Youth Specialist; Juvenile Correctional Officer

Job Title

Youth Specialist (Juvenile Correctional Officer) (260004R6)

Agency Contact Name and Information:
Cally Gilliland, Cally.

Gillilando.gov

Jul 9, 2026, 3:59:00 AM

Circleville Juvenile Correctn 640 Island Road Circleville 43113

United States of America-OHIO-Pickaway County-Circleville

$24.16 - $31.78 per hour. Starting pay is over $50,000 per year. Working two overtime assignments per week can add an additional $30,000 salary per year. New Youth Specialists receive their first pay increase after six months of employment.

Full‑time

OCSEA

Technical

Skills:

Criminology/Criminal Justice, Juvenile Corrections, Security. Professional

Skills:

Attention to Detail, Conflict Management, Reasoning, Situational Awareness, Observation.

DYS is seeking a Youth Specialist (Juvenile Correctional Officer) to oversee facility functions while providing valuable mentorship, experience, and knowledge to the youth in our care. The ideal candidate will be a strong leader with a solid background and a passion to habilitate youth.

• Provide safety, security, custodial care, and surveillance of assigned youth.
• Utilize provided training to observe, intervene, and de‑escalate youth behavior and conflicts.
• Manage and maintain security and a positive interaction during and after family visits.
• Complete all required documents (reports, logs, evaluations, etc.).
• Oversee movement on facility grounds and outside trips.
• Monitor and instruct youth on general housekeeping duties.
• Maintain awareness of unusual behavior and crisis situations.
• Collaborate and provide information to division leadership.

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision, and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period.
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year.
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave.
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more).
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) and Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation).

• High school diