Juvenile Services Director

Current employees: Please apply through the employee portal to be considered for this opportunity.

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Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

The Opportunity:

NOTE: This position is open until closed. The first application review will be applications received on, or before, November 2nd, 2026.

Overview

The Multnomah County Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is seeking a visionary, human-centered leader to serve as the Director of the Juvenile Services Division (JSD) . Reporting directly to the Department Director, the JSD Director oversees an annual operating budget of $26 million and a large workforce.The division provides juvenile detention and community supervision services for nearly 700 justice-involved youth each year, as well as support for nearly 2,500 parents annually through domestic relations mediation and parent orientation.

DCJ is seeking a trauma informed Director who leads with presence, transparency, and operational expertise, demonstrating high emotional intelligence, interpersonal agility, and an authentic, trusted leadership reputation. The successful candidate will be a credible, unifying leader and strategic thinker who fosters a supportive, compassionate, safe, respectful, and motivating work environment. The incoming Director will be tasked with building trust, bridging detention and community supervision staff, while supporting frontline safety and management. This role requires an executive who balances strategic engagement in the juvenile justice system, including a focus on racial equity and diversion, with firm support for the daily operational realities, safety, and well-being of frontline personnel.

Come Find Your Why (video)

About the Department of Community Justice

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) provides supervision and services to justice involved youth, adults and families. Our efforts are guided by evidence-based strategies that maximize our resources and results, and by our core belief that people can change. We aim to address the underlying issues that lead to criminal behavior, and to help people successfully engage in civic life.

DCJ’s mission is to enhance community safety and reduce criminal activity by holding youth and adults accountable in a fair and just manner, assisting them to develop skills necessary for success, and effectively using public resources.

DCJ is committed to fulfilling its vision - Community Safety through Positive Change - by delivering programs that meet the community’s needs. To achieve this, the department works collaboratively with the judiciary, law enforcement, schools, treatment agencies, and community partners.

DCJ’s annual operating budget is approximately $116 million, with over 400 regular, on-call, and temporary employees spanning our Adult and Juvenile Services Divisions and Director’s Office that includes Victim and Survivor Services. DCJ's JSD is responsible for youth on formal and informal community supervision and operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility, a 24/7 operation.

More information about DCJ including our mission, vision, and work of the divisions can be found at:

The Opportunity

Strategic Leadership & Equity

• Data-driven leader for the juvenile system that expands community diversion, and addresses systemic racial disparities, utilizing quantitative and qualitative research to interpret complex datasets and guide strategic policy decisions.
• Oversee the division's programs that respond to the needs of justice involved youth, families and victims.
• Aligning division priorities with DCJ's strategic pillars; delivering operational excellence, ensuring our impact, and maximizing resources .
• Oversee the implementation of evidence-based and trauma-informed reform frameworks, including Transforming Juvenile Probation, Intentional Case Management, Family Engaged Case Planning, Restorative Practices, and the Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative.
• Apply an equity lens to all divisional operations, policy development, and programming, while providing authentic support and advocacy for staff, leading with cultural humility, self-awareness, and a commitment to recognizing privilege in cross-cultural environments.
• Conceptualize innovative services and implement procedures for new or changing regulatory requirements and state laws, continuously evaluating benchmarks, simplifying processes, and improving operational outcomes.

Operations and Staff Safety

• Manage the senior management team that oversees daily operational functions across community supervision and the 24/7 secure youth detention facility, maintaining close oversight of shift dynamics, unit culture, and crisis de-escalation.
• Oversees the management of detention services, managing facility capacity, and reducing overall reliance on detention.
• Direct the juvenile management team to support staff physical safety alongside youth accountability; reform internal safety monitoring practices and maintain consistent policies.
• Respond to and resolve confidential/sensitive inquiries, investigate complaints, and recommend corrective action.
• Maintain regular visibility and engagement through regular communication with frontline employees and leadership, using clear, empathetic dialogue to build trust, mutual respect, and unit cohesion.
• Direct through a trauma-informed approach to ensure staff and youth’s well-being is prioritized and their physical and psychological safety is addressed.
• Partner with County Facilities Property Management to maintain and upgrade the physical environment of the Juvenile Justice Complex and secure detention facility.

