Juvenile Detention Director

Postion Overview

ABOUT YOUTH DETENTION

The Jefferson County Youth Detention Center is a licensed juvenile detention facility located in Jefferson County, Alabama and is operated by Jefferson County in accordance with licensed standards that are set forth by the Alabama Department of Youth Services (ADYS). The detention center is a secure facility for delinquent juveniles who have allegedly committed a criminal act, brought forth and detained by law enforcement agencies and court order. Rather than serving solely as a place of confinement, the Youth Detention Center stands as a center of intervention—where accountability is balanced with rehabilitation. Our mission is to create a safe and supportive environment that offers education, guidance, and opportunity, empowering every young person to pursue a more constructive and promising future.
At the heart of the center is a commitment to care and development. Residents are provided with access to education, medical and mental health services, counseling, and recreational activities. Daily routines are structured to promote discipline, responsibility, and respect, while focusing on reducing recidivism and supporting positive life choices.
Safety and compliance are central to our operations. The center adheres to strict federal, state, and local standards, with security protocols in place to protect youth, staff, and visitors. Our professional team is trained to foster an environment of fairness and dignity, ensuring that every young person is treated with respect while being held accountable for their actions. Additionally, employees at the detention center receive required training and comply with the Alabama Department of Youth Services state mandate in order to stay equipped with the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform their jobs effectively.
Community collaboration is a cornerstone of our work. We partner with courts, boards of education, law enforcement, and social service agencies to provide comprehensive support systems for youth and their families. These partnerships strengthen the continuum of care, helping young people transition successfully back into their communities.
The Youth Detention Center stands as a vital resource in the juvenile justice system and is audited annually by the Alabama Department of Youth Services and Alabama State Department of Education. By combining structure with compassion, accountability with opportunity, and safety with rehabilitation, the center reflects our belief that with the right support, young people can change the trajectory of their lives.

ANNUAL SALARY RANGE AND BENEFITS
The starting salary will be commensurate with the selected candidate’s qualifications, experience, and professional advancement with a salary up to $226,000.00, plus excellent benefits.

Applicants who apply for this position can be considered for other senior level exempt-executive positions (e.g., Deputy Director and Director level) of Jefferson County Commission should future vacancies become available.

An initial screening of applications will take place soon after the closing date. If a sufficient number of well-qualified applications are not received by the initial closing date, the announcement may be extended to allow additional applications.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND

The following Minimum Qualifications are required for this job. You must demonstrate possession of these qualifications by providing a detailed description of your related experience in the work history section of your application. Please describe your work experience in your own words to represent the work you have performed that is related to the minimum qualifications for this job. You must provide a resume in order for your application to be considered complete.

Degree Requirements
Possesses a bachelor’s degree in juvenile justice, criminal justice, corrections, public administration, education, social or behavioral sciences, business administration, or related field

Specific Experience
Held role with progressive experience in a detention/correctional facility or with probation services

Held managerial role within a detention/correctional facility or probation function

Experience managing a work unit
Managed a work unit (10 or more people)

Experience as a 2nd level manager (i.e., supervised a supervisor)

Responsible for setting goals and making key decisions at a unit level

Good knowledge of the principal and practices of accounting and the methods of administering and monitoring finances, including preparing, submitting, and managing a budget for a department

Responsible for evaluating the performance of those within a unit

Experience implementing and monitoring work unit strategy
Responsible for a concrete substantial change effort

Developed and implemented a strategic initiative

Responsible for managing and delivering results on several high-level projects at the unit level (i.e., more than individual level objectives)
Experience interacting with key internal and external stakeholders
Experience working in a high stress environment involving multiple constituents and working under pressure, dealing with multiple deadlines, and plan workload

Responsible for a function that delivers services to internal and external customers

Held roles involving forging positive interpersonal working relationships

Responsible for the development and growth of multiple others (e.g., coaching activities, formal mentoring)

Responsible for delivering complex communications to multiple parties (verbal and/or written)

Experience working in environments that require adherence to high professional and ethical
standards
Exposure to essential work tasks and/or processes in non-profit or government, or in a private organization that has constraints resembling those in the public sector

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND

Degree and Certification Preference
Advanced degree in criminal justice, corrections, public administration, social or behavioral sciences, business administration, or related field

Specific Experience
Held role with progressive exposure to juvenile or youth services

Experience working with, or knowledge of, court and probation systems

Experience working with, or knowledge of, state and/or federal regulations relating to juveniles

Considerable knowledge of current issues and developments in the field of Juvenile Justice in general and Juvenile Detention in specific

Experience facilitating an education program to ensure students receive instruction that aligns with requirements by a governmental education agency to provide grade level appropriate curriculum in accordance with a mandated course of study.

Experience overseeing volunteers, teachers, and contract providers

Experience managing a work unit
Engaged in concrete personal development activities (e.g., formal programs, taking on stretch assignments, integrating a development plan into daily activities)

Held roles in which they have delegated important responsibilities to others

Proficient with maintaining cordial working relationships with supervisors, staff members, contractors, and the public

Schedules and organizes a variety of activities involving numerous individuals

Prepares professional written complex reports, correspondence, and forms relating to the staff and facility operations

Experience implementing and monitoring work unit strategy
Responsible for guiding the implementation of an innovative solution (e.g., organizational process, product)

Experience interacting with key internal and external stakeholders
Held roles in which they were responsible for resolving conflicts and driving consensus

Responsible for completing a negotiation at work

Makes oral presentations to groups and individuals concerning the detention care program

Works with County Manager, Commissioners, elected officials and other department heads to discuss and coordinate various facets of the detention center

Experience working in environments that require adherence to high professional and ethical standards
Demonstrates a track record of ethical professional behavior

Demonstrates a track record of understanding and respecting the practices, customs, and values of people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures

SALARY RANGE

$159,000 – $199,000

Education Requirements

Bachelor's degree

Skill, Certification & Experience Requirements

• Ability to perform or make decisions in high-stress situations/environments
• Communications/media experience
• Customer service/public contact experience
• Data or recordkeeping experience
• Financial/accounting experience
• Human resources/personnel administration experience
• Legal experience
• Managerial or supervisory experience
• Skilled in use of communications technology or databases
• Technical or analytical experience

Position Benefits

• Paid sick leave and vacation time
• Paid time off for federal and state holidays

Closing Date for Applications

March 01, 2026