Salary: $117,456.25 - $151,895.84 Annually
Location : Tacoma, WA
Job Type: Regular - Other
Job Number: 26-00908
Department: Juvenile Court
Division: Juvenile Court
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 9/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description

Summary

If you want to help move this work forward, prepare young people for successful adulthood, and support change inside the system and in the community, this role offers that opportunity.

Your compassion, active listening, support, empowerment, and advocacy for young people and families will be valued. We welcome your perspective and talents. We believe people and systems can grow, and together we can make a strong impact in the community.
How to be Successful in the Role:

Pierce County Juvenile Court is strongly committed to the principles of the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). This work centers on fair access, strong community partnership, and practices that match the developmental needs of young people. These approaches help reduce the use of detention and improve outcomes for youth and families.

The Probation Manager will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using evidence-based approaches, building collaboration with community partners, and ensuring probation services align with JDAI's core strategies. The work is done in close partnership with a dedicated group of judicial officers who operate under case law and statute. As a result, the Probation Manager must balance legal requirements with innovation, consistency, and practices that keep young people at the center of decision-making.

Together, this leader and the court's judicial and management team will support a system that prioritizes rehabilitation, accountability, and opportunities for youth to grow.

You will prioritize the safety and security of youth and staff by using effective behavior-management and de-escalation skills. Responding to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with compassion will support success in this role.

You must be able to work in a high-conflict environment while staying focused on strengths and helping cases move forward. You will think critically, challenge assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. You must be responsive to community needs and communicate persuasively. You will respond to situations with awareness of difficult experiences and with practices that remove obstacles to participation. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for long-term success in child welfare.

Your Future in this Role:

As the justice system continues to evolve, we welcome forward-thinking, creative, and compassionate people who thrive in fast-changing, innovative environments.

This position offers opportunities for professional development, leadership, and training. You will also build connections with partners in child welfare, education, mental health, community supports, substance-use treatment, economic-stability services, and other areas affecting young people and families.

Strategic Responsibilities and Values:

You should be adaptable, forward-thinking, attentive to community needs, and compassionate while supporting the safety and wellbeing of young people under Juvenile Court jurisdiction. You will help advance our vision of a safe, connected community where all young people and families are encouraged to build on their strengths and reach their potential. You will help instill hope by setting goals, identifying paths forward, and believing in the possibility of change.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Plans, administers, and coordinates the activities of department units, develops program objectives and operational goals, updates procedures and existing guidelines as necessary to meet changing conditions.
• Evaluates individual and program accomplishments against established standards, goals, and timetables, and recommends remedial, motivational, or laudatory action as appropriate.
• Works collaboratively with the judicial officers assigned to Juvenile Court, advocating for probation's needs and perspectives while ensuring practices, recommendations, and decisions align with the legal direction and authority of judges and commissioners.
• Manages and provides leadership to multiple teams, including Juvenile Probation Counselors, Case Monitors, the Diversion Coordinator, Extra-Hire staff, interns, and volunteers, ensuring cohesive service delivery and consistent adherence to departmental standards.
• Collaborates closely with key areas of Pierce County Juvenile Court-Detention, Dependency, Operations, and the Clerk's Office-to support integrated practices, shared priorities, and effective communication across the organization.
• Plans, assigns, reviews, and evaluates the work of subordinate employees; defines responsibility and authority of subordinate positions and establishes standards of performance; recommends merit step increases; recommends promotional actions.
• Recommends resolution of employee grievances at the department level; recommends and executes disciplinary actions.
• Plans and implements in-service staff education, training and development; provides technical assistance with extremely complex or atypical problems.
• Prepares budget requests and amendments; approves and controls program expenditures in line with assigned budget.
• Communicates program objectives and goals to interested community groups, the general public, and other governmental agencies.
• May serve in place of the Juvenile Court Deputy Court Executive when that person is absent.
• Performs related work as required.
• Willingness to assume statewide leadership role(s) per Deputy Court Executive directives.
• Develops, maintains, and oversees community partnerships.
• Must be able to travel to assigned work locations.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found
Our Recruitment Practices:This is a competitive and meritorious selection process. Pierce County applications are reviewed by human hiring staff in accordance with the qualifications listed for the position. Pierce County Juvenile Court understands applicants may use AI tools when preparing application materials. We recognize these tools can make the process easier; however, we ask that everything you submit genuinely reflects your own experience, skills, knowledge, and writing style.

During the interview process, you may be asked to demonstrate your skills, including writing and subject knowledge, and to speak to your experience in your own voice. Applicants should be prepared to respond to interview questions without relying on AI-generated responses or reading prepared answers from a screen. Any misrepresentation may result in disqualification or separation.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely align with the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration. Notification of application status typically occurs within two to three weeks after the closing date. Some applicants may receive short notice to participate in additional selection steps, which may include assessments, phone screens, or interviews.

Upon offer, compensation is based on a range of job-related factors, including the requirements of the role, your skills and experience, and internal pay equity.

Minimum Qualifications
• A Bachelor's Degree with course work in corrections, social work, management or a closely related field; and
• At least 5 years experience in the juvenile justice field and at least 2 years of which must have been in a supervisory position, in which compensated employees were supervised.
• Additional education in management and supervision is preferred.
• Must complete the first line supervisor and management training at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission prior to completion of the first year in service.
• Additional education and experience may substitute for these requirements.
Special Requirements:
• A valid Washington State driver's license.
• Successful completion of a Pierce County background investigation and polygraph exam before employment.
Supplemental Information
To be considered for this opportunity:

1. Submit an online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or visiting
2. Attach the following documents:
   • College transcripts or diploma
   • Cover Letter

• Any other materials you believe support your application, such as evaluations, awards, or certificates

If you do not have internet access, you may visit a public library or WorkSource location. If you need an accommodation during the application or testing process or need this announcement in another format, call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480 at least two days before you need assistance.

This is a competitive process. Applications are reviewed for the quality and quantity of education and experience. Applicants whose qualifications best match the County's needs will move forward. Short-notice scheduling may occur for written or oral exams, performance tests, or interviews.

We use email for most communication. Add piercecountywa.gov and neogov.com to your safe-sender list and check your junk folder as needed. The online application requires detailed information, so please plan adequate time.

All required materials must be submitted before the listed closing date and time.

Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Pierce County offers a competitive benefits package that offers flexibility and peace of mind. We are proud to offer Employee Resource Groups, a focus on professional development in our , and a County Book Club.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career and that your priority is making sure that you and your family maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of and , , staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Our benefits:

Vacation (Annual Leave)
After approximately six months, employees receive six days of vacation leave.
Since we value your experience, the amount of vacation you can accrue increases the longer you work with us. Vacation accrues on a bi-weekly basis for full-time employees as follows:

Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20