Juvenile Probation Counselor 3 - Dependency
Salary
$98,369.20 - $125,992.03 Annually
Location
Tacoma, WA
Job Type
Regular - Other
Job Number
26-001147
Department
Juvenile Court
Division
Juvenile Court
Opening Date
11/09/2026
Closing Date
11/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Description
Summary
Why Its a Great Opportunity: Pierce County Juvenile Court is known across the country for leading the way in youth justice. The policies, practices, and programs weve built are recognized as models for others, and were proud of the progress weve made. While our reform work has brought positive results, we know more progress is needed. We know the current system doesnt work the same for everyone. Young people and families continue to face challenges that we must address. We are committed to creating a system that supports every young person and family.
If you want to help move this work forward, empowering young people, strengthening families, 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.
Why It's a Great Department:
We Practice Gratitude: We put relationships first and show appreciation for others.
We Value Differences: We respect a wide range of opinions, cultures, and experiences.
We Maintain a Growth Mindset: We focus on effort, perseverance, and helpful feedback.
We Choose Courage Over Comfort: We face challenges and difficult conversations with care and support one another.
We Practice Authenticity: We are genuine, speak truthfully, and seek to understand experiences different from our own.
Learn more About Juvenile Court here.
How to Be Successful in the Role: Pierce County Juvenile Court is deeply committed to balancing the safety of young people with the potential harm that can come from removing young people from their families. This work centers on protecting young people while strengthening families, minimizing trauma, and recognizing that how the system responds to harm can shape a young person's life for years to come.
Dependency is focused on partnering with extended family, building community support networks, and understanding the complex needs of young people and their families. These approaches help reduce unnecessary family separation and lead to better outcomes for youth and the community.
The Dependency Supervisor will play a key leadership role in advancing these values. This position guides staff in using child and family-based approaches, with strong impartiality and ethical conduct, to gather all relevant information and make informed recommendations while ensuring the young people and families' needs are met and they are centered throughout the legal process. In addition, the supervisors role is to create a supportive space where their team can raise concerns and get help working through challenges. 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 Supervisor in Dependency 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 family and community connection, accountability, and opportunities for young people and families to grow.
The Dependency Division prioritizes protecting young people by acting with impartiality, integrity, and strong ethical practice. These values help us stay focused on the facts, understand real safety concerns, and avoid decisions influenced by bias or outside pressures. By approaching each situation with honesty, professionalism, and respect for the rights and dignity of every young person, we ensure our recommendations truly support their immediate safety and long-term well-being.
Expectations of the Probation Supervisor include the ability to work in a high-conflict environment, think critically, challenging assumptions, reduce bias, and advocate based on the needs and values of young people and families. Equally important is being responsive to community needs by supporting the best plans of action that remove obstacles to participation and address child safety for both short term and long term. This work can be emotionally demanding, so maintaining personal wellbeing is important for sustainable success in this role.
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.
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.
Core Daily Responsibilities:
A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.
Minimum Qualifications
Special Requirements:
Supplemental Information
How to Apply:
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 understands applicants may use Al 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 skills.
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 Al-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 Countys 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.
Our Welcoming Workplace Commitment: Pierce County is committed to creating a welcoming environment with broad access to opportunities at every stage of employment. We aim to recruit, develop, and retain a workforce with a wide range of experiences and perspectives, all dedicated to serving our community. County employees make a visible impact across Pierce County. Join us in helping keep Pierce County a place people are proud to call home.
We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this 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 Leadership Training Program, 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. Thats why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
Our benefits:
Vacation (Annual Leave)
Employees begin accruing vacation leave as soon as they start earning it and can use their accrued leave right away. We value your experience and recognize your service by increasing vacation accrual rates the longer you work with us. Full-time employees accrue vacation leave every two weeks at the following rates:
Vacation Accruals:
During years 1-3, 12 Days
During years 4-7, 16 Days
During years 8-13, 20 Days
During years 14-18, 23 Days
During years 19, 24 Days
During years 20, 25 Days
During years 21, 26 Days
During years 22, 27 Days
During years 23, 28 Days
During years 24, 29 Days
During years 25 & thereafter, 30 Days
A maximum of 45 days may be carried from one year into the next.
Pro-Rated for Part-Time based on % of 1.0 FTE.
Military Leave:
Pierce County has a proud history of supporting the armed forces and provides members of the armed forces with up to 21 days paid military leave per state fiscal year.
