Assistant Director - Division of Youth Services - Grand Mesa Youth Services Center.

Department Information

The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.

Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details!

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

About the Division of Youth Services: The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates numerous secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Colorado Youth Detention Continuum, a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State which includes but is not limited to parole supervision through case management to ensure community safety.

We invite you to explore the DYS website and learn about the services provided to youth, families, and local communities in the State of Colorado at: https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs/dys

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Description Of Job

Summary of the position:

This position is for an Appointing Authority as delegated by the Youth Center Director and implements DYS initiatives to include creating a trauma responsive environment, behavior management and treatment model. The Youth Center Assistant Director is responsible for identifying, managing, and participating directly in leadership and management efforts to improve youth center operations to include implementation of the DYS strategic plan. This position provides direct supervision to Youth Service Specialists III, Administrative and Program Assistant staff, and indirect supervision of Youth Service Specialist I and II staff. The position may provide joint supervision to support services staff (facilities Management, Medical, Food Services and contracted staff). Position must ensure adherence to procedure by direct report staff and oversee formal corrective and disciplinary actions with line employees. Position oversees and/or coordinates the implementation of the agency's Behavioral Management Program to include Dialectical Behavioral Therapy; trauma responsive care using the Sanctuary Model, Restorative Community Justice; Evidence Based Principles; Sex Offender Standards; ADAD licensure; Thinking for a Change, ART and other CBT programs; Multifamily groups; religious programming; compliance review standards; the youth center training and mentoring process and other areas as assigned. Position provides for Quality Control and generates data for internal and external reports to include DYS Monthly Report, Fight & Assault, Physical Responses, C-STAT, DSS investigation referrals, Critical Incidents, or other reporting requirements. This position is an active member of the Youth Center Assistant Directors Group (ADG); provides direct or indirect supervision to all youth center employees; has on-call responsibilities; and, may serve as the liaison to the Facilities Management Division.

Specific Duties Include

Supervision of direct care staff. Set and enforce agency, Division, and Departmental performance standards, meet with each direct report staff each 30 days for supervision, conduct performance planning and appraisal of staff, ensure that subordinate staff development needs are met, initiate and/or take necessary corrective or disciplinary actions. Review Trails data as necessary. Collaborate closely with the Clinical Director and/or assigned Behavioral Health staff to provide optimal clinical service delivery. Ensure Behavioral Management programming and Sanctuary Model are sustained and maintained in a trauma informed environment. Partner with regional, education and external partners. Participate and lead program implementation of agency and Division goals.

In addition, position must, on a daily basis, review staffing patterns of subordinate staff and youth center as a whole; on a weekly basis, facilitate Program Services/Leadership Team to address program issues, attend unit Leadership Team meetings on an as needed basis, ensure KRONOS information for subordinate staff is kept up-to-date and accurate, and track call-offs for subordinate supervisors; on a monthly basis meet with each subordinate staff in supervision, document and provide to the Director, meet with Director in supervision monthly, attend committees as assigned (e.g. Assistant Director Group, Sanctuary Integration Team, DYS State Policy Committee, agency and youth center planning teams), conduct evaluations according to established timelines within established processes and structures, attend Youth Center Directors meetings on an invite basis; meet with direct report group/staff on a routine and scheduled basis. This can include group and individual meetings.

Participate in all aspects of the new hiring process from recruitment to interviewing and selecting; conduct internal inquiries to determine if abuse or criminal filings need to be made; initiate and direct internal personnel actions in response to misconduct; and notify other outside investigators consistent with statutory obligations and Policy as needed. Support, or guide the handling of employee grievances in a timely fashion consistent with policy to emphasize a solution orientated process at the lowest level possible.