Accountability & HR Collaboration

• Direct Juvenile leadership in providing consistent direction, clear communication and supervisory support. Direct and approve through managers the planning, prioritizing, assigning, supervising, training, and reviewing of staff work, articulating expectations with clarity, composure, and strategic awareness across all channels.
• Direct the division with youth and staff input and maintaining a workplace culture rooted in safety, trust, belonging, active listening, and high emotional intelligence.
• Support division leadership to foster mutual respect, open communication, and information sharing.
• Collaborate with Human Resources for recruitment, internal investigations, and promoting long-term staff health, safety, and retention.
• Directs continuous improvement methods that optimize performance and service quality for public safety and better outcomes for youth and families.

Partnership & Advocacy

• Serve as a principal advisor on the DCJ Executive Management Team, participating in department-wide policy, budget, and operational decision-making.
• Participate as an active member in public safety forums including the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council and Juvenile Justice Steering Committee.
• Strategically communicate with key partners, policy makers, and media to advance department initiatives, while representing the County, department, and division to elected officials, public agencies, and key interest holders.
• Maintain and develop relationships with external system partners, including court members, law enforcement, local and state agencies, school districts, associations, and community-based organizations, fostering collaborative partnerships.
• Foster positive relationships and collaborate with union leadership (AFSCME Local 88 / Local 88-6) by interpreting collective bargaining agreements fairly and resolving grievances through proactive dialogue.
• Build relationships with state and national juvenile justice organizations to incorporate evidence-based practices into the public safety continuum.

Fiscal Management & Sustainable Programming

• Oversee the division’s $26 million annual operating budget, state funding streams (e.g., Oregon State Juvenile Crime Prevention funds), capital expenditures, and grant resources.
• Partner with Government Relations to advocate for operational resources and guide the organization through public-sector budget discussions before the Board of County Commissioners and state legislature.
• Establish administrative controls and collaborate with DCJ Research and Planning (RAP) to build data tools and dashboards to monitor outcomes without overwhelming staff during periods of crisis or budget reductions.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:

• A Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, administration of justice, psychology, sociology, social work, or a related field, AND;
• Six (6) years experience of progressive responsibility in program leadership, supervisory or lead work which demonstrates the capacity to provide leadership in the following areas:
  • Providing programming for at risk youth (12-21)
  • Working with criminal justice agencies and partners.
  • Developing collaborative relationships with community partners.
  • Working and managing in a union environment
• Management experience within a large organization.
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to, a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment
• Valid driver's license

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• A Masters Degree
• Five (5) years of experience in a Senior or Executive-level role in criminal justice or a related field
• A minimum of (6) years of increasingly responsible professional experience working with at-risk youth (12-21) in one of the following environments:
  • Detention or youth correctional facility
  • Youth residential setting
  • Setting that provides programming for at-risk youth
• Substantial experience in budget planning, financial management, and resource optimization, including direct oversight of budgets of at least $20 million, forecasting personnel costs, and monitoring capital expenditures.
• A demonstrated history of promoting an organizational culture of respect, inclusion, and appreciation of diverse perspectives and values
• Demonstrated experience of establishing collaborative relationships with key external system partners

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position

Screening and Evaluation

The Application Packet

Your completed application must include the following items:

• Required completed online application.
• Required resume covering relevant experience and education. Be sure your resume includes: name of employer, location, dates of employment, your title, a brief summary of your responsibilities, and the number of teams, managers and staff under your supervision.
• Required cover letter that expands on your resume, addresses why you are interested in this position, and demonstrates how your experience and skill set and how that aligns with the qualifications and responsibilities of the position.

Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials may be scored and determine your eligibility for an interview.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page . We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• KSA evaluation/assessment
• Consideration of top candidates/Interviews
• Must pass a thorough background investigation which includes, but is not limited to a review of applicant’s criminal, civil, driving, military, educational and employment history prior to employment

Work Location: This position works onsite at Portland, OR 97213. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.

Type of Position: This is an Unclassified Executive position that is at-will, salaried, FLSA Exempt, and not eligible for overtime pay.

Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website.

Equal Pay Law: Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities.For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

In accordance with Oregon Law , Multnomah County is not collecting school attendance dates in the initial application process; please do not include these dates in your resume, cover letter and other application materials.

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don't just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

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Application information may be used throughout the entire selection process. This process is subject to change without notice.

Disclaimer: This announcement is intended as a general descriptive recruitment guide and is subject to change. It does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

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