Job Description

Are you a motivated community corrections professional or social counselor who is a force for positive change in a fast paced environment? Do you share our vision of community safety through positive change? 

As a Parole and Probation Officer (PPO) with Multnomah County’s Department of Community Justice, you can play a key role in creating a stronger, safer community. Being one of the first to use EPICS case management and Evidence Based practices, we take pride in leading the way with innovative solutions.

In this position, you will help your clients develop pro-social behaviors using core correctional practices. You’ll use cognitive interventions and behavioral practices with clients to promote lasting behavior change.  You’ll have the autonomy and discretion to manage your workload and schedule.  If you’re looking for a strong team where you can develop and grow through training and development, you’ve found the right opportunity.

Some examples of evidence based practices that we use include:

Motivational Interviewing: You’ll establish rapport with Justice Involved Individuals and enhance their motivation to succeed through collaborative communication, confronting issues in a non-threatening manner, and using positive and negative reinforcements. You’ll identify each client’s needs and risk factors, develop timelines to help them meet their goals, and implement action plans for clients and their families.

EPICS (Effective Practices in Community Supervision): You will be trained and use a research driven case management model specifically designed to address the highest criminogenic risk domains. EPICS includes a focus on the use of cognitive behavioral interventions.

Effective Communication: Your ability to communicate in a respectful manner and adapt your communication style for diverse audiences will be key to working effectively with clients, community partners and co-workers. Your writing skills and attention to detail will enable you to prepare accurate, well-written reports and documents for the courts, treatment agencies and other stakeholders, often within tight timelines. All candidates must be able to communicate and interact effectively and professionally with people from diverse backgrounds.

Investigation and Public Safety Work: You will conduct field investigations, adhering to specific protocols and standards, to uncover facts that are often hidden, unique or complex. You will utilize your crisis prevention, intervention and de-escalation skills to keep the community, your clients and yourself safe.

Organization and Time Management: You will be responsible for organizing and prioritizing your own workload to meet strict deadlines. (This can be challenging in a setting where work tasks and priorities change frequently.) You will work independently and as part of a team, and you’ll develop creative and innovative ideas to handle your caseload as efficiently as possible.

We encourage bilingual applicants to apply.  Some positions require oral and written fluency in English and a second language. 

The Department of Community Justice is looking for Criminal Justice professionals who can demonstrate expertise in the following areas:

• Strategic Planning / Leadership: You will develop goals and direction based on the overall county/department mission and vision to increase community safety through positive change.
• Results Through People: You will help achieve results through the contribution of others by motivating and inspiring growth and productivity.
• Relationships and Community: You will build positive and sustainable relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders.
• Leading Cross-Culturally: You will foster an inclusive workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued and leveraged to achieve the  vision,  mission,  and  goals  of  the organization.
• Team Building: You will develop, inspire, and foster employees to work collaboratively.
• Organizational Savviness: You will demonstrate understanding and good judgment of organizational culture and interpersonal relationships, with both internal and external groups, to identify opportunities of mutual interest and benefit.
• Delivery: You will ensure services are provided by quality processes through monitoring and understanding.
• Outcomes: You achieve quality outcomes for the individual, the organization, and the county.
• Personal Development: You will strive for an honest and accurate assessment of oneself and demonstrate willingness for continuous improvement.
• Functional/Technical: You possess specific knowledge about laws, regulations, certifications, licensure and skills for specific assignments.

WORKFORCE EQUITY

At Multnomah County we are committed to maintaining an effective, respectful and inclusive workplace. We value collaborative problem solving and strive for continuous improvement. We strongly believe in workforce equity, diversity and inclusion. Visit our Workforce Equity Strategies Plan (WESP) to see where Multnomah County is headed with these values.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY JUSTICE

Vision ~ Community Safety through Positive Change 

The Department of Community Justice (DCJ) is recognized as a national leader in both adult and juvenile community justice. DCJ routinely consults and makes use of evidence-based practices in our program and policy development. The Department’s commitment to data-informed decision-making has led DCJ to make smart investments of taxpayer dollars in supervision, sanctions, and services for the county’s highest risk and highest need justice-involved individuals. DCJ makes long-term investments in its employees through the provision of education and training. The Department believes that in order to enhance public safety we must work collaboratively with the judiciary, law enforcement, schools, treatment agencies, and the community.

