PT Counselor - Justice Scholars (Categorically Funded)

Equity and Diversity The District is strongly committed to achieving staff diversity and the principles of equal opportunity employment. The District encourages a diverse pool of applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, religion, marital status, disability, or sexual orientation in any of its policies, procedures or practices. In fact, the college encourages applications from all segments of qualified people. Closing Date This position will close on October 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM. College Profile Cerritos College is ranked 14th among the top 100 schools with the highest Hispanic enrollment in the United States by the United States Department of Education. Cerritos College serves as a comprehensive community college for southeastern Los Angeles County. Communities within the college's district include Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Downey, Hawaiian Gardens, La Mirada, Norwalk, and portions of Bell Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Santa Fe Springs, and South Gate. Cerritos College offers degrees and certificates in more than 180 areas of study in nine divisions. Enrollment currently averages 20,000 students. Visit Cerritos College online at Department Profile The Justice Scholars Program, within the Division of Student Equity and Success at Cerritos College, is dedicated to supporting incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and other justice-impacted students. The program provides educational opportunities in detention facilities and on-campus delivering comprehensive support services to promote student success and persistence. The program is also part of the Rising Scholars Network, a statewide initiative across California Community Colleges committed to expanding access and support for justice-impacted students. Summary Under the direction of the Manager of the Justice Scholars Program, the Academic Counselor divides assigned time between Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, where Cerritos College provides educational services to pre-judicated youth, and the Cerritos College campus. The counselor provides holistic academic, career, and personal counseling services to current and formerly justice-involved students, as well as economically and socially disadvantaged students, to promote enrollment, retention, persistence, and the successful attainment of their educational and career goals. The counselor filling this role will work with Cerritos College Justice Scholars students at the Los Padrinos juvenile detention center and on campus. The Counselor will provide specialized academic counseling services, career guidance, and advisement to students from diverse backgrounds for the purpose of developing and facilitating the attainment of their academic, vocational, and personal objectives. The position requires demonstrated ability to work effectively with justice-involved populations, faculty, staff, and external partners, and to navigate the unique requirements of custodial educational environments. Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall is a Los Angeles County Probation-operated secure juvenile detention facility that temporarily houses youth in custody within the juvenile justice system, primarily while awaiting court proceedings or placement decisions. The facility provides a structured, supervised correctional environment with controlled access and movement, where detained youth remain under the custody of probation officers and participate in education, rehabilitation, and support programs under Los Angeles County Probation Education Services and Los Angeles County of Education (LACOE). Distinguishing Career Features The academic counselor serves in a key operational and student-facing role within the Justice Scholars program, providing on-site academic support in a juvenile detention setting while also exposing campus-based programs and services to formerly incarcerated and system-impacted on-campus students. The position requires demonstrated ability to work effectively with justice-involved populations, faculty, staff, and external partners, and to navigate the unique requirements of custodial educational environments. Unlike general academic counseling roles, this position functions in close collaboration with the Justice Scholars manager and program facilitator and designs academic planning around the scheduled general education courses for Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall rather than assuming traditional on-campus Comprehensive Student Educational Plans. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Provide sustained, holistic, and individualized counseling to assist justice-involved students to set academic and career goals, create education plans, and track their progress toward a degree or certificate. Assist students in creating and updating Comprehensive Student Educational Plans (CSEP) tailored to their specific degree, transfer, career goals, or Cal-GETC GE requirements. Collaborate with the Rising Scholars Network staff, instructional faculty, Los Angeles Probation Education Services and LACOE staff and campus support programs (e.g., Financial Aid, Basic Needs Center, Mental Health Services, EOPS, and Tutoring) to provide comprehensive wrap‑around services for students. Evaluate transcripts from local or out of state institutions to align student general education goals towards degree or certificate completion. Develop systems, processes, and partnerships that embed this work into the core operations of participating colleges with LA Probation and LACOE. Codify intake and counseling procedures and maintain student records, and track progress toward educational goals. Serve as a liaison between the participating Rising Scholars colleges and students to ensure access to resources and other campus service areas when students transition to other juvenile detention centers. Facilitate workshops and orientations on topics such as educational planning, transfer readiness, navigating institutional systems, financial aid, and career exploration. Promote campus‑based programs and services designed to improve retention, persistence, course completion, graduation, and transfer outcomes for formerly incarcerated and system‑impacted students. Assist on‑campus formerly incarcerated students with navigation of college systems and processes including enrollment, registration, financial aid, assessment, and referrals to student services. Work collaboratively with the Justice Scholars manager and program facilitator to design and implement strategic educational pathways that enhance institutional coordination and support the timely completion of certificates, degrees, or CGEC and Cal-GETC general education requirements for justice‑involved students. Work with the Justice Scholars manager and Program Facilitator to coordinate workshops, orientations, student engagement activities, and support services aligned with Justice Scholars program goals for on‑campus formerly incarcerated students. Collaborate with the Justice Scholars manager and program facilitator, and campus partners (e.g., Financial Aid, EOPS/CARE, CalWORKs, Student Accessibility Services, Basic Needs) to ensure comprehensive and coordinated support for program on‑campus participants. Teach any/all assigned Counseling classes (if assigned) for all scheduled minutes, designed specifically for the Los Padrinos student population, utilizing culturally responsive teaching methodologies tailored to juvenile‑involved populations. Teach courses in accordance with the course outlines of record. Provide opportunities for students to be aware of their progress. Submit a copy of the syllabus for each class to the Division Office. Keep accurate records of student enrollment, attendance, and academic progress and submit them to appropriate offices by the published deadlines. Submit end‑of‑session