Provide for programmatic planning, coordinating, monitoring, evaluation, and oversight to youth center functions servicing newly committed male youth to DYS. Present to community/interested parties as necessary and conduct Youth Center tours. Responsible for Quality Control and continuous process improvement functions in assigned areas. Respond to development of action plans for audit responses in affected areas of supervision or oversight. Monitor and provide quality control of the education programs. Develop audit responses, review and action plan critical and major incidents, and make recommendations for revisions or updates to Youth Center procedures. Oversee operational schedule development and communicate, recommend, resolve issues as they arise to ensure adequate coverage of facility and adherence to Youth Center Procedure or other prevailing legal concerns (e.g., FMLA, military leave). Support the development and scheduling of campus events.

Assist, make recommendations, and participate in budget development, as a member of the Youth Center Administrative Team, and assist and/or provide monitoring and oversight of expenditures. Generate requests to purchase, lease or rent equipment or services to improve agency function. Participate in review of expenditures to improve fiscal management. Forecast future needs and work to provide accurate estimates for consideration.

Participate as a member of the Youth Center Leadership Team, in the review, drafting, revision, and implementation of youth center procedures. Oversee and facilitate staff roundtables in concert with all Administration staff.

Participate in community processes that affect agency or scope of services overseen. Present agency in a professional manner to forward agency and division goals/objectives. Provide for escorted educational tours through the building to ensure reasonable public access and to generate broader community understanding of our mission and practices.

Serve as a member or representative of the Youth Center Leadership Team. Contribute to drive consistency in communications to staff around decisions, provide direct/honest/ethically bound feedback to members of the Team as needed. Prepare agenda items, analyze discussions for program or personnel impact and seek to forward goals of agency in a spirit of cooperation. Lead and coordinate Team meetings of supervised staff.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions Of Employment & Appeal Rights

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed below to continue in the selection process for this position. Work experience must be specifically documented on your application. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached" statements on your application.

Experience And Education

• Nine (9) years of professional experience in the juvenile justice system working with detained or adjudicated youth in a correctional setting or a similar occupational field related to the work assigned to the position, of which at least one (1) year must be in a supervisory role.
  
  

~OR~

• A Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Behavioral Health, Management or a similar degree, AND five (5) years of professional experience in the juvenile justice system working with detained or adjudicated youth in a correctional setting or a similar occupational field related to the work assigned to the position, of which at least one (1) year must be in a supervisory role.
  
  

Substitutions

• Additional appropriate experience will substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Additional appropriate education will substitute for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Secure juvenile custodial expertise which may include knowledge of detention or pretrial programming and/or knowledge of clinical and/or treatment considerations for youth, understanding of the Colorado Children's Code or other laws pertaining to juveniles, criminal procedures, and/or SB94 mandates/functions and other prevailing statutory requirements.
• (2) years of formal supervisory experience. The supervisory experience must have been over staff in a residential facility serving adjudicated and/or detained youth.
• Operation of secure care and/or treatment settings for adolescents, including an understanding of adolescent development and how this is reflected in daily residential needs and patterns.
• Expertise may include extensive knowledge of best practices for gender specific programming in a secure setting.
  
  

Conditions Of Employment

• Must possess and maintain a current and valid U.S. Driver's License
• Full Background - Name check, TRAILS and Fingerprinting
• Travel to trainings and meetings
• On-Call Status
• Be a minimum of 21 years of age, with no felony convictions or history of domestic violence.
• Pass CBI and FBI background investigations
• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must (1) disclose that information on the application (2) provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position, (3) provide the employee number from the applicant’s prior State employment. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
• Included in the background investigation is a current/previous employer check. Your current and previous employers within the last 10 years must be listed on your application even if the job duties are unrelated to this position. Incomplete employer information (address, phone, supervisor name) or omission of former employers may result in application disqualification.
• Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
  
  

Appeal Rights

If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.

An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email ([email protected]), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov ; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.

Supplemental Information

Link to: How to Apply

Link to: The Assessment Process

For additional recruiting questions, please contact [email protected].

About Us

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
• Paid life insurance
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
• BenefitHub state employee discount program
• Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
• Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more
  
  

information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .

Our Values

We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.

Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.

ADAA Accommodations:CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at [email protected] or call 1-800-929-0791.

~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~

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