OCJ - Director of Juvenile Services

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE
CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: DIRECTOR OF JUVENILE SERVICES DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATION
GRADE: 24
SALARY: $260, 000 OR COMMENSURATE WITH EXPERIENCE
LOCATION: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
**POSTING CLOSES: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2026**

JOB SUMMARY AND DUTIES: Under the direction of the Chief Judge, the Director of Juvenile Services (Director) is a senior executive leader who provides system-level oversight of the Juvenile Probation and Court Services Department (Juvenile Probation) and the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC). The Director establishes performance standards and accountability mechanisms; evaluates and holds the Superintendent of the JTDC and the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer accountable for compliance, quality, and outcomes; and drives cross-departmental strategy, policy, and culture change consistent with best practices, including trauma-informed and trauma-responsive approaches, applicable laws, and court requirements.
Within one year of hire, the Director will lead a comprehensive strategic planning process for both departments and submit a final strategic plan to the Chief Judge, and will provide annual public-facing progress reports thereafter. The Director must complete a leadership course of study or training related to youth and juvenile justice confinement within the first year of employment approved by the Presiding Judge of the Juvenile Justice Division.
Principal duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
1. Provides executive oversight of the JTDC and Juvenile Probation as a unified juvenile services system, ensuring services operate along a continuum of care that prioritizes the least restrictive, safest, and most developmentally appropriate interventions, reentry and aftercare practices, while preserving the distinct operational authority of each department head.
2. Establishes clear performance expectations and accountability frameworks for the Superintendent of the JTDC and the Chief Juvenile Probation Officer; conducts formal evaluations; and requires timely corrective action when standards are not met. Identifies deficiencies in the administration and operation of the JTDC and Juvenile Probation Departments and establishes a process for resolution.
3. Leads and oversees the development, adoption, and implementation of policies, procedures, rules, and operational standards for both departments to ensure alignment with best practices, applicable laws, court orders and other requirements.
4. Oversees the development and implementation of consistent, culturally responsive, and developmentally appropriate behavioral health frameworks and youth behavior intervention programming across the JTDC and Juvenile Probation.
5. Directs a comprehensive strategic planning process to embed best practices into operations, strengthen staff training and professional development, implement culture change initiatives that promote safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate environments, and update required rules, policies, and procedures, with delivery of a final strategic plan to the Chief Judge within one year of hire and annual written reports thereafter.
6. Oversees the development of an annual written report outlining the status of the JTDC and Juvenile Probation based on analysis of available data, to inform the judiciary and the public of key accomplishments, challenges, and progress.
7. Ensures that the JTDC and Juvenile Probation maintain compliance with applicable records management and records retention requirements, including internal controls and periodic compliance reviews.
8. Develops and maintains structured stakeholder engagement processes, including collaboration with Illinois Redeploy and Illinois deferred prosecution program leadership, the Chicago Public School leaders and/or effective education providers and other relevant system partners, prioritizing strong collaboration with and utilization of community organizations providing services to support the needs and ambitions of youth and their families.
9. Serves as a senior liaison to court leadership, system administrators, social service providers, elected officials, advocacy organizations, and community stakeholders; provides periodic updates to juvenile justice advocates, youth, families, and the public; responds to concerns with a solutions-oriented approach to reform.
10. Oversees short-term and long-term fiscal planning, budget development and budget governance for both departments, ensuring fiscal accountability, alignment to mission, goals and strategic priorities, and effective resource utilization to minimize disruption to, or dysfunction in, service delivery.
11. Establishes the organizational structure and staffing plan necessary to support the Director’s executive oversight functions, including approval of appropriate staff positions and performance expectations.
12. Anticipates and coordinates responses to critical incidents and systemic risks by holding department leadership accountable for maintaining effective emergency and critical incident protocols and timely reporting to court leadership.
13. Ensures that JTDC and Juvenile Probation meet, and where appropriate exceed, applicable standards and requirements, including the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (“AOIC”) standards, Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (“IDJJ”) requirements, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) compliance, and implementation of recommendations from relevant reviews (including the 2022 Blue Ribbon Committee evaluation of JTDC and the Cook County Probation System Review Final Report by the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center and the Council of State Government Justice Center).
14. Monitors system-level performance and service quality for youth under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court; identifies deficiencies; and oversees the development and implementation of corrective action plans.
15. Works collaboratively with, and promptly addresses concerns or problems raised by, the Presiding Judges of Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions.
16. Maintains regular communication with, provides briefings to, and advises the Chief Judge regarding performance, risks, reform progress, and strategic priorities.
17. Performs other duties as assigned by the Chief Judge consistent with the executive, system-oversight scope of the role.
The duties listed above are not set forth for the purpose of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the duties to be performed under the job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

