Unit Supervisor, Probation

County of Alameda

$80K — $100K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
  • 5 years of experience as Deputy Probation Officer II or equivalent in probation, law enforcement, or correctional fields.
  • Master's degree may substitute for 2 years of required experience.
  • Valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
  • Must meet minimum requirements for Peace Officer status.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise and guide a unit of Deputy Probation Officers.
  • Conduct pre-sentence investigations and home supervision.
  • Oversee supervision of adult or juvenile offenders.
  • Manage out-of-home placements for wards of the Juvenile Court.
  • Implement departmental policies and procedures.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • Defined benefit pension retirement plan.
  • Generous paid time off, including 12 paid holidays and floating holidays.
  • Flexible Spending Accounts for health and dependent care.
  • Employee wellness programs and discounts available.
Full Job Description
Introduction

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application. Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION

Under direction, to supervise and guide a unit of Deputy Probation Officers engaged in function(s) such as pre-sentence investigations, home supervision, supervision of adult or juvenile offenders or out-of-home placement of wards of the Juvenile Court; and to do related work as required.

For more information about the job classification, visit: Unit Supervisor, Probation (#6122).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:
Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

AND

EITHER I
Experience:
The equivalent of five years of full-time experience in a Probation Department classification equivalent to, or higher than, the class of Deputy Probation Officer II in the Alameda County classified service.

OR II
Experience:

The equivalent of five years of professional, full-time correctional casework experience at the level of Deputy Probation Officer II in a probation, law enforcement agency, parole agency, or correctional institution.

Substitution:
Possession of a master's degree or above may be substituted for two years of the required experience.

Special Requirements:

  • Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
  • Possession of an automobile may be required.
  • Good driving record according to DMV negligent operator guidelines and qualification for automotive insurance.
  • Persons appointed to positions in this classification in the Probation Department must meet the minimum requirements for Peace Officer (Section 1031 Government Code).
  • Applicants are not required to be a US citizen, but must be legally authorized to work in the United States under federal law. (Per SB 960).
  • Any felony conviction is disqualifying.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

Knowledge of:
    • Interviewing techniques.
    • Employee supervision and appraisal techniques.
    • Intermediate math.
    • Basic math plus fractions, decimals and percentages.
    • State, Federal and local statutes, ordinances, regulations, rules, policies and procedures.
    • Departmental policies and philosophy.
    • Trends in correctional field.
    • Evidence-based probation supervision practices.

Ability to:
    • Communicate effectively with a variety of people of various educational and socio-cultural backgrounds.
    • Demonstrate effective public speaking skills, including planning and preparation of material and effective presentation.
    • Effectively apply interviewing and listening skills.
    • Read, interpret and apply complex legal and behavioral science information relating to criminal justice process.
    • Access and implement training and learning theory techniques.
    • Deal effectively with subordinates and superiors in a fair manner.
    • Motivate subordinates.
    • Coordinate work with others.
    • Implement new policies and procedures.
    • Set goals and objectives and establish priorities.
    • Be flexible and tolerant in adjusting to changes in workload and assignments.
    • Effectively set and meet deadlines.
    • Demonstrate self-restraint, judgment and strategy in dealing with a variety of people, adversaries and advocates under varying situations, conditions and circumstances.
    • Define problems, collect information, establish facts, evaluate alternative solutions, draw valid conclusions and select and act on the best alternative.
    • Use community resources to meet the needs of clients.
    • Write clearly, accurately and concisely and use grammatically correct English to convey ideas in written reports, letters and memoranda.
    • Edit reports written by subordinates to ensure a clear, accurate and concise product.
    • Provide consultation, regarding family system analysis and interpersonal relations analysis.
    • Decision making, coach staff and model leadership behavior.
    • Effectively utilize self defense techniques
    • Effectively utilize a firearm


EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

  1. A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
  2. A review of the supplemental questionnaire to determine best qualified. Those candidates considered the best qualified will move on to the next step in the examination process.
  3. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.


CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced examination components.

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the "What You Need to Know" section of our website, hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.

RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT PLAN:

Deadline for Filing:

5:00:00 PM Monday, July 20, 2026

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Friday, July 24, 2026
Review of Supplemental Questionnaire for Best Qualified:

Week of August 3, 2026
Oral Examination:

Week of August 24, 2026

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN:
Departmental Hiring Interviews: Week of August 24, 2026

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN

BENEFITS

The County offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that affords wide-ranging health care options to meet the different needs of a diverse workforce and their families. We also sponsor many employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall wellbeing. These benefits include but are not limited to*:

For your Health & Well-Being
  • Medical - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Dental - HMO & PPO Plans
  • Vision or Vision Reimbursement
  • Share the Savings
  • Basic Life Insurance
  • Supplemental Life Insurance (with optional dependent coverage for eligible employees)
  • Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
  • County Allowance Credit
  • Flexible Spending Accounts - Health FSA, Dependent Care and Adoption Assistance
  • Short-Term Disability Insurance
  • Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Benefits - Accident Insurance, Critical Illness, Long-Term Care, Hospital Indemnity and Legal Services
  • Employee Assistance Program

For your Financial Future
  • Retirement Plan - (Defined Benefit Pension Plan)
  • Deferred Compensation Plan (457 Plan or Roth Plan)

For your Work/Life Balance
  • 12 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Pet Insurance
  • Commuter Benefits Program
  • Guaranteed Ride Home
  • Employee Wellness Program (e.g. At Work Fitness, Incentive Based Programs, Gym Membership Discounts)
  • Employee Discount Program (e.g. theme parks, cell phone, etc.)
  • Child Care Resources
  • 1st United Services Credit Union

*Eligibility is determined by Alameda County and offerings may vary by collective bargaining agreement. This provides a summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

**Employees in management-designated classifications may be entitled to management paid leave. Refer to the applicable MOU or Salary Ordinance for more information.

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