Chief Probation Officer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This first review of applications will be Monday January 5th, 2026. This position will be open until filled. Please submit the following required documents on the State of Montana Careers website:

• Resume - Please include dates of employment and your supervisor's name/phone number for each position.
• Cover Letter
• Three Professional References 

When submitting the required documents, you must check the "relevant document" box to ensure your attachments are uploading correctly to the specific application for this position. Documents not requested will not be considered in the recruitment process. The Judicial Branch is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

An employee new to the Judicial Branch will serve a one-year probationary period. The successful applicant will be subject to a criminal background check, including the Child Protection Services registry. Travel may be required and working hours may include evenings & weekends.

The Montana Judicial Branch offers a variety of opportunities to help you make a difference in your community, and further your career. As a service-oriented employer, we seek employees with a passion for customer service to help us fulfill our mission to provide an independent, accessible, responsive, impartial, and timely forum to resolve disputes; to preserve the rule of law; and to protect the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitutions of the United States and Montana.

Benefits of working for the Judicial Branch: 

• Work/life balance
• Family friendly policies
• Dedicated and caring colleagues
• Health coverage
• Retirement plans
• Paid vacation, sick leave, and Holidays (combination of up to 38 per year)
• Opportunities and room for professional growth
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness - Employment with the State of Montana may qualify you to receive student loan forgiveness under the PSLF 

Job Overview: 

This is professional human services and social work involving the direction, supervision, and guidance of juveniles on probation and/or in placement outside the home.

Work includes working with juveniles, their families, school staff, and representatives from social service and law enforcement agencies to preserve the unity and welfare of the family; provide for the care, protection and wholesome mental and physical development of the juvenile; prevent and reduce juvenile delinquency and/or chemical dependency through a system that provides supervision, care, rehabilitation, treatment, detention, competency development, and community protection for the juvenile to avoid the juvenile becoming an adult offender; and ensure that juvenile pay restitution to victims as ordered by the court.

A position may be assigned duties in a specialized area such as a youth drug court program or restitution. Decisions made in the course of work can have profound effects on the juvenile and family and include imposing limits on curfew and peer associations; arranging for counseling, evaluations, and academic support; arranging for family-based counseling services; or removing youth from a situation or circumstances not in their best interest. Initially, work is performed under the close supervision of a chief probation officer or more experienced juvenile probation officer. Once experience is gained, work is performed with considerable independent judgment, discretion, and decision making. Work is evaluated by a chief probation officer for conformance with the Montana Youth Court Act through discussions, review of case reports, and an annual evaluation.

Job Duties:

• Evaluates case, police, and arrest reports to make initial determination of the validity of criminal charges and makes appropriate referrals to the county attorney's office; conducts intake hearings on youth who have violated the law and forwards appropriate cases to the county attorney for prosecution.

• Makes initial assessment of youth to determine risk level, mental health, and chemical dependency problems; interviews youth, families, victims, school personnel, professional service providers and others to gather factual and social information; assesses information and recommends appropriate placements and/or treatments in the best interest of the youth.

• Completes timely and accurate reports to the court including findings, recommendations, and justifications for recommendations, considerations of community protection, accountability and building competency for youth as well as victim impact implications; testifies in court.

• Meets regularly with assigned youth to provide counseling, setting goals, acquiring education, developing life skills, and complying with their probation conditions or treatment programs; maintains contact with parents, including home visits, to coordinate implementation of case plans. Develops appropriate case plans based on initial assessment of youth and their family.

• Gathers information, prepares reports, and makes presentations before the youth placement committee after formal court adjudication and prior to formal disposition and placement.

• Supervises assigned youth who are on formal or informal probation and monitors compliance with probation conditions including school, employment, counseling, community service, and restitution.

• Provides crisis intervention services, including making referrals and facilitating placement while families work out problems.

• May serve as a member of an internal or community committee to assist in the development of policy or provide recommendations to the chief probation officer on the development of new or enhanced programs.

• May function in a specialized area such as a youth drug court or restitution program. 

Working Conditions:

• The work is performed primarily in an office environment and involves exposure to normal, everyday risks which require normal safety precautions typical of offices. Employees may be exposed to violent or non-compliant youth or family members and be on-call for work evenings and on weekends. Latex gloves are worn when obtaining urine samples. 

Physical Demands:

• This position requires activities such as sitting for long periods, standing, bending, stooping, reaching, climbing stairs, lifting, moving, and carrying light to medium objects, operating office equipment. Work may also require driving for long periods in a variety of weather conditions.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (Behaviors):

• Knowledge of the principles of youth probation work and related court procedures.

• Knowledge of child and adolescent development and behavior and family dynamics.

• Some knowledge of community resources available to youth and their families.

• Ability to persuade assigned youth and their families to work for positive behavioral changes.

• Ability to prepare accurate and reliable reports containing findings, conclusions, recommendations, and justifications.

• Ability to accurately document contacts/observations.

• Ability to read, understand, and effectively apply the provisions of the Montana Youth Court Act and Interstate Compact to juveniles.

• Ability to organize time and effectively manage workload.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the youth and their families, school personnel, chief probation officer and probation staff, judges, private and public human service agencies, professional groups, and the public.

• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of information.

• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team.

• Ability to be perceptive, versatile, flexible yet firm and matter of fact when necessary.

• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

• Ability to deal with upset, angry, and emotionally charged people and resolving conflicts.

• Skill in the operation of a personal computer with word processing applications.

Minimum Qualifications (Education and Experience):

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in the behavioral sciences, Human Services or Criminal Justice is required. 

• One-year of experience in law enforcement, criminal justice, youth services, or social services is required.

• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Montana driver's license; proof of insurance if using a personal vehicle on State business.