grades, including supporting documentation, and attendance reports by the published deadlines. Stay up‑to‑date on federal, state, and local laws and initiatives affecting justice‑impacted student populations. Education and Experience Master’s degree in counseling, social work, rehabilitation counseling, guidance counseling, educational counseling, or career development, or the equivalent, and shall have two years of occupational experience in work relating to justice impacted populations or a related disproportionate impacted (DI) group. An understanding of and sensitivity to meeting the needs of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic background of the student, community, and employee population Demonstrated experience in: Academic counseling in juvenile detention facilities. Education programs and services that are designed to support incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students. Best practices in serving the unique needs of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated students, including conditions of probation. Experience connecting students to necessary resources both on and off‑campus within the community, such as housing referrals, food insecurities, mental health issues, etc. Desired Qualifications Experience working with Justice Scholars or similar programs focused on justice‑involved teens/adults. Experience understanding and trained in trauma‑informed frame‑works. Experience working with justice‑involved populations, in higher education, and/or in custodial or alternative education settings is preferred. Knowledge and Abilities Knowledge of student support services, retention strategies, and educational pathways in community colleges. Understanding of the needs, barriers, and strengths of incarcerated, formerly incarcerated, and system‑impacted student populations. Working knowledge of instructional support practices, mentoring, tutoring, and student engagement strategies. Familiarity with or ability to learn policies and procedures related to education in juvenile detention facilities. Strong interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with demonstrated cultural humility and sensitivity to diverse populations. Ability to maintain accurate records, collect data, and support program reporting efforts. Abilities Ability to work effectively in both custodial (juvenile hall) and campus‑based environments. Ability to support faculty and students in instructional settings. Ability to build rapport and trust with justice‑involved students. Ability to coordinate multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities, and meet program timelines. Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when working with sensitive student information. Physical Abilities The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. The position requires the ability to move throughout a secure facility, including navigating controlled‑access doors, corridors, and stairs; to stand and/or walk for extended periods while facilitating sessions; and to sit for extended periods to perform desk‑based and administrative work. It requires sufficient physical and emotional stamina to remain alert and maintain composure throughout the workday, including in a structured detention environment. The position also requires sufficient manual dexterity to handle, grasp, and manipulate documents, materials, and office equipment; the ability to reach, bend, stoop, and kneel to retrieve, store, or arrange materials and supplies; the ability to lift, carry, push, or pull program materials, supplies, and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds; and sufficient physical ability to transport instructional materials between locations and set up program spaces. In addition, it requires sufficient visual acuity to read printed and electronic documents for extended periods; sufficient auditory skills to carry on conversations in person and over the phone and to project the voice to a large audience; and sufficient hand‑arm‑eye coordination to operate a personal computer keyboard. Working Conditions Work may include flexible schedules and split‑site assignments (both on and off campus locations). Work on campus is in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Incumbents may interact with staff, students, and/or the public in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. Work off campus is performed at a secure juvenile detention facility, requiring compliance with all facility security protocols, controlled movement procedures, and restrictions on personal items. This site involves working in a structured, supervised correctional environment. This assignment entails working with both juvenile and adult justice‑involved students. Licenses and Certificates/Special Requirements Requires a valid driver’s license Must pass and maintain all background clearances required to work within a Los Angeles County Probation secure facility, including Live Scan fingerprinting (DOJ and FBI). Must satisfy and maintain facility security clearance and complete required facility orientation and training, which may include PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) training. Must be eligible to serve as a mandated reporter under the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act. Conditions of Employment Assignments are contingent upon sufficient funding and enrollment. Assignments may include day, evening, and/or weekend classes. Individual who is offered employment shall be required to obtain fingerprints for a criminal history clearance through the State Department of Justice and remit the required fee for processing the fingerprints, produce an original social security card, and submit a TB Risk Assessment reviewed and signed by a health professional before employment. Faculty must be able to teach on‑campus or remotely as assigned. Candidates must be able to provide proof of California residency prior to employment. Proof of eligibility to work in the United States and signing of loyalty oath per Government Codes 3100-3109. ** Please note - the District does not provide for immigration sponsorships such as H1B Visas. Application materials must be submitted by the closing date. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible application process. If you require a reasonable accommodation to apply or interview due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io as early as possible. While advance notice (ideally at least 72 hours before the application deadline or scheduled interview) helps ensure we can meet your needs, we will make every effort to accommodate requests made at any time. It is the applicant's responsibility to provide copies of all transcript(s) verifying all educational degree(s) and/or coursework required for the position. A foreign transcript must be evaluated by a NACES certified agency. The web address is All qualifying educational degrees/training must be from regionally accredited colleges and/or universities. Selection Procedure Application materials will be evaluated by a selection committee to determine which applicants' qualifications, based on the information in the job announcement, best suit the needs of the District and the Department. The selection committee will conduct interviews and may include a teaching demonstration in order to determine which applicant best demonstrate the skill and knowledge required for the position. Successful candidates will be placed on an eligibility list for employment and will be contacted for employment opportunities based on the District's needs. Required Documents Cover Letter Resume/Curriculum Vitae Copy of Unofficial Transcripts (Must show all coursework completed and the conferral date of the degree) Optional Documents Letter of recommendation from a current or former supervisor addressing your experience in academic counseling and/or work with justice impacted students/populations. #J-18808-Ljbffr Cerritos College