U.S. Probation Officer, 26-03

Monmouth University; Sioux City (IA); On-site; USD 72,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Federal benefits

Career advancement opportunities

Job summary

U.S. Probation, Northern District of Iowa, is seeking a skilled Probation Officer to join the team in Sioux City, IA. The role involves conducting pretrial investigations, preparing bond reports, and applying guidelines to sentencing while supporting supervision and community safety.

The position offers opportunities for advancement across CL grades, a comprehensive federal benefits package, and a collaborative work environment within the federal courts system.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the position.
• Progressively responsible experience in probation, pretrial services, or related fields.
• Legal and human relations skills applicable to the role.

Responsibilities

• Conducts pretrial investigations by interviewing individuals and families, compiling history, and verifying background information.
• Prepares presentence investigations and reports in alignment with U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.
• Supervises individuals under supervision, develops supervision plans, and maintains case records.
• Supports enforcement and treatment planning to promote community safety and compliance with court-imposed conditions.

Skills

Specialized experience

Legal background

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree

Job description

U.S. Probation, Northern District of Iowa

Vacancy Number: USPO 26-03

Location: United States Courthouse, 320 6th Street, Suite 200, Sioux City, Iowa 51101-1262

Opening Date: 10/9/2026

Closing Date: Open until filled, priority given to applications received by 11/20/2026

Classification Level Summary (CL):

CL 28 – Salary Range: $71,583 to $116,394

• Two years of specialized experience with a bachelor’s degree.

CL 27 – Salary Range: $59,732 to $97,098

• Two years of specialized experience or a master’s degree.

CL 25 (LEO) – Salary Range: $51,419 to $82,322

• One year of specialized experience, superior academic achievement with a bachelor’s degree, or one academic year of graduate work.

The salary range listed reflects the full pay scale spanning across all classification levels for this position. Starting salaries depend on education, skills, and experience.

If the incumbent commences employment at CL 25 or CL27, promotional opportunities are available without further competition based on experience and performance.

Earning Potential:

• Officers are eligible for semiannual or annual pay increases based on their step level and satisfactory performance. Promotional opportunities to specialist and supervisory positions are available on a competitive basis.
• The current specialist opportunities within the Northern District of Iowa include Sentencing Guidelines Specialist, Special Offender / Sex Offender Specialist, Evidence Based Practices Specialist, Treatment Services Specialist, and Location Monitoring Specialist. Specialist positions generally qualify as a CL29 with a salary range of $85,141 to $138,380.
• Supervisory positions generally qualify as a CL30 with a salary range of $100,604 to $163,535.

About Us:

• Candidates will find the U.S. Probation Office in the Northern District of Iowa is an excellent place to launch or continue a career within the federal court system. We offer a positive and professional work environment, a competitive salary, and a full range of federal benefits.
• Our agency is comprised of 45 to 50 staff with locations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sioux City, Iowa. Our staff bring a diverse range of educational backgrounds, including studies in Education, English, Public Policy, Sociology, Psychology and Criminal Justice. Our staff also bring diverse professional experiences, including state probation and correctional officers, substance abuse counselors, and social workers.

The Opportunity:

The duties specified herein are intended to provide generalized examples of the major duties and responsibilities that are performed by a U.S. Probation Officer within any unit and do not reflect all duties performed by positions covered by this classification. Additional information regarding the fulfilling career opportunities as a U.S. Probation Officer is located at the following link: U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Careers . Position descriptions for U.S. Probation Officers are available on our website: Iowa Northern Probation Career Opportunities .

Pretrial Investigations Unit:

• Conducts pretrial investigations by interviewing individuals and their families; compiling criminal history records; and verifying background information through collateral resources. Prepares a bond report that assesses risk of flight or risk of danger to the community pending resolution of the charged offense. Included within the bond report is a recommendation regarding detention or release of an individual who has been charged, as well as any conditions of release that may apply.

Presentence Investigative Unit:

• Conducts investigations and prepares reports by interviewing individuals and their families; reviewing and summarizing the investigative materials; compiling criminal history records; investigating the financial status of the individual charged; and verifying background information through collateral resources. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant case law. Provides testimony regarding guideline applications and serves as a resource to the court to facilitate proper imposition of sentences.

Pretrial and Post-Conviction Supervision Unit:

• Integrates evidence‑based practices into daily activities and interactions with individuals under supervision. Supervises individuals to provoke positive lifestyle changes, to maximize compliance with court‑imposed conditions, reduce risk to the community, and provide correctional treatment. Develops supervision plans, maintains case records, and maintains office and field contacts with individuals under supervision to ensure adherence to court‑imposed conditions and required correctional treatment. Detects and investigates violations of supervision, reports violations to the Court, and makes recommendations regarding the response to the reported violations.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study that demonstrates the capacity to understand and apply legal requirements and human relations skills relevant to the position.
• Valid driver’s license.
• United States citizenship or eligibility to work in the United States.

Specialized Experience:

• Progressively responsible experience in fields such as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment, public administration, human relations, social work, psychology, or mental health.
• Experience as a police officer, custodial officer, or security officer is considered, but it does not qualify as specialized experience in determining the classification level.

Maximum Entry Age:

• Officers are eligible for retirement after 20 years of service at the age of 50, or after 25 years of service at any age.Therefore, first‑time appointees must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.
• Applicants aged 37 or over who have previous federal law enforcement experience under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) may have previous law enforcement officer experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement.
• Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination following a full background investigation. In addition, as a condition of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years and, as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness‑for‑duty evaluations.

Summary of Benefits:

• Up to 13 days paid vacation per year for the first 3 years of employment and 20 to 26 days per year thereafter, depending on length of federal service.
• A minimum of 11 paid holidays per year.
• Sick leave up to 13 days in the first year.
• Up to 12 weeks paid parental leave.
• Mandatory participation in the Federal Retirement System (FERS) and Social Security programs.
• FERS Social Security supplement until the age of 62.
• Optional Thrift Savings Plan (employer matching component) with diversification control.
• Annual Cost-of-Living Adjustments, as approved by Congress.
• Health benefits that can be carried into retirement.
• Optional participation in the federal health insurance program of your choice (no waiting period).
• Optional vision, dental, and disability insurance programs of your choice (no waiting period).
• Optional participation in a flexible spending program for health and/or dependent care.
• Optional participation in group life insurance, disability, and long-term care programs.

Submit the Following Application Packet:

• Letter of application describing your interest in the position, explaining how your experience relates to the stated duties, responsibilities, and required skills and abilities.
• Copies of the two most recent performance-based evaluations from current and/or previous employers.

The Northern District of Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer