Introduction
The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF), Division of Safety & Permanence (DSP), Bureau of Youth Services (BYS), Youth Justice Section is currently recruiting to fill
Youth Justice (YJ) Policy Coordinator position. DCF offers great
benefits , personal growth opportunities and work-life balance as a State of Wisconsin employee; and the intrinsic reward associated with serving the children and families of Wisconsin. To learn more about DCF's complete compensation package, please visit our Total Rewards Calculator!
This position may allow hybrid work for a portion of the work schedule up to 90% depending on the employee's preference and needs of the work unit. Any hybrid work flexibility that may be available will be discussed in more detail in the interview process.
For positions that do allow hybrid work flexibility, employees may need to report to a DCF office location on short notice. There is no mileage reimbursement when traveling to the headquarter location. Our DCF locations are in the following cities: Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Eau Claire, and Rhinelander.
Employees need to report to the 201 W. Washington Ave. Madison, WI office or the 635 N 26 St. Milwaukee, WI office on their first day for onboarding and orientation.
High speed internet access is required to meet the needs of remote work.
Come see why DCF is such a great place to work!
DCF is committed to the important work of helping children, youth and families become safer, more secure and progress down the road to true independence. For more information about DCF, visit our website at http://dcf.wi.gov/ .
This recruitment may be used for similar vacancies that become available in the near future.
Position Summary
YJ Coordinator has responsibility for research, analysis, development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and programs for the community-based youth justice (YJ) system.
This position will lead or collaborate with other staff in BYS and the YJ Section to align Wisconsin's YJ system with evolving best practice in the field. Accomplishing this goal may include development, implementation, support, and monitoring of YJ programs, policy and standards, performance outcomes, data collection, and training. This position will also prepare complex and specialized policy-issue analyses on areas related to youth justice. This includes reviewing federal and state legislation and policies, analyzing federal and state-level data regarding YJ practice and outcomes, and assessing promising and evidence-based YJ practices and programming to develop recommendations and resource materials to improve the state's YJ system.
The candidate will also support Department and Division goals to include the input of youth and families with system experience in policy development, and to work towards reducing racial and ethnic disparities among justice-involved youth. In fulfilling these responsibilities and in advancement of the Department and Division mission and vision, the incumbent consults and collaborates on an ongoing basis with other department staff, local YJ agencies, other state agencies, individuals with lived experience, and other system partners.
For a complete copy of the position description, click here.
Salary Information
The starting salary is between $37.00 and $43.00 per hour ($76,960 and $89,440 annually), depending on qualification s. Pay for current State of WI employees will be based on the compensation plan in effect at the time of the appointment.
Pay for current state employees who are transferring will be determined based upon the pay on transfer rules (higher level duties or equity) as outlined in the compensation plan in effect at the time of appointment.
This position is included in the classification of Program and Policy Analyst- Advanced within the pay schedule/range is 07-03. A one year probationary period may be required.
Job Details
ue to the nature of the position, final candidates may be required to allow DCF to conduct a security background check to determine whether the circumstances of any pending charges or convictions would be substantially related to the job being filled.
Applicants must be legally entitled to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, an alien authorized to work in the U.S. without DCF sponsorship.) The Department of Children and Families does not sponsor visas, either at time of hire or at any later time.
Qualifications
Minimally qualified applicants will have:
- Experience working in child welfare or another related human services field with direct ties to child welfare (teaching or correctional officer experience alone does not meet requirement, unless there are other qualifying experiences such as interactions with juvenile court or another relevant youth-serving system)
- Experience developing, implementing, or managing policies, programs, projects, or initiatives (interpreting program guidelines, setting program standards or policies, maintaining federal or state guidelines for operations, etc.)
- Experience providing direction, guidance, or technical assistance to other professionals in performance of their job duties (leading workgroups, providing training, etc.)
- Experience analyzing data to assess the impacts of policies or programs
Well-qualified applicants will have:
- Experience working with or expertise in youth justice programs and services or a related youth-serving field
- Experience administering evidence-based assessment tools and developing case plans in youth justice or a related field (implementing research-based best practices, maintaining oversight of program outcomes, etc.)
- Experience applying trauma-informed and equity lenses when working with disadvantaged populations and/or child welfare related programming ( recognizing trauma and biases impact, addressing practices to prevent re-traumatization, addressing root causes of inequity, etc.).
- Experience making policy-setting decisions for the organization and/or collaborating with community partners or coalitions on policy setting (state, tribal, local agencies, contracted agencies, etc.)
- Experience utilizing specialized software, such as case management, customer relationship management (CRM), project management, software development, data analysis, etc.
- Project management experience (identifying project goals and scope, assigning roles and responsibilities, delegating tasks, managing risk and dependencies, monitoring and communicating progress)
How To Apply
If you haven't already done so, you will need to create an account and apply online.
You must apply online to be considered for this position. Application materials will not be accepted if received in an e-mail, as a hard copy or a fax. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.
After you are logged in and are viewing the announcement, click "Apply Now." You will be asked to provide your personal information and required materials. Online applications that do not include all of the requested materials will not be considered.
Both a resume and letter of qualification are required. If both documents are not submitted during the application process, your application will be disqualified. Your letter of qualifications and resume are very important parts of your application at DCF and are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job.
View instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications for your DCF application and what should be included in these materials.
Submitted materials will be evaluated by
one or more subject matter experts and qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.
The State of Wisconsin is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to applicants of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national original, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.
The State of Wisconsin offers a special program for qualified veterans with a 30% or greater service-connected disability. If you are a qualified veteran, please visit the Veterans Employment page for application instructions to be considered for the Veterans Non-Competitive Appointment program.
Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or former employees as a reinstatement) must complete the application process to apply.
Deadline to Apply
The deadline to apply is
11:59 PM on July 13, 2026. If you need assistance with the online application process, please contact, Yuliya Tchaikovski at 414-343-5748 or via email at
yuliya.tchaikovski@wisconsin.gov . Please see the Frequently Asked Questions for general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance.
Please note that due to a significant increase in applicant interest, there may be delays in the recruitment timelines.