Deputy Director of Youth Services

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for transforming juvenile justice and youth services? Our newly established Office of Youth Services (OYS) is seeking an experienced Deputy Director to lead a diverse portfolio, including a juvenile detention center, temporary juvenile shelters, pretrial services, and diversion programs, as well as to drive the development of innovative, evidence-based prevention and intervention programs.

This high-impact role offers you the opportunity to shape policy, manage multi-unit operations, and forge essential community partnerships, all while advancing a mission dedicated to promoting positive youth development. Join us in leading a dynamic team that creates meaningful, lasting change in the lives of at-risk youth and their communities.

The Deputy is a strategic leader responsible for overseeing the operations and management of diverse programs within OYS - including juvenile detention centers, shelters, diversion programs, and pretrial services. In this role, the Deputy Director will be responsible for strategic planning, policy development, budgeting, program evaluation, and ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations and best practices. Notably, the position requires hands-on experience in developing and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention initiatives that support positive youth development.

This position requires regular driving throughout the county to conduct facility visits, county programs, and community partner meetings. Some evenings and weekends may be required based on the needs of the organization.

Job duties include but are not limited to:

• Balancing tight budgets, securing sustainable funding
• Adapting to changing policies and community needs
• Leading a multi-agency team in high-pressure or crisis-driven situations
• Managing team performance and resolving conflicts
• Mentorship and team development
• Handling sensitive information and personnel issues
• Professional writing of reports, policies, and presentations to brief senior leadership and stakeholders
• Reviewing, interpreting, and presenting fiscal reports

The selected candidate must be able to work independently, demonstrate strong professionalism, and maintain accurate documentation in a fast-paced environment. Good experience for this role is demonstrated through clear, measurable results that show a candidate has strengthened youth-serving systems and improved outcomes for at risk and justice involved youth. Strong candidates will have led programs that achieved positive audit findings, reduced safety incidents, improved operational efficiency, and maintained compliance in secure or highly regulated environments.

Their experience should reflect the successful implementation of evidence-based interventions that produced better youth outcomes, such as reduced recidivism, higher program completion rates, or improved school engagement. They should also show a record of developing staff, stabilizing teams during high pressure periods, securing funding or grants, and building effective partnerships with courts, schools, law enforcement, and community organizations. In short, good experience is demonstrated by tangible improvements in program performance, youth outcomes, operational stability, and system coordination.

A Deputy Director of Youth Services must have strong leadership and operational expertise to oversee our secure juvenile detention facility, less secure emergency shelters, diversion programs, and pretrial services. They should excel in strategic planning, policy development, budgeting, and program development and evaluation while ensuring compliance with regulations and best practices. This role requires experience in stakeholder engagement, advocacy, and crisis management, along with proficiency in data analysis and performance measurement to drive program success.

Effective communication and staff mentorship are essential, as is a minimum of five years of leadership experience in youth services or juvenile justice. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in program development and implementation, with a specialization in evidence-based prevention and intervention initiatives. They possess a deep understanding of legal frameworks, expertise in securing funding, and a proven ability to foster community partnerships that strengthen services and support system-wide improvements.

High school diploma or GED, plus at least eight (8) years of experience working with youth in any combination of the following areas:

• Community-based prevention or intervention programs
• Residential facilities
• Youth mentoring or after school programs
• Developing community partnerships that support youth development.

Given that the Office of Youth Services is a newly established agency with plans to expand its services and deepen community support, the ideal candidate should hold a bachelor’s degree in…