Juvenile Justice Counselor 3

Alaska Horizon; Palmer (AK); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Alaska Horizon seeks a Juvenile Justice Counselor 3 to supervise and care for adolescents in detention awaiting court actions. You will lead junior counselors, ensure policy compliance, and uphold restorative justice principles to protect residents, staff, and the community.

The role requires experience in juvenile justice facilities, strong leadership, and a commitment to safety. A valid driver’s license is required. Shift work and a 24‑hour facility environment are expected.

Qualifications

• Minimum one year of experience performing treatment and security functions in a juvenile justice facility.
• One year of experience administering or supervising corrections, law enforcement, or related fields.
• One year of duties related to custody, security, and reformation of prisoners in an adult correctional institution; valid driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and provide care to juveniles awaiting court action, diagnostic evaluation, or placement.
• Lead Juvenile Justice Counselor 1/2s on unit operations and ensure policy compliance.
• Ensure safety and well‑being of residents, staff and the community; implement restorative justice practices.

Skills

Performance management

Interpersonal skills

Stress tolerance

Integrity/Honesty

Leadership

Job description

What you will be doing

This position provides supervision and services to adolescents in a detention setting who are typically awaiting court appearances where future placement and services are determined.

Some of our residents have mild to severe mental health issues in addition to their justice system challenges.

The Juvenile Justice Counselor 3 leads Juvenile Justice Counselor 1/2s in carrying out the unit operations and supervising/caring for juveniles who are awaiting court action, diagnostic evaluation, or placement in a long-term treatment facility or residential program. They perform as shift lead and are charged with ensuring that practices are consistent with Alaska Statutes, Alaska Administrative Code, Division of Juvenile Justice and facility policies and procedures. They make sure that Performance-based Standards are implemented on the unit and within the context of the Division’s restorative justice philosophy, ensuring the proper care and safety of residents, staff, and the community.

Our organization, mission, and culture

Through Restorative Justice, we hold juvenile offenders accountable for their behavior; promote the safety and restoration of victims and communities; and assist offenders and their families in developing the skills to prevent crime. Our core values include:

• Prioritizing Safety - of our youth, staff, families, and communities
• Responsiveness - providing timely response to youth, families, victims, staff, and justice partners.
• Professional Relationships - recognizing that successful treatment services provided to our clients, coworkers, victims, and others rely on positive, respectful, and collaborative relationships and a spirit of inclusiveness.
• Dedication - doing the right things for the right reasons and modeling relentless integrity and leadership.
• Respect - for the inherent value of each person's unique strengths and individual differences.

The benefits of joining our team

Joining our team will bring the opportunity to make a meaningful change in youths’ lives and our community. We are dedicated to doing our best work, despite adversity and setbacks. We believe in enhancing the strengths in our staff by promoting training, goal setting, and professional development in the workplace.

The working environment you can expect

This position is located at the Mat-Su Youth Facility, 581 Outer Springer Loop, Palmer. This is a 24-hour facility and shift work is required. This can include evening and grave shifts in addition to working weekends and holidays.

Minimum Qualifications

• One year of experience performing the full range of treatment and security functions in a juvenile justice facility. The required experience is met by service as a Juvenile Justice Counselor 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent elsewhere.
• One year of experience administering, advising on, performing, or supervising adult or juvenile corrections, law enforcement, parole, probation, residential treatment casework, or social casework.
• One year of experience performing the full range of duties associated with the custody, security, and reformation of prisoners in an adult correctional institution. The required experience is met by service as a Correctional Officer 2 with the State of Alaska, or the equivalent elsewhere.

Special Note:

Prior to initial appointment, successful candidates for the Juvenile Justice Counselor are subject to a background investigation, criminal record check, and medical examination to determine that the essential duties of the position can be safely performed.

A valid driver’s license is required at the time of appointment.

Who we are looking for

In addition to the Minimum Qualifications below, we are looking for a candidate with the following competencies:

• Managing Performance: Takes responsibility for employees’ performance by setting and communicating expectations and goals that are specific and measurable, tracking progress against the goals, supporting employees’ efforts to achieve job goals (by providing resources, removing obstacles, acting as a buffer, etc.), ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.
• Conscientiousness: Displays a high level of effort and commitment towards performing work; demonstrates responsible behavior.
• Integrity/Honesty: Contributes to maintaining the integrity of the organization; displays high standards of ethical conduct and understands the impact of violating these standards on an organization, self, and others; is trustworthy.
• Interpersonal Skills: Shows understanding, friendliness, courtesy, tact, empathy, concern, and politeness to others; develops and maintains effective relationships with others; may include effectively dealing with individuals who are difficult, hostile, or distressed; relates well to people from varied backgrounds and different situations; is sensitive to cultural diversity, race, gender, disabilities, and other individual differences.
• Stress Tolerance: Deals calmly and effectively with high stress situations (for example, tight deadlines, hostile individuals, emergency situations, dangerous situations).

Additional Required Information

At time of interview applicant must submit

Copy of transcripts if using to meet MQs (unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution name/URL is listed on the transcripts).

Three (3) names & phone numbers of professional references.

Two (2) performance evaluations from previous employers, if available.

Please read the below information carefully. This applies to your application submission.

BACKGROUND CHECK

The successful candidate must pass a comprehensive background investigation, which includes a state and FBI fingerprint-based background check.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS:

For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions.

EDUCATION

To verify education being used to meet the required minimum qualifications, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials being used to meet the minimum qualifications for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial are okay, please ensure that the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application, provided at the time of interview, or if/when requested prior to scheduling an interview.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.

Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE

When using work experience not already documented in your application, please provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and

classspecs

To view the general description and example of duties for Juvenile Justice Counselor 3, please go to the following link:

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/