Juvenile Rehabilitation Officer 2 (JRO2) - Lakewood

Description

Our vision is to ensure that “All Washington's children and youth grow up safe and healthy, thriving physically, emotionally, and educationally, nurtured by family and community".

Job Class: Juvenile Rehabilitation Officer 2 (JRO2)
Location: Lakewood, WA
Closes: Thursday, June 18, 2026
Salary: $67,992 Annually. The salary does not include an on-site 24/7 facility 5% premium. The salary also does not include the 2% general wage increase effective July 1, 2026.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is accepting applications for a Juvenile Rehabilitation Officer 2 (JRO2) to join the Oakridge team. In this role, you will provide direct supervision, transportation, monitoring, and community accountability for residents while supporting rehabilitative programming. You will also serve as a direct mentor for JRO1 security staff.

Oakridge Community Facility (OCF) is a minimum-security juvenile rehabilitation facility in Lakewood, Washington, focused on helping young men successfully transition back into their communities. Through an Integrated Treatment Model that includes Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Oakridge staff work alongside residents on the skills, connections, and experiences they need to build a life beyond the justice system — from education and employment to family relationships and independent living.

The work here is hands-on and community connected. Staff take residents into the community regularly, transport them to school, work, and appointments, and partner with families and natural supports to build the foundation residents will rely on after release.

Click here to learn more about DCYF.

The Opportunity:

As a Juvenile Rehabilitation Officer 2 at Oakridge, you will work directly with youth in a community residential setting, helping to maintain safety, support behavioral change, and model pro-social behavior every day. This position operates under general supervision and works a rotating schedule that may include day, swing, or graveyard shifts on weekdays and weekends.

If you are someone who is calm under pressure, committed to youth rehabilitation, and ready to show up every day for young people who need it most, we want to hear from you.

Some of what you will do:

• Provide supervision and monitoring of all resident whereabouts; conduct routine and random headcounts, bed checks, building integrity checks, room searches for contraband, and pat searches.
• Document security breaches, behavioral incidents, resident behaviors, and daily activities accurately in the legal log and ACT reporting system.
• Recognize and assess problem situations; intervene to maintain safety and security using JR-approved de-escalation methods and techniques.
• Facilitate programming and activities both inside the facility and in the community.
• Support case management goals by engaging, motivating, coaching, and redirecting residents toward targeted behavior change.
• Supervise resident self-administration of prescription and non-prescription medications daily.
• Transport and monitor residents to and from school, work, activities, and community-based appointments; complete daily rosters as directed.
• Complete intake and release inventory for residents; inspect rooms for cleanliness and contraband.
• Awaken residents and supervise completion of facility chores to meet health and hygiene standards; serve and supervise meals.
• Notify appropriate JR personnel, law enforcement, and parents or guardians in the event of escapes.
• Perform general facility cleaning, monitor inventory, collect urinalysis samples, and complete required documentation.

Required qualifications:

One (1) year of relevant experience (full-time equivalency) in counseling, criminal justice, juvenile justice, education, psychology, sociology, behavioral health, or social service.

OR

Two (2) years of college.

AND

• The ability to take action to learn and grow.
• The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.

Note: Two years of college will substitute for the one year of experience.

In addition to those required qualifications, our ideal applicant will also have some or all of the following:

• Two or more years of experience in the areas of work such as: social services, youth group activities, security guard, correctional officer, police officer, police reserve officer, military police, or other law enforcement work; or a certificate of completion in a basic law enforcement training program approved by the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC); or, a certificate of completion in a police or reserve police academy or military training program.
• Understanding of adolescent development and juvenile rehabilitation practices and principles
• Experience providing cognitive/behavioral therapeutic interventions.
• Competency in relating to clients from diverse backgrounds and cultural groups.
• Knowledge of basic juvenile correctional system, rehabilitation objectives in juvenile institutions, basic interviewing and counseling theories and techniques, basic concepts, fundamentals, and principles of individual and group behaviors, introductory psychology of deviant behavior, and crisis intervention methods and techniques.
• Ability to obtain pertinent information during interviews, assist in rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, apply rules, regulations and procedures, appraise situations, and remain calm and in control in crisis situations and deescalate situations.

How do I apply?
Complete your applicant profile and attach the following documents:

• Letter of interest describing how you meet the specific qualifications for this position.
• Current resume detailing experience and education.
• Three professional references with current contact information.

Supplemental Information:
The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is committed to Washington’s children and youth growing up safe, healthy, and thriving. We invite all candidates to join us in our mission to create a diverse and equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve. If you are excited about this role but you believe that your education and/or experience might not align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we encourage you to apply anyway.

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability or the use of a trained service animal by a person with a disability.

Applicants selected for an interview are required to pass a national fingerprint background check and complete a questionnaire mandated by the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) inquiring about any sexual misconduct. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but is considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the job.

This position requires at least two years of driving experience and a valid driver’s license.

This position is included a bargaining unit represented by the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). For more information: https://wfse.org/.

This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

If you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment or if you would like to request an accommodation throughout the application/interview process, contact the Talent Acquisition Specialist. If you're experiencing technical difficulties creating, accessing or completing your application, call NEOGOV toll-free at (855)524-5627 or email support@neogov.com.

Persons needing accommodation in the application process or this announcement in an alternative format may call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at 360-664-1960.

Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and wish to claim Veteran's Preference MUST attach a copy of their DD214, NGB Form 22 or Predischarge Certification (issued not more than 120 days prior to End of Term of Service (ETS) by date of submission). If claiming preference based on Predischarge Certification, individual will be required to provide their official discharge documentation, such as a DD form 214, NGB form 22, or equivalent, within 30 days after the date of discharge. Please blackout (redact) the social security number before attaching any documents. For additional information on Veteran's Preference and guidance on how to determine if you are eligible, click here.

DCYF participates in the federal E-Verify program. The selected candidate must provide proof of identity and authorization to work in the United States, consistent with E-Verify requirements, on their first day of employment