Holidays:
Some full-time employees are entitled to eleven paid holidays as follows:
New Years Day - January 1
Martin Luther King, Jrs birthday - Third Monday in January
Presidents Day - Third Monday in February
Memorial Day - Last Monday in May
Juneteenth - June 19
Independence Day - July 4
Labor Day - First Monday in September
Veterans Day - November 11
Thanksgiving Day - Fourth Thursday in November & Friday after
Christmas Day - December 25
Personal Holidays:
Regular full-time and regular part-time employees, and employees occupying limited duration positions, shall also receive two additional paid personal holidays. Paid personal holidays shall only accrue for those employees on County payroll as of January 1 of each year or the first work day following January 1 and must be taken during the calendar year in which it was accrued.
Furlough:
Some Pierce County employees may be designated to receive 10 "furlough" days per year in lieu of holidays. Furlough days are available for use on January 1 and must be scheduled and taken within the calendar year. Employees who leave employment with Pierce County must reimburse the employer for used furlough days based upon the number of remaining holidays.
Sick Leave:
Sick leave accrues on a bi-weekly basis, at the rate of one day per month.
Insurance Benefits:
Employees and families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with very affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout Pierce County. Employees are eligible to enroll each year in a flexible spending plan, which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care and dependent care expenses. Employees also have the opportunity to participate in supplemental life and long term disability insurance plans. To view premium rates, summary of benefit coverage, and other information, please visit the Pierce County Health Benefits website.
Retirement and Deferred Compensation:
Pierce County employees are members of the State of Washingtons Department of Retirement System (DRS) and depending on the position or previous DRS enrollment will be able to enroll in one of many programs DRS offers. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Nationwide Deferred Compensation Plan. This is a supplemental retirement savings program that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
Social Security:
All Pierce County employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The county and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
ORCA Passport Program
Pierce County employees may participate in the Countys ORCA (One Regional Card for All) Passport program.
Your Pierce County issued ORCA card is loaded with an annual Passport pass. The pass automatically renews every year. The pass will provide you with free transportation on regularly scheduled service on several public transit systems.
Miscellaneous Benefits:
Please visit Pierce Countys Benefits website for more information.
Telework/Remote Options:
Some departments allow for telework or work-from-home options dependent on the body of work. Learn more about our telework policy here.
All employees are required to be WA State residents after 30 days of employment.
01
Introduction to Juvenile Court job specific questions:
Children connected to Juvenile Court may be vulnerable due to their age and life circumstances. It is critical that we ensure their safety and "do no harm." Ultimately, we want all children to live in safe homes and communities where they can thrive. We ask that you answer the questions below honestly so we can all work together to safeguard children in our community. Please be as detailed as possible for questions answered with a "yes." Each response will be considered on a case-by-case basis regarding frequency, type, and the amount of time since the incident(s) occurred. For example, being fired from a job or having an arrest or poor traffic record may not, in and of itself, be grounds for disqualification. However, any deception during the background investigation process will result in automatic disqualification. Candidates who move forward into the latter stages of the hiring process will be subject to a criminal history background check and submit to a polygraph examination. Information you provide in this application will be verified during the polygraph examination and must be consistent. By selecting yes, you are acknowledging this statement.
02
Do you understand that your answers to the following questions are subject to verification through polygraph examination?
03
Have you ever been arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime?
04
If yes, please provide detailed information such as type, date, your age at the time, description, jurisdiction, and outcome.
05
Are you currently subject to a pending charge in any jurisdiction?
06
If yes, please provide detailed information including nature of charge, date, and jurisdiction. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
07
Have you ever engaged in sexual misconduct or inappropriate behavior, including sexual activity with a child/minor or vulnerable person; soliciting prostitution, accessed child pornography, etc.
08
If yes, please provide detailed information such as date, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
09
Have you ever been found in any disciplinary board final decision to have sexually abused, exploited, or physically abused any minor?
10
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
11
Have you ever physically harmed a child or vulnerable person?
12
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
13
Have you ever forced someone to have sexual relations/contact with you?
14
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
15
As an adult, have you ever had sexual relations/contact with a person under age 18?
16
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, type and nature of the relations/contact. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
17
Have you ever kidnapped someone or held someone against their will?
18
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
19
Have you ever been the subject of a restraining or protective order?
20
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
21
Have you ever committed a "hate crime"?
22
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
23
Have you ever been found in any dependency action under RW 13.34.030(2)(b) to have sexually assaulted, exploited, or physically abused any minor?
