Juvenile Probation Counselor 2 – Probation Unit

Pierce County; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce County Juvenile Court in Tacoma, WA is seeking a Probation Manager to lead staff in applying evidence‑based approaches, collaborate with judicial officers, and align probation services with JDAI’s core strategies.

You will prioritize safety, support youth and families, advocate for fair access, and build partnerships with child welfare, education, mental health, and community supports to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in social work or human services field, counseling, criminal justice and juvenile systems, social or behavior sciences or related field and
• One or more years’ experience in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Meet young people and families in their homes, in the community, at schools, etc. Build relationships with young people and all parties involved with a case.
• Gather fact-based information to make informed recommendations to the court and ensure the court has all relevant information to make well informed decisions.
• Participate in the court process – write court reports, file and respond to motions, testify at trials and court hearings.
• Facilitate relationships and advocate outside of court to ensure a child and family’s needs are being met by the system and community.
• Collaborate with parents, service providers, agencies, or other support systems in the lives of the young people served, to form a support network for them and their family for their long-term success.
• Stay up to date with current trends in child welfare, mental health, substance use disorder, poverty, racism, bias, etc.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in social work, human services, counseling, criminal justice or related field

Job description

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is a national leader in youth justice. Many of our policies, practices, and programs are recognized across the country. We are committed to improving outcomes for the whole community by working closely with young people and families. While our reform work has brought positive results, we know more progress is needed. Parts of the current system create wide-ranging differences in outcomes for children and families, especially those who have not been well served in the past.

If you want to help move this work forward, prepare young people for successful adulthood, and support change inside the system and in the community, this role offers that opportunity.

Your compassion, active listening, support, empowerment, and advocacy for young people and families will be valued. We welcome your perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can grow, and together we can make a strong impact in the community.

Why It's a Great Department:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is an innovative leader in the youth justice field. It is home to where reform policies, practices, and programs are nationally recognized. Pierce County Juvenile Court was one of two sites in the nation to be selected to pursue Probation Transformation in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Juvenile Court system is proud to be a national leader in working with young people and families to address systemic racism and improve outcomes for all people in our community. Even with the successes in our reform journey, we know that there is more work to do as the structure of our current system is designed to produce disparate outcomes for BIPOC children and families, as well as marginalized communities.

Your passion for leading with compassion, listening, supporting, empowering, and providing resources and advocacy to young people and families will be valued here. We welcome and embrace your diverse perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can change, and together, we will make a powerful impact in the community.

Our Guiding Principles

• We Practice Gratitude: We put relationships first and show appreciation for others.
• We Value Differences: We respect a wide range of opinions, cultures, and experiences.
• We Maintain a Growth Mindset: We focus on effort, perseverance, and helpful feedback.
• We Choose Courage Over Comfort: We face challenges and difficult conversations with care, and support one another.
• We Practice Authenticity: We are genuine, speak truthfully, and seek to understand experiences different from our own.

How to be Successful in the Role:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is strongly committed to the principles of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This work centers on fair access, strong community partnership, and practices that match the developmental needs of young people. These approaches help reduce the use of detention and improve outcomes for youth and families.

The Probation Manager will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using evidence-based approaches, building collaboration with community partners, and ensuring probation services align with JDAI’s core strategies. The work is done in close partnership with a dedicated group of judicial officers who operate under case law and statute. As a result, the Probation Manager must balance legal requirements with innovation, consistency, and practices that keep young people at the center of decision‑making.

Together, this leader and the court’s judicial and management team will support a system that prioritizes rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunities for youth to grow.

You will prioritize the safety and security of youth and staff by using effective behavior‑management and de‑escalation skills. Responding to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with compassion will support success in this role.

You must be able to work in a high‑conflict environment while staying focused on strengths and helping cases move forward. You will think critically, challenge assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. You must be responsive to community needs and communicate persuasively. You will respond to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with practices that remove obstacles to participation. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for long‑term success in child welfare.

Your Future in this Role

As the justice system continues to evolve, we welcome forward‑thinking, creative, and compassionate people who thrive in fast‑changing, innovative environments.

This position offers opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training. You will also build connections with partners in child welfare, education, mental health, community supports, substance‑use treatment, economic‑stability services, and other areas affecting young people and families.

Strategic Responsibilities and Values

You should be adaptable, forward‑thinking, attentive to community needs, and compassionate while supporting the safety and wellbeing of young people under Juvenile Court jurisdiction. You will help advance our vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are encouraged to build on their strengths and reach their potential. You will help instill hope by setting goals, identifying paths forward, and believing in the possibility of change.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

Pierce County Juvenile Court probation department is committed to making a powerful contribution to the health and safety of our community. Through a race equity and inclusion focus, we envision a safe, connected community where all youth and families are supported and empowered to build on their strengths so they can reach their potential. By actively engaging with youth and families, we are building positive and trusting relationships that best advocate for the needs of our families. Our role is to ensure every family and youth are well informed throughout their interaction with the court and receive the right resources and supports to be successful. Subsequently, every youth and family should feel valued and empowered throughout their experience and enabled to transition successfully into the community.

• Meet young people and families in their homes, in the community, at schools, etc. Build relationships with young people and all parties involved with a case.
• Gather fact‑based information to make informed recommendations to the court and ensure the court has all relevant information to make well informed decisions.
• Participate in the court process – write court reports, file and respond to motions, testify at trials and court hearings.
• Facilitate relationships and advocate outside of court to ensure a child and family’s needs are being met by the system and community.
• Collaborate with parents, service providers, agencies, or other support systems in the lives of the young people served, to form a support network for them and their family for their long‑term success.
• Facilitate/co‑facilitate in teaching groups of young people that are involved in Evidence Based and Positive Youth Development programming.
• Stay up to date with current trends in child welfare, mental health, substance use disorder, poverty, racism, bias, etc.
• Develop, facilitate, and participate in training for ongoing educational requirements and ongoing certification.
• Maintain the highest integrity and follow the rules of conduct for Juvenile Probation Counselors and Pierce County employees.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Strategic Responsibilities and Values (duplicate bullets)

• Graduation from a four‑year college or university with major course work in social work or human services field, counseling, criminal justice and juvenile systems, social or behavior sciences or related field and
• One or more years’ experience in a related field.
• Additional education and experience may substitute for the recruitment requirements.

Special Requirements:

• A valid Washington State driver's license is required.
• Ability to successfully complete a Pierce County background investigation and polygraph exam is required before employment.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step. We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career. We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision. Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a great place to live, work, and raise a family?