JUVENILE JUSTICE SCHOOL COUNSELOR

Job Requisition ID: 59478 
Opening Date: 10/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/29/2026
Agency: Department of Juvenile Justice
Class Title:  JUV JUSTICE SCHOOL COUNSELOR (21970) 
Skill Option:  None  
Bilingual Option:  None
Salary: Anticipated starting salary $6,652/month; Full Range $6,652 - $10,645/month
Job Type: Salaried
Category:  Full Time  
Number of Vacancies: 1
Bargaining Unit Code:  RC063 Professional Employees, Educators,Juvenile Justice School Counselors and Special Education Resources Coordinators,and Physicians AFSCME
Merit Comp Code: 
Work Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm
Anticipated Hybrid Work Schedule Availability: 1 to 5 Days per week in office, depending on operational needs
Headquarter Location: 861 S State St, Lincoln, Illinois, 62656
Work County: Logan
Agency Contact: View email address on us.fitly.work

This position is a union position; therefore, provisions of the relevant collective bargaining agreement/labor contract apply to the filling of this position.

All applicants who want to be considered for this position MUST apply electronically through the illinois.jobs2web.com website. State of Illinois employees should click the link near the top left to apply through the SuccessFactors employee career portal.

Applications submitted via email or any paper manner (mail, fax, hand delivery) will not be considered.

Why Work for Illinois?

Working with the State of Illinois is a testament to the values of compassion, equity, and dedication that define our state. Whether you’re helping to improve schools, protect our natural resources, or support families in need, you’re part of something bigger—something that touches the lives of every person who calls Illinois home.

No matter what state career you’re looking for, we offer jobs that fit your life and your schedule—flexible jobs that provide the gold standard of benefits. Our employees can take advantage of various avenues to advance their careers and realize their dreams. Our top-tier benefits and great retirement packages can help you build a rewarding career and lasting future with the State of Illinois.

Position Overview:

The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is seeking a motivated candidate to serve as the Juvenile Justice School Counselor for the school located at the Illinois Youth Center located in Lincoln Illinois. The ideal candidate for this role will possess previous experience with career guidance and instruction, verifying students meet all requirements for admission to a college/university, trade school, or job readiness program, assisting students with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, and guiding students through the college application process. In this position, the incumbent will collaborate with School Principals, School Counselors, and other support staff, enroll youth into career pathway courses, and plan, organize, and/or facilitates college and career experiential learning activities. If this sounds like an opportunity that would fit into your career path, then click the apply button to get started. We encourage all interested and qualified individuals to apply!

Essential Functions:

• Responsible for key college and career readiness practices, career guidance and instruction, development, and administration of the vocational assessment.
• Collaborates with School Principals, School Counselors, and other support staff.
• Plans, organizes, and/or facilitates college and career experiential learning activities.
• Provides support to transitional services identified for youth at each facility.
• Completes weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual follow-up data collection activities/reports pertaining to several performance indicators.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned which are reasonably within the scope of the duties enumerated above.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Requires a master’s degree in school counseling, school psychology, counseling psychology, education, social work, or psychology or closely related field.
• Requires completion of an Illinois program for the preparation of school counselors or a comparable approved program in another state or a comparable certificate or license issued by another state.
• Requires completion of a supervised counseling practicum of at least 100 clock hours that provides interaction with individuals of school age and includes at least 40 hours of direct service work.
• Requires a Professional Educator’s License (PEL) issued by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) endorsed for teaching having completed as part of an approved program, coursework addressing the structure, organization, and operation of the educational system with the emphasis on P-12 schools.

Preferred Qualifications (In Order of Significance):

• Prefers at least three (3) years of experience providing counseling services to juveniles in a congregate care setting.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience assessing students’ progress in specially assigned programs in a congregate care and/or equivalent settings.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience assessing students’ educational abilities and needs.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience evaluating student transcripts, and recommending educational needs, for youth to obtain a GED or High School Diploma.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience providing support to youth for transitional services such as: career goals, applications for scholarships, colleges/universities, trades, other post-secondary vocational education programs, and/or employment opportunities.
• Prefers at least two (2) years of experience facilitating conferences and/or meetings with teachers, students, and parents.
• Prefers the ability to maintain effective working relationships with staff, students in a juvenile justice setting, and parents of students in a juvenile justice setting.
• Prefers the ability to maintain a calm and collected demeaner while deescalating situations involving juveniles displaying challenging behaviors.

Conditions of Employment:

• Requires the ability to pass an IDOC/IDJJ background check.
• Requires ability to pass a drug screen. The use of unauthorized drugs by an employee, regardless of position held, is prohibited.
• Requires ability to travel in the performance of duties, with overnight stays as appropriate.
• Certain provisions of the revolving door restrictions contained in 5 ILCS 430/5-45 apply to this position. As a result, the employee should be aware that if offered non-State employment during state employment or within one year immediately after ending State employment, the employee shall, prior to accepting any such non-State employment offer, notify the Office of the Executive Inspector General for the Agencies of the Illinois Governor (OEIG) or may be subject to a fine.

The conditions of employment listed here are incorporated and related to any of the job duties as listed in the job description.

About the Agency:

The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) is to build youth skills and strengthen families by promoting community safety and positive youth outcomes. Over 900 staff members from across various departments—security, programming, education, mental health, and more—collaborate with the understanding that youth are physically, emotionally, and cognitively different from adults. The department provides extensive services to young people through a developmental, treatment-focused model of care that builds youth resiliency, engages families, and promotes community safety at the five youth facilities it operates across the state. IDJJ serves and houses approximately 150 youth and is responsible for approximately 500 youth on Aftercare in various Illinois’ communities.

Benefits:

The Department of Juvenile Justice offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Health, Life, Vision, and Dental Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Paid parental leave 
• Pre-tax benefits programs including but not limited to: Deferred Compensation, Medical, Daycare, etc.
• Employees earn twelve (12) paid Sick Days annually
• New Employees earn ten (10) paid Vacation Days their first year of service and can earn up to twenty-five (25) paid Vacation Days annually (based on years of service)
• Employees earn three (3) paid Personal Days annually (pro-rated based on start date)
• Thirteen-Fourteen (13-14) paid holidays annually (based on start date)
• Flexible work schedules in many program areas (remote work  may be an option for certain positions)

This position DOES NOT contain “Specialized Skills” (as that term is used in CBAs).

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Use the “Apply” button at the top right or bottom right of this posting to begin the application process.

If you are not already signed in, you will be prompted to do so. 

State employees should sign in to the career portal for State of Illinois employees – a link is available at the top left of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. 

Non-State employees should log in on the using the “View Profile” link in the top right of the Illinois.jobs2web.com homepage in the blue ribbon. If you have never before signed in, you will be prompted to create an account.

If you have questions about how to apply, please see the following resources:

State employees: Log in to the career portal for State employees and review the Internal Candidate Application Job Aid

Non-State employees: on Illinois.jobs2web.com – click “Application Procedures” in the footer of every page of the website.

The main form of communication will be through email. Please check your “junk mail”, “spam”, or “other” folder for communication(s) regarding any submitted application(s). You may receive emails from the following addresses:

• View email address on us.fitly.work
• View email address on us.fitly.work