Juvenile Probation Counselor 3 - Dependency

Pierce County; Tacoma (WA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Pierce County Juvenile Court is seeking a Dependency Supervisor to lead a unit of professional juvenile probation counselors and ensure services align with legal and ethical standards. The role emphasizes safeguarding youth while partnering with families and communities for better outcomes.

The successful candidate will guide staff through complex cases, collaborate with judges and community partners, and cultivate a supportive, growth-oriented work environment within a high-conflict setting.

Qualifications

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major in social work or related field.
• Two years of work experience at a level equivalent to Juvenile Probation Counselor 2.
• Graduate coursework may substitute for up to one year of experience.
• Attach resume, cover letter, diploma/transcripts or any other materials; applications without attachments may not be considered.

Responsibilities

• Supervises work of an assigned unit of professional juvenile probation counselors; assigns cases and monitors workflow; assesses performance; develops standards; handles grievances and disciplinary action; provides in-house training.
• Investigates complex case assignments and prepares court reports; conducts meetings with parents, juvenile offenders and counselors; coordinates treatment plans with social service agencies.
• Coordinates with court and community partners for Positive Youth Development programs and volunteers to ensure cohesive service delivery.
• Interprets laws and regulations; drafts policies; makes staffing decisions; collaborates with supervisory personnel for optimal workflow.
• Reviews work for conformity with statutory requirements and internal policies; conducts performance evaluations and develops measures.
• Performs work of Juvenile Probation Counselor 2 as required; travels to assigned locations.

Skills

Leadership

Team management

Communication

Ethical conduct

Education

BA in social work / related field

Job description

Why It's a Great Opportunity:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is known across the country for leading the way in youth justice. The policies, practices, and programs we've built are recognized as models for others, and we're proud of the progress we've made. While our reform work has brought positive results, we know more progress is needed. We know the current system doesn't work the same for everyone. Young people and families continue to face challenges that we must address. We are committed to creating a system that supports every young person and family.

If you want to help move this work forward, empowering young people, strengthening families, 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:

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.

Learn more About Juvenile Court here.

How to Be Successful in the Role:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is deeply committed to balancing the safety of young people with the potential harm that can come from removing young people from their families. This work centers on protecting young people while strengthening families, minimizing trauma, and recognizing that how the system responds to harm can shape a young person’s life for years to come.

Dependency is focused on partnering with extended family, building community support networks, and understanding the complex needs of young people and their families. These approaches help reduce unnecessary family separation and lead to better outcomes for youth and the community.

The Dependency Supervisor will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using child and family-based approaches, with strong impartiality and ethical conduct, to gather all relevant information and make informed recommendations while ensuring the young people and families’ needs are met and they are centered throughout the legal process. In addition, the supervisors role is to create a supportive space where their team can raise concerns and get help working through challenges. 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 Supervisor in Dependency 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 family and community connection, accountability, and opportunities for young people and families to grow.

The Dependency Division prioritizes protecting young people by acting with impartiality, integrity, and strong ethical practice. These values help us stay focused on the facts, understand real safety concerns, and avoid decisions influenced by bias or outside pressures. By approaching each situation with honesty, professionalism, and respect for the rights and dignity of every young person, we ensure our recommendations truly support their immediate safety and long-term well-being.

Expectations of the Probation Supervisor include the ability to work in a high-conflict environment, think critically, challenging assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. Equally important is being responsive to community needs by supporting the best plans of action that remove obstacles to participation and address child safety for both short term and long term. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for sustainable success in this role.

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.

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.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Supervises work of an assigned unit of professional juvenile probation counselors; assigns cases and monitors workflow; assesses performance of the team you supervise; develops job duties and standards of performance; recommends resolution of employee grievances; recommends and executes disciplinary action; develops and provides in-house training as necessary.
• Investigates more complex case assignments and prepares appropriate court reports; conducts meetings with parents, juvenile offenders and probation counselors to resolve disputes or complaints; contacts other social service agencies to arrange treatment plans.
• Coordinates with court and community partners for the success of Positive Youth Development programs, interns, extra hires, volunteers to ensure cohesive service delivery.
• Confers with administrative superiors to interpret laws and regulations, draft policies and procedures, and make staffing decisions; coordinates with other supervisory personnel to achieve optimum workflow.
• Reviews work of the team for conformance with statutory requirements and internal policies and procedures.
• Conducts performance evaluations and develop performance measures and standards.
• A member of the Juvenile Court Leadership team and supports agency wide initiatives and priorities.
• Performs the work of a Juvenile Probation Counselor 2 and other related work as required.
• Must be able to travel to assigned work locations.

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

• 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
• Two years of work experience at a level equivalent to a Juvenile Probation Counselor 2 OR
• Substituting, on a month-for-month basis, graduate level course work in a discipline directly related to the requirements of the position for a maximum of one year of the experience requirement.
• Attach a resume. cover letter, diploma/transcripts or any other materials you believe support your application, such as evaluations, awards, or certificates. Applications without these attachments may not be considered.

Special Requirements:

• A valid driver’s license may be required when travel is required of the position
• As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check and polygraph exam. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Our Recruitment Practices:

This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County understands applicants may use Al tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing skills.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on Al-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment:

Pierce County is committed to creating a welcoming environment with broad access to opportunities at every stage of employment. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain a workforce with a wide range of experiences and perspectives, all dedicated to serving our community. County employees make a visible impact across Pierce County. Join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.