24
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
25
Have you ever been found by a court in a domestic relation proceeding under Title 26 RCW to have sexually abused, exploited, or physically abused any minor?
26
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
27
Have you ever been investigated regarding allegations of sexual harassment in the workplace?
28
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
29
Have you ever been involved in a domestic violence incident?
30
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
31
Have law enforcement or military authorities ever responded or been summoned to your residence concerning domestic violence?
32
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
33
Have you been a party in a Juvenile Court proceeding in any state where findings were made of abandonment, abuse or neglect, or inability to parent a child and/or had parental rights terminated?
34
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
35
Please provide your Washington State Drivers License number and expiration date (and the name under which the license was granted if different than name on this application). If you do not have a Washington State Drivers License, please explain.
36
Have you ever been cited for DUI, NVOL, DWLS, Reckless Driving, Negligent Driving, or Hit and Run?
37
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, police agency, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
38
Please list all traffic citations and infractions (exclude parking tickets) you have received in any state, country, or military installation within the past 7 years. Include the following for each citation/infraction: Nature of violation, location (city), approximate date, and indicate the outcome.
39
Has your license ever been suspended, revoked, or placed on negligent operators probation?
40
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
41
Effective January 1, 1989, Washington State Law requires all drivers to have auto insurance with liability minimums of $25,000 for the injury or death of one person; $50,000 for two and $10,000 for property damage, or show financial responsibility in one of two ways - a liability bond that meets requirements or by a $60,000 certificate of deposit. Please provide your Auto Insurance Information to include: Company Name, Address, Policy Number, Date of Expiration and indicate if you have a liability bond or a certificate of deposit.
42
In your lifetime, have you ever tried marijuana?
43
If yes, please provide the date of last use and your age at that time. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
44
Have you ever been involved in the sale or traffic of any controlled substance or illegal drugs (includes prescription drugs, not prescribed to you?)
45
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, type of drug, and description of the events. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
46
Have you possessed (possession is defined as controlling, holding, touching, selling, trafficking, or transporting any illegal substance) or experimented with any of the following, without a prescription?
47
For each box checked please provide detailed information such as the date, your age at the time and description of the events.
48
Have you ever used drugs or alcohol before work, at work, during lunch or on breaks?
49
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, type of drug, and description of the events.
50
Work Experience and Education Instructions:
Be sure that you provide all jobs in the Work Experience section of the application (including part time, temporary, volunteer positions, and individual military assignments) which you have held in the past 10 years. It is very important that you provide accurate information in a sequential order. Volunteer positions should be included as employment in this section. If you have intervening periods of unemployment, please list those periods as well. You are responsible for obtaining and providing accurate addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (if available). All statements are subject to verification. Please note that as part of the screening process, your responses will be reviewed in conjunction with your online employment application. The employment history detailed in your employment application must validate/support your response to the supplemental questions. If your responses cannot be validated, you will not proceed to the next step of the review/selection process. A resume may be submitted, but it will not substitute for the online employment application or supplemental questions; responses such as "see resume" may not be considered. Do you acknowledge this statement?
51
If you have no prior employment, please explain. Type "N/A" if you have provided your employment history.
52
While employed, have you ever been terminated, failed the probationary period, or asked to resign?
53
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
54
Have you ever applied for employment with this agency or any other law enforcement or corrections agency?
55
If yes, please provide dates, agencies you applied to and the outcome. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
56
Have you ever served in the armed forces, National Guard, or military reserves?
57
If yes, please provide detailed information, such as the branch, dates of service, and current or ending military rank. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
58
Have you ever been the subject of any judicial or non-judicial disciplinary action while in the military, National Guard, or military reserves?
59
If yes, please provide detailed information, such as the branch, dates, details, outcome, etc. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
60
Have you failed to disclose any information that Juvenile Court management will need in order to determine your suitability as a prospective Juvenile Court employee? Please describe.
61
If yes, please provide detailed information such as dates, your age at the time, place, details, and findings. If no to previous question, type "N/A".
62
Please state your reasons for applying for this position.
63
I hereby certify that all statements made in this supplemental application process are true and complete and I understand that any misstatements of material will subject me to disqualification or dismissal. (Type your full legal name and todays date).
Required Question
Employer Pierce County
Address Pierce County Human Resources
1501 Market Street, Suite 410
Tacoma, Washington, 98402
Phone (253) 798-7480
For Sheriffs Office positions: 253-798-6250
| Location | Tacoma, WA |
| Salary | $98,369.20–$125,992.03 Per Year |
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