Youth Counselor Technician (Juvenile Justice Officer I)- Lenoir YDC

Now Offering Sign-On Bonus of $3,000.00! (Please Note: To be eligible for a sign-on bonus, the candidate must not have worked as a probationary, permanent, or time-limited employee in the last 12 months as an employee in North Carolina state government subject to the State Human Resources Act.)

This job classification also qualifies for the employee Referral Bonus program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current DPS employee, and you are hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention is now hiring Juvenile Justice Officer TRAINEES—no college degree required. If you’re at least 20 years old and have a high school diploma or GED, this is your opportunity to start a rewarding career in public service, with paid training, state benefits, and a clear path for advancement.

This is NOT an office position; this is a direct care position where you will be providing direct supervision and engagement at a Youth Development Center or Juvenile Detention Center with close proximity to court-ordered youth.

NEW STEP PAY PLAN!

Juvenile Justice Officer I's (Youth Counselor Technicians) enjoy annual salary increases with a step pay plan!  Your initial salary is based on your total months of related education and experience above the minimum requirements (Associate's degree or total of 24 months or equivalent combination of education and experience). Please list all work experience in order for you to receive maximum credit. This will help determine the correct salary and step for potential candidates. Candidates will only receive credit for experience documented on the state application. Once hired, your pay will continue to increase as you gain more related experience up to step 6 and you may also qualify for other promotional opportunities. There are many opportunities for promotional advancement within Juvenile Justice!

• Step 0- $37,621
• Step 1- $40,253
• Step 2- $42,670
• Step 3- $44,803
• Step 4- $46,594
• Step 5- $47,993
• Step 6- $48,953

If you are interested in becoming a Youth Counselor Technician but do not yet meet the Education and Experience Requirements, consider becoming a Youth Counselor Technician Trainee! The trainee position only requires a High School Diploma/ GED or equivalent and 20 years of age. Applications for BOTH Youth Counselor Technician and Youth Counselor Technician Trainee positions will be accepted within this posting.

As a Youth Counselor Technician Trainee, work will include:

• Directly monitoring and supervising juveniles while housed, at school, and throughout all daily activities in youth development and youth detention centers. 
• Working closely and having personal and physical contact with juveniles. 
• Monitoring juveniles, maintaining a secure environment, and ensuring compliance with sanitation standards. 
• Completing records daily to include documenting safety violations and security breaches, activity briefing for shift personnel, crisis intervention events, behavioral problems/issues, and youth progress updates. 
• Providing feedback to the treatment team on juveniles.

Trainee appointments include participating in a 6 to 24-month training progression, in which trainees are assigned to a progressive career development program under supervision which is designed to ensure trainees develop an overall understanding of their role and its impact over time. 

The trainee appointment for the Youth Counselor Technician Trainee follows a step progression pay plan. Pay increases follow the following timeline:

• Minimum Starting Pay- $34,000
• 6 months into training program-$34,850
• 12 months into training program- $35,725
• 18 months into training program- $36,625
• 24 months into training program- $37,621

Once fully qualified, trainees will be eligible for continued professional development, in-service trainings and workshops, and a salary increase. It is expected that Youth Counselor Technician Trainees that perform successfully during their Trainee appointment will be moved into a permanent position as a Youth Counselor Technician.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid holidays, retirement, and health insurance. To view an example of total compensation, please click here NC OSHR: Total Compensation Calculator

Supplemental and Contact Information

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are committed to full inclusion of qualified applicants and will review requests for reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions during the hiring process or while on the job.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program 

For applicants with student loans, becoming a state employee may include eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

Transcripts

• Degrees and transcripts must be received from appropriately accredited college or university.
• Applicants who earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, must attach an unofficial transcript to receive credit for education.
• International degrees and transcripts must be evaluated for accreditation by a recognized evaluation service by the closing date of this posting.  Failure to provide documentation may result in ineligibility. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options to provide credential verification :https://www.naces.org/members.

Military Experience 

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that includes Character of Discharge - Member 4 or Service 2 form) to the application.
• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference:

  A current member of the North Carolina National Guard in good standing must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS).

  A former member of the North Carolina National Guard who served for at least 6 years and were discharged under honorable conditions, must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

The NC Dept. of Public Safety must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape. "PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions. Selected applicants for positions which are subject to PREA will undergo a PREA-specific background check. Our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated, or justice involved, and we invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. Due to the nature of work performed in our agency, prior convictions and/or charges may prohibit employment for positions which are subject to PREA or other position-specific background checks.

If applying for a Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division, please click this link for specific certification requirements: Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification.

Per NC General Statute 143B-1209.54, applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (“RAP Back”).  This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the hiring manager.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.

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