities include workforce planning, employee selection and training, assignment and review of work, performance management, coaching and development, scheduling, and disciplinary action in coordination with Human Resources and in accordance with County policies and applicable law.

COMPETENCIES

• Thorough knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures applicable to juvenile detention, custody, and facility operations.
• Thorough knowledge of the constitutional, civil, and legal rights of juveniles taken into custody.
• Knowledge of the psychological, emotional, developmental, and behavioral needs of children and adolescents.
• Knowledge of common first aid practices, CPR, universal precautions, and appropriate response to medical and behavioral emergencies within a detention setting.
• Knowledge of effective supervisory practices, including employee selection, training, evaluation, motivation, coaching, conflict resolution, discipline, and workforce development.
• Knowledge of governmental budgeting practices and financial controls, including development of annual budgets and monitoring the receipt and expenditure of funds.
• Ability to develop, implement, interpret, and enforce effective operational policies and procedures for a secure juvenile detention facility.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make timely, appropriate decisions based on available information, applicable requirements, safety considerations, and operational needs.
• Ability to remain composed and respond quickly and appropriately during emergencies, disturbances, potentially dangerous situations, and other high-pressure conditions.
• Ability to supervise and direct assigned personnel and maintain consistent operational and performance expectations across shifts.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with County leadership, co-workers, law enforcement and emergency personnel, courts, juveniles, family members, agencies, and the public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally, maintain confidentiality, and interact with juveniles and family members in a courteous and appropriate manner.
• Ability to compile data, maintain accurate records, and prepare comprehensive reports and administrative documentation.
• Skill in de-escalating potentially volatile situations and preventing further escalation of tense or disruptive behavior.
• Skill in the safe use of authorized intake, restraint, protective, communication, and other equipment required for assigned duties.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

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. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• This is a professional, administrative, and operational position within a secure juvenile detention facility and requires both office duties and active facility responsibilities.
• Work requires periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, and moving throughout the facility.
• Work requires moderate strength, mobility, coordination, and stamina and may require exerting up to 50 pounds of force occasionally and up to 10 pounds frequently.
• Work requires sufficient mobility and physical ability to respond to emergencies and assist in controlling dangerous or volatile situations when required.
• Work requires arm and hand steadiness, manual and finger dexterity, and the ability to operate computers, communication devices, security equipment, restraint equipment, and other job-related equipment.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information in both quiet and noisy environments and determine the direction of sounds.
• Visual acuity is required for observing juveniles and facility activities, reading records and computer systems, inspecting areas and equipment, and determining the accuracy and completeness of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in office settings and throughout a secure juvenile detention facility and may include indoor and outdoor assignments.
• Work may involve exposure to disruptive, hostile, emotionally distressed, or physically aggressive individuals; communicable illnesses or bodily fluids; noise; inclement weather; and other hazards associated with juvenile detention operations.
• General hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM; the position may be required to respond to emergencies, security incidents, staffing needs, or significant operational issues outside normal working hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Travel within Sevier County and to courts, medical facilities, correctional facilities, training locations, or other authorized destinations may be required.