Youth development specialist supervisor

The Department of Youth Services (DYS) is seeking dynamic, positive, and service-minded individuals to fill the role of Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II (JJYDS II). The selected candidate will work with juvenile justice involved young people ages 12 – 20 years old (most of the youth served are 14 -18 years old) in DYS residential facilities. The role of the incumbent is to support the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist I located at 425 Harvard Street, Dorchester, MA 02124.

The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II performs various care and security activities in connection with youth in custody of DYS. They will monitor the conduct and behavior of youth assigned to the facility, while maintaining communication with staff members, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders. The Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist II provides guidance and direction to the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist I staff.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Observe the conduct and behavior of youth confined to the facility and take appropriate action to prevent disturbances

  and/or escapes, to ensure compliance with established policies, regulations and procedures and to ensure the safety

  of staff and youth; provide one-to-one youth watch, including suicide, elevated and medical watch to ensure the

  safety of the youth.

• Maintain custodial care and control of youth to uphold order and security within the facility; ensure the security of staff

  and youth by making periodic rounds, head counts and security checks and searches of youth and visitors to make

  certain all youth are accounted for and to ensure that weapons and contraband are not on the premise.

• Supervise and monitor the deployment of up to six (6) JJYDS I staff by checking duty stations and ensuring the

  completion of assigned tasks to ensure the safety and security of staff, youth and visitors.

• Assist the Juvenile Justice Youth Development Specialist III in their absence and assume responsibilities for the

  operation of the assigned shift.

• Conduct intake of youth and complete appropriate documentation; document behavioral issues to establish patterns

  and monitor changes; complete incident reports and transportation, medical, visitor and daily operations logs to

  inform appropriate personnel during meetings and shift changes.

• Maintain resident, program, department and related documentation, ensuring that shift documentation is completed as

  well as creating and improving current systems and procedures to help shape an efficient working atmosphere.

• Provide crisis and behavior management to youth as a means to prevent and or intercede with crisis situations;

  facilitate and/or co-facilitate group meetings to assist the youth in developing coping skills to deal with their problems

  and issues and to develop pro-social and life skills; establish a rapport with the youth and advocate for the youth to

  ensure that their needs are being met; provide guidance and support through daily interaction and role modeling in

  order to facilitate re-entry into the community.

• Deliver leadership through role modeling and reinforcement of positive practices as well as participation in staff

  meetings and training sessions as needed.

• Facilitate orientation of new staff as well as train and coach staff with techniques, group interactions and appropriate

  responses in emergency situations including physically subduing and/or restraining practices to ensure a safe and

  secure environment.

Required Qualifications:

• Ability to understand, explain and apply the laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures guidelines, etc. governing

  assigned unit activities.

• Knowledge of the factors, trends and challenges in providing secure residential and rehabilitative care to youth

  including Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT).

• Demonstrated ability to supervise, including planning and assigning work according to the nature of the job to be

  accomplished, the capabilities of subordinates and available resources; controlling work through periodic reviews

  and/or evaluations.

• Proficient at gathering information by examining records and documents and through questioning and observation.

• Capacity to interact with people who are under physical and/or emotional stress as well as the Ability to maintain a

  calm manner in stressful and emergency situations.

• Effective communication including the ability to give oral and written instructions in a precise, understandable manner.

• Experience in establishing rapport with persons from different ethnic, cultural and/or socio-economic backgrounds

  including the ability to deal tactfully with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth including residential care, treatment, counseling and/or rehabilitation of juveniles

  and/or adult offenders.

• Proven ability to interact with youth in a supportive, safe and encouraging way.

• Demonstrated program measurement, reporting and evaluation skills.

• Proficient usage of Microsoft Office products including Word, Outlook, and Excel.

Special Requirements:

• Minimum Age Requirement: 21 years.

• Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or equivalent.

• Must be able to perform the physical requirement of the job (i.e. Ability to properly restrain or subdue youth through

  appropriate use of handcuffs or other restraint techniques) if necessary.

• Able to talk and/or hear, stand, and walk, run, kneel, and climb stairs, as well as lift, carry, push, or pull up to 55

  pounds with or without assistance and with or without the use of devices and/or equipment to assist in the lifting effort.