Minimum Requirements
As established by the Illinois Supreme Court through the AOIC administrative office of the Illinois courts, the minimum qualifications are as follows:

1. A master's degree in management, public administration, criminal justice, social services, or advanced degree in a related field, and at least five (5) years of employment in an executive level, supervisory role, with at least two (2) years of executive oversight in juvenile detention, juvenile probation/court services, residential services, or similar setting.
OR
2. A bachelor's degree and at least seven (7) years of employment at an executive level, supervisory role, with at least four (4) years of executive oversight in juvenile detention, juvenile probation/court services, residential services, or similar setting.
AND
3. United States Citizenship.
4. Primary residence in the State of Illinois within 90 days of the date of appointment.
5. Pass a pre-employment medical exam, drug screen and background check including but not limited to LEADS, CANTS, and professional references.
6. A negative result from the Illinois Department of children and Family Services child abuse registry.

Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the minimum requirements, preferred qualifications are as follows:
1. Certification in restorative justice OR demonstrated familiarity with restorative justice principles and practices (e.g., restorative conferencing, community-based accountability, and trauma-informed restorative approaches).
OR
2. Demonstrated pre-existing familiarity with Cook County and/or Circuit Court administrative policies, budgeting processes, and labor relations frameworks.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of employment functions, personnel management, and an in-depth understanding of managing policies and procedures. Existing knowledge of Cook County policies preferred.
2. Demonstrated executive leadership experience as a senior-level executive or administrator, including oversight of complex operations and senior leaders.
3. Demonstrated ability to transform systems and effectuate culture change, including implementation of policies, procedures, performance expectations, and accountability mechanisms.
4. Demonstrated ability to build and sustain a cohesive juvenile justice system aligned with best practices, applicable laws, and court requirements.
5. Strong critical thinking and execution capability—able to translate strategy and ideas into actionable plans, implementation, and measurable outcomes.
6. Demonstrated knowledge of youth development and education and juvenile justice system operations, policies, and practices, including the potential implications/harms for young people, families, and communities.
7. Strong analytical and organizational skills to drive data governance, performance management, and continuous quality improvement.
8. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate with court leadership, staff, advocates, youth and families, elected officials, and the general public.
9. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate across disciplines and institutions; demonstrated ability to build trust while holding leaders accountable.
10. Proficiency with Microsoft applications (e.g., Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook) and ability to leverage technology to support communication, analysis, and workflow. Ability to work independently in order to plan and effectively carry out all the tasks necessary to complete personnel appraisals.
11. Possesses good interpersonal skills and is able to relate to the Judiciary, County Board, and other departments within Cook County, the State of Illinois and the United States government.

Other requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand at a desk in viewing a computer screen for long periods of time.
• Ability to move around the facility, office suite, courthouse, and elsewhere, and ability to travel to various locations, as required.
• Ability to intermittently twist to reach equipment and supplies.
• Ability to perform simple grasping and fine manipulation.
• Strength to lift objects weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to use a telephone and computer.

This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check. All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.
Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment.
Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page .

Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page .

THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS
Reports To: Chief Judge
Directs Work Of: Superintendent of JTDC and the Chief of Juvenile Probation

The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.