Description
The San Mateo County Probation Department is seeking highly qualified candidates to join their management team for the position of Probation Services Manager!
The mission of the San Mateo County Probation Department is to enhance community safety, reduce crime, and assist the victims of crime through offender accountability and rehabilitation. The vision of the Department is to be a proactive and innovative agency that facilitates positive changes in offenders' behaviors that reduce recidivism and foster a law-abiding lifestyle. To learn more about the department, visit: https://www.smcgov.org/probation.
Probation Services Manager I (PSM) will supervise Deputy Probation Officers, other division staff and its programs; train, evaluate and counsel assigned personnel; participate in departmental management teams; assist in the development, implementation and interpretation of line administrative policies and procedures; establish effective working relationships with staff, other law enforcement and social services agencies, community organizations and the public; handle multiple tasks with frequently changing priorities; respond creatively to personnel and budgetary constraints; evaluate and report on individual staff development and performance; and prepare complex analytical and statistical reports.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in sociology, psychology, corrections, administration of justice, counseling, or related disciplines.
- A genuine desire to be a part of the department's management team and its future.
- Superior interpersonal skills with expertise in motivating and developing staff.
- Enthusiasm for the job.
- A positive and flexible outlook and excitement for new challenges.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team.
- Excellent organizational ability for handling multiple tasks and urgent issues quickly and simultaneously.
- Knowledge/understanding of evidence-based treatment and supervision practices for juvenile and adult offenders.
- Initiative and sound independent judgment when responding to the public and dealing with problems.
- Skills as a consensus builder who is a firm, fair, responsive, and tactful leader with excellent group facilitation skills.
- Ability to demonstrate creativity when dealing with programs and staff issues.
- A willingness to take reasonable risks; this individual is not threatened by change; they promote and welcome new and/or creative ideas.
Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Plan, direct, supervise, and evaluate the work of subordinate personnel.
- Coordinate the work of a small programmatic or service unit.
- Assign cases, supervise, and review the activities of a staff of deputy probation officers.
- Explain and interpret departmental policies and procedures to the staff and see that they are carried out.
- Cooperate with representatives from state and local government, welfare, school, and law enforcement agencies.
- Interpret and execute instructions from the courts.
- Consult with professionals in the fields of criminal justice, medicine, and mental health care.
- Evaluate and report on the performance of individual staff development.
- Participate in community education activities, supervise departmental training activities.
- Prepare reports.
- Interpret and make presentations to agencies, community organizations, and private citizens on crime and delinquency problems, methods of rehabilitation, and objectives of the courts and the department.
- Represent the Probation Department as required in formal and informal meetings, conferences, and oral and written communications.
- Perform a variety of special assignments, prepare complex analytical and statistical reports in any of several areas of human resource planning, as assigned.
- Perform related duties as assigned.
Recruitment Timeline:
Final Filing Date: Friday, September 26, 2025, 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: September 29 - October 3, 2025
In-Person Civil Service Panel Interview: October 14 and/or 15, 2025
Benefits
We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (Download PDF reader) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)
In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.
As a County employee, you’ll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.