• Based on assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a

  class level specific to assignment.

• Upon hire, incumbents must complete and maintain a valid certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention,

  Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid.

Working Conditions:

• Incumbents may be exposed to verbal and/or physical confrontations and potentially dangerous environments.

• Incumbents may be required to physically restrain youth.

• Incumbents typically work a standard work week (five 8-hour shift); however, may be required to work extended

  hours, nights, holidays, or weekends.

• Incumbents may be required to travel in-state and based on assignment may be required to travel out of state.

Shift:

1:00 pm-11:00 pm with Thursday, Friday, Saturday off

Employees in this position will be required to perform mandatory overtime.

About the Department of Youth Services:

As the Juvenile Justice agency for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Department of Youth Services promotes positive change in the youth in our care and custody. Our mission is to make communities safer by improving the life outcomes for youth in our care. We achieve our mission through investing in highly qualified staff and a service continuum that engages youth, families, and communities in strategies that support positive youth development. For more information, please go to:

Pre-Hire Process:

Candidates must pass a pre-employment screening which includes:

• Drug Screening

• Psychological Screening

• Medical Examination

• Physical Abilities Test (PAT)

  If you would like more information, please logon to the DYS website to access detailed

  information on the Pre-Employment process.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired. For more information, please visit

Education, licensure and certifications will be verified in accordance with the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines.

Education and license/certification information provided by the selected candidate(s) is subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law and may be published on the Commonwealth’s website.

If you require assistance with the application/interview process and would like to request an ADA accommodation, please click on the link and complete the ADA Reasonable Accommodation Request Form.

For questions, please contact the Office of Human Resources at 1-800-510-4122 and select option #4.

Qualifications

First consideration will be given to those applicants that apply within the first 14 days.

Minimum Entrance Requirements:

Applicants must have at least (A) a high school diploma or equivalent and (B) at least one (1) year of full-time, or equivalent part-time experience in the military, or working with at-risk or justice involved youth and/or adults with responsibilities for one or more of the following: community supervision, safety and security in a 24/7 treatment or detention residential program, counseling, coaching (athletic or personal), mentoring, advocacy, mediation, de-escalation, substance use/abuse prevention, rehabilitation and/or in a law enforcement capacity C) any equivalent combination of the required experience and the substitutions below.

Substitutions:

I. An associate’s degree or higher may be substituted for the required (B) experience.

Based on assignment, incumbents may be required to possess a current and valid motor vehicle driver’s license at a class level specific to assignment.

Upon hire, incumbents shall be required to complete and maintain a valid certification in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and first aid.

Salary placement is determined by a combination of factors, including the candidate’s years of directly related experience and education, and alignment with our internal compensation structure as set forth by the Human Resources Division’s Hiring Guidelines. For all bargaining unit positions (non-management), compensation is subject to the salary provisions outlined in the applicable collective bargaining agreement and will apply to placement within the appropriate salary range.

Comprehensive Benefits

When you embark on a career with the Commonwealth, you are offered an outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package. We take pride in providing a work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.

Want the specifics? Explore our Employee Benefits and Rewards!

Title 101 CMR 23.00 (“Regulation”) requires certain agency staff to have received the COVID-19 vaccination and Influenza vaccination, or have taken required mitigation measures, to prevent viral infection and transmission in State Hospitals and State Congregate Care Facilities. The Regulation applies to this position. Successful candidates will be required to acknowledge and attest to your vaccination status for both COVID-19 and Influenza.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Commonwealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

Official Title : Juvenile Just Yth Dev Spec II

Primary Location : United States-Massachusetts-Boston-425 Harvard Street

Job : Community and Social Services

Agency : Department of Youth Services

Schedule : Full-time

Shift : Evening

Job Posting : Nov 4, 2025, 10:35:52 AM

Number of Openings : 1

Salary : 57,087.42 - 77,110.28 Yearly

If you have Diversity, Affirmative Action or Equal Employment Opportunity questions or need a Reasonable Accommodation, please contact Diversity Officer / ADA Coordinator : Natasha Lugo/[email protected] - 8572830119

Bargaining Unit : 02-AFSCME - Service/Institutional

Confidential : No

Potentially Eligible for a Hybrid Work Schedule : No