Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Unit Supervisor, Probation

Recruitment #20-6122-01

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. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.

Applications will only be accepted on-line.

 

DESCRIPTION

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Alameda County Probation Department is to protect the public safety by providing supervision, services, support and opportunities to our clients on behalf of the people of Alameda County through quality supervision, leadership, services and effective partnerships.

THE AGENCY

The Alameda County Probation Department is an essential element of the County’s system of public protection and human services. The Department’s role is to reduce the impact of crime in the community by providing accurate, comprehensive and timely information and recommendations to the Courts, providing community-based sanctions and treatment for offenders, and working cooperatively with law enforcement agencies and community organizations with similar objectives. The Department provides a wide range of mandated and discretionary investigative, advisory, and supervisory services to adult and juvenile probationers pursuant to State law and the County Charter.

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.

Click HERE for the full job description

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications listed below, the ideal candidate will have demonstrated a successful track record of having:

  • Knowledge of evidence-based practices and trends in the criminal justice field.
  • The ability to train and develop staff.
  • A thorough knowledge of Adult and Juvenile Probation laws, policy and procedures.
  • Strong leadership skills with a track record of successful team-building which includes developing direction and structure for subordinates to facilitate accomplishment of identified goals.
  • Solid experience in managing work groups by coaching, instructing and advising subordinates, assigning and delegating work-load and tracking and evaluating performance.
  • Remarkable organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and accomplish multiple projects simultaneously, take prompt action to achieve objectives as well as identify issues as they arise and address them proactively.
  • A proven track record as a prudent decision maker, with a history of choosing the appropriate courses of action by considering all implications and consequences, committing to action and ensuring successful implementation.
  • The ability to identify and understand complex problems and concepts, analyze information and exercise good judgment based on available data, design solutions to problems, and formulate and articulate action plans.
  • Exceptional communication skills, both written and oral, and the ability to communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in a variety of contexts.

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), which includes being a U.S. citizen or applied for citizenship one year prior to submission of application for employment.
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 candidates' application 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 written component that will be weighted as qualifying only (pass/fail). Candidates who pass the written test will be invited to the final 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 STEPS.

 

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, www.acgov.org/hrs.

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 SELECTION PLAN

Deadline for Filing

5:00 PM, Friday, November 13, 2020

5:00 PM, Friday, December 11, 2020

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

Friday, December 11, 2020

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Written Examination:

Week of January 18, 2021

Tuesday. March 30, 2021

Oral Examination:

Week of February 15, 2021

Monday, May 3, 2021

 **updated 11/13/2020, TG ** updated 4/27/2021, TG

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

Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statutes. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date of filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website: www.acgov.org/hrs.

BENEFITS

Alameda 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 different employee discount, fitness and health screening programs focused on overall well being.  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, 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

  • 11 paid holidays
  • Floating Holidays
  • Vacation and sick leave accrual
  • Vacation purchase program
  • Management Paid Leave**
  • Catastrophic Sick Leave
  • Group Auto/Home Insurance
  • 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 brief summary of the benefits offered and can be subject to change.

** Non-exempt management employees are entitled to up to three days of management paid leave. Exempt management employees are entitled to up to seven days of management paid leave.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Notices will be sent from Noreply@jobaps.com . Please add @jobaps.com and Noreply@jobaps.com as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use. If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you. All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account. You will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the 'My applications' button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to ensure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied. The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box Noreply@jobaps.com are routed to an unmonitored mailbox. If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs. You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

Tracy Gonzalez, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
510-272-5085; Email: Tracy.Gonzalez@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs


Disaster Service Worker

All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law.  Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect.  Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve, and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.