Title: Program Manager for Emerging Adults Services - Office of the Commissioner of Probation

Pay Grade: Management

Starting Pay: $ 91,356.20

Departmental Mission Statement: The Massachusetts Probation Service's mission is to increase community safety, reduce recidivism, contribute to the fair and equitable administration of justice, support victims and survivors, and assist individuals and families in achieving long term positive change.

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE:

https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-probation-service

Position Summary: The Program Manager for Emerging Adult Services is responsible for assisting the Statewide Manger For Emerging Adult Services in the strategic development and implementation of action plans and policies to provide a statewide strategy to serve emerging adults 18-25 years old involved with criminal justice system. The Program Manager assists the Statewide Manager in the following: developing best practices for engaging with this population while under community supervision; risk and needs analysis; developing and implementing interventions that help improve outcomes and reduce recidivism; and assisting the Statewide Manager in helping the Trial court connect this population with resources.

The Program Manager assists in implementing programming statewide for probation clients and Office of Community Correction clients to affect positive behavior change; supports the efforts of the Statewide Manager to build relationships with community based resources; stays current with the literature and research on brain development of emerging adults; and assists in the coordination with other state resources such as Safe and Successful Youth Initiative and gun violence prevention efforts. The Program Manager should also understand how transitional/subsidized employment can assist this population. This position would also support the Statewide Manager in developing programming and/or establishing connections with resources to assist with providing effective cognitive behavioral therapies, behavioral health treatment, and educational and employment programming. Assist the statewide manager in developing and delivering specialized training of probation staff relative to working with emerging adults.

Supervision Received: Work is performed under the general direction of the Statewide Manager for Emerging Adult Services and is evaluated for professional soundness and conformity to policy.

Duties: Program Manager for Emerging Adult Services

Serves as secondary point of contact with probation staff, organizations, state agencies, and other entities also engaged in working with emerging adults.

Works at the direction of the statewide manager in reviewing best practices to prepare probationers and the justice involved.

Assists the Statewide Manager in developing relationships with community-based organizations and with vendors to encourage programming targeting justice involved emerging adults . Assist the statewide manager in developing and implementing specialized training for probation staff on working with emerging adults.

Support efforts to work with Masshire and the Department of Education on accessing resources for probation clients.

Work on developing specialized curriculums and pathways to promote evidence based cognitive behavioral programming, behavioral health programming, career and educational advancement for emerging adult probationers and the justice involved.

Assists in working with other criminal justice stakeholders to coordinate efforts such as the Department of Correction, the Houses of Correction, and Parole.

Works with community-based advocacy groups for the emerging adult justice involved to understand needs of the community and to coordinate advocacy for resources and opportunities.

Represent the Statewide Manager for Emerging Adult Services as needed, on statewide boards, committees, task force, initiatives, advisory and conferences groups;

Assist in the implementation and monitoring of best practices and evidence-based methods; and

Performs other related duties as required.

Job Competencies: All applicants must be able, through the interview process, to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas:

Ethics and Values: Communicates and demonstrates the ethics and values of the Trial Court.
Mission: Understands, upholds, and communicates the Trial Court and Probation Service’s missions.
Leadership: Ability to influence and provide direction to others; engendering confidence and trust from others under challenging circumstances;
Creative Thinking and Problem Solving: Ability to accurately identify problems and to use available resources to find a solution or to take corrective action;
Customer Service: Conducts oneself in a courteous and professional manner towards both Trial Court employees and the public.
Collaboration: Works with others cooperatively, demonstrating a willingness to be a team player, and contributing to a work environment that focuses on shared departmental goals and strong communication.
Commitment to Diversity: Promotes an environment of diversity through understanding, respect, and positive communication with persons of varied economic and cultural backgrounds.
Continuous Learning: Demonstrates a commitment to continuously improving himself or herself, and subordinates, through professional development.

Minimum Requirements: These are the minimum requirements necessary to apply for the position of the Program Manager for Emerging Adult Services

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in education, rehabilitative human services, or counseling; and 4 years of fulltime paid experience working with emerging adults, either in community supervision or for a community-based agency. A graduate degree is strongly preferred. Equivalent combinations of education and relevant experience will be considered for meeting the minimum requirements.

Prior Project Management experience is preferred

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:

Understanding preferred of emerging adult programming and programming for the justice involved

Understanding of the role community-based resources play in supporting the justice involved

Acceptable CORI and SORI background record check

Experience with criminal justice and/or court systems a plus

Proficient to excellent in Microsoft Office applications and modern meeting and presentation software applications

Ability to maintain accurate and current records

Ability to establish work priorities and work independently

Ability to communicate both verbally and in writing

Ability to effectively communicate in presentation and in instruction/training settings

Effective interpersonal skills, including the ability to work professionally with a variety of stakeholders including judges, court officials, employees, probationers and other individuals at all levels of the court system and the ability to maintain effective working relationships

Ability to travel throughout the Commonwealth.