The Department shares information with community members, partners, and staff to keep communities safe by preventing and reducing crime and routinely evaluating which local policies support best practices. DCJ operates 24 hours a day, with nearly 600 permanent, on-call, and temporary employees. The Department supervises approximately 9,000 justice-involved individuals annually and those defendants requiring pretrial services. DCJ’s Juvenile Services Division operates the Donald E. Long Juvenile Detention Facility and is responsible for approximately 360 youth on formal and informal community supervision.

More general information about the Department of Community Justice including our mission, vision, and strategies can be found at: www.multco.us/dcj.

The Department of Community Justice’s Strategic Plan (Executive Summary and Full report) can be found at: https://multco.us/file/68223/download.

Serving the Public, Even During Disasters 

Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant. For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page.

Minimum  Qualifications/Transferable Skills*:

• Bachelor’s degree in either criminal justice, administration of justice, psychology, sociology, social work or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience, AND;
• Six months experience in either responsible social counseling, case management, community corrections, or law enforcement, OR;
• An equivalent combination of education and experience. (Example#1: Two year associates degree in a related field AND two years and six months of listed experiences. Example#2: No college AND four years and six months of listed experiences.)
• Must be a United States citizen or in the process of finalizing U.S. citizenship and completed within 18 months of hire.
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must successfully pass a physical examination and psychological evaluation
• Parole/Probation Officers are Sworn Peace Officers and must be able to pass the certification requirements of the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) within eighteen months of hire. State statutes on DPSST exclude from attendance any person convicted of any mandatory disqualifying event as listed on the website linked here: OAR 259-008-0300.
• Must be able to pass a thorough background investigation, including being fingerprinted before the first day of employment.

Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills*: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.

• Social counseling experience that includes case management, and/or community supervision, corrections, and law enforcement; and directing, motivating and assessing clients.
• Current or recent (within 2.5 years) Parole/Probation officer certification by the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training (DPSST) pursuant to ORS 181.640. DPSST Number must be provided in the Supplemental Application Questions portion and you must attach a copy of your certification.

*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The Application Packet: Please be sure to provide all the materials below in your application submission:

• Online application: Explain all related experience (paid or unpaid) and training in the education and work experience sections of the application.
• Attach a resume: Please indicate how you meet the required minimum qualifications. Attach the document to the on-line application. Please include the following for each employer: name of employer, location, dates of employment, your title, and a summary of your responsibilities and if applicable, the number of employees under your supervision.
• Cover Letter: An uploaded cover letter that addresses why you are interested in this opportunity and provides specific examples to demonstrate how your experience and skills align with the descriptions in the “Overview” section of this job posting, and how you meet the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position.  Please limit your cover letter to one (1) page.

The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Supplemental Written Questions – Reviewed and scored by a panel
• Consideration of top candidates/Interviews
• Background Investigation/Fingerprinting
• Physical Exam and Psychological Evaluation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Type of Position: This hourly position is eligible for overtime.

Type: Represented

FLSA: Non-Exempt

Schedule: Monday – Friday, 40 hours per week

Location: Various Locations in Multnomah County, Ad Hoc Telework status

Multnomah County offers a comprehensive benefit package to all eligible employees. A few highlights include:

• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision).
• Qualify for a defined benefit pension after five years of vesting; we pick up the employee’s share of the retirement contribution (6% of subject wages).
• Generous paid leave (vacation, sick, parental, bereavement, military etc.)
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Optional deferred compensation and flexible spending accounts
• Access to a free annual Trimet bus pass
• Access to wellness resources

Diversity and Inclusion: At Multnomah County, we don’t just accept difference; we value it and support it to create a culture of dignity and respect for our employees.

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran or protected veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics. The EEO Know Your Rights poster is available for your reference. Multnomah County is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We request priority protected veteran referrals.

Veterans’ Preference: Under Oregon Law, qualifying veterans may apply for veterans’ preference. Review our veterans’ preference page for details about eligibility and how to apply.

Accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act: We gladly provide reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing an application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter below in advance to request assistance. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may contact the recruiter through the Telecommunications Relay Service by dialing 711.

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Job Tags: civil service, corrections, Criminal Justice, Government, law enforcement, and trauma informed. Salaries: 60,000 - 80,000.

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