Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee - Loysville Youth Development Center, Perry County

Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee

Join the Loysville Youth Development Center as a Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee with the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Bureau of Juvenile Justice Services. This is your chance to build strong skills while helping young people make better choices. In this role, you will learn from experienced staff and grow into a trusted support for youth in need. Take the first step toward a meaningful career that creates real change.

This role prepares you to grow into a Juvenile Justice Specialist through 6 months of classroom instruction and hands-on experience. You will build the skills needed to support and guide young people while working under close supervision. As a Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee, you will perform the following duties:

• Training Participation: Attend formal classroom sessions and complete assigned learning activities
• Skill Development: Apply new techniques in communication, supervision, and youth engagement
• Safety Practices: Follow procedures for security, crisis response, and safe facility operations
• Professional Conduct: Demonstrate ethical behavior and positive interactions with youth and staff
• Guided Experience: Work under supervision while receiving feedback to improve performance

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment.
• The current starting salary for the Juvenile Justice Specialist Trainee position is $20.80 / hour. Upon successful completion of the six month trainee program you will be promoted to a Juvenile Justice Specialist with a salary of $27.15 / hour.
• 2nd and 3rd shifts receive shift differential.
• Department of Human Services provides excellent benefits, contractual pay increases, paid holidays and leave entitlements, opportunity for advancement and shift selection in addition to a great work environment.
• Shift work in a 24/7/365 operation, including holidays and weekends. 8-hour shifts with no duty-free lunch. Shifts normally consist of 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM, and 11:00 PM - 7:00 AM. 5-day work week with 2 days off.
• *May change based on operational needs.
• Travel: As needed
• Overtime: As needed, voluntary and possible mandatory
• Shift Work: Yes
• Multiple positions may be filled from this posting.
• FREE PARKING!
• Must be willing to work in Loysville PA, Perry County
• Telework: You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary: Selected candidates who are new to employment within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $43,397.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

Necessary Special Requirement:

• You must be at least 21 years old at the time of application.

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law. Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.
• A conditional offer of employment will require satisfactory completion of a medical examination and a drug screening test.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS): 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date. The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.