Chief U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Officer

Qualification

Applicants must be U.S. citizens or eligible to work in the United States. To qualify for a position of CUSPO at the JSP level 14, 15, 16, or 17, the applicant must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and possess three years of specialized experience, one of which has been at the next lower grade level or its equivalent.

Specialized experience must be earned after the bachelor’s degree has been granted. To qualify for a position of CUSPO above the JSP 16 level, a person must, in addition to the three years of progressively responsible specialized experience, possess three years of substantial management experience earned after the bachelor's degree has been issued.

• The three years of specialized experience is mandatory and does not permit any substitutions
• Probation and pretrial services officers and assistants must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment.

The mandatory separation age for positions covered under law enforcement retirement is 57, with 20 years of service.

General Experience

Court Preferred Skills

These additional qualifications, skills, and experience are preferred, but not required :

• A graduate degree in a closely related field received from an accredited university
• Proven skills in problem-solving, resource management and staff motivation. Excellent organizational leadership and management skills.

Excellent analytical and writing skills. Ability to analyze relevant information and prepare an accurate written summary of technical information in an organized, objective, clear and concise manner, and well-versed in workplace technology.

Comprehensive knowledge of and substantial experience in all areas of the operation and management of a federal probation and pretrial services office.

Knowledge of U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, applicable statutes and case law, and Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. Knowledge of evidence-based and re-entry initiatives which clearly link to current and future operations and activities.

Specialized high-level experience in budgeting and financial management, staffing and human resource functions, long and short-range planning, and oversight of information technology systems

Specialized Experience

• Progressively responsible experience in the investigation, supervision, counseling, and guidance of offenders placed in community correction or pretrial programs is required
• Experience as a police officer, FBI agent, customs agent, marshal, or similar positions, other than any criminal investigation experience, does not meet the requirements of specialized experience

Substantial Management Experience :

Substantial management experience is high-level administrative experience that provided a thorough understanding of the organization, procedural, and human aspects of managing an organization.

Such experience typically includes financial management, space and facilities management, oversight of the information technology and human resources functions, and long and short-range planning.

• Possible titles indicative of this experience outside the judiciary would be president or vice president in charge of several departments or offices, director, or assistant director in charge of several departments or offices, head manager or owner-operator of a medium to large company
• Possible titles within the judiciary would include Deputy Chief Probation Officer, Deputy Chief Pretrial Services Officer, Assistant Deputy Chief Probation Officer, and Assistant Deputy Chief Pretrial Services Officer

Substitutions :

• Three years of substantial management experience may be substituted for the requirement that one of the three years of specialized experience be at or equivalent to the next lower grade level
• If the applicant does not have three years of substantial management experience, then one of the years of specialized experience must have been at or equivalent to the next lower grade level

Benefits

Judiciary employees serve under excepted appointment (not civil service). Employees working at least 20 hours per week, or more are eligible for benefits.

The general Federal Employees benefits package includes :

• Social Security and Medicare benefits
• 10 paid Federal holidays
• Paid annual and sick leave
• Retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
• Tax Deferred Retirement savings and investment under the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with employer matching contributions
• Health benefits under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)
• Supplemental Dental and Vision Benefits offered through Federal Employees Vision and Dental Plan (FEDVIP)
• Life insurance benefits under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)
• Group Long Term Care Insurance through CNA
• Flexible Benefits Program for Health Care Reimbursement and Child Care Reimbursement
• Federal Employees Group Long Term Disability Program (FEGLTD)
• Long Term Care Insurance through the Federal Judiciary or the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)

Miscellaneous

Desirable Personal Characteristics : Successful candidates must be leaders and motivators; must be mature and highly organized;

must possess tact, strong integrity, mature judgment, poise, and initiative; and must maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times.

Ability to meet with the public, work harmoniously with others, and communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, is required.

Must be flexible and conscientious about detail and accuracy. Must be able to balance the demands of varying workload responsibilities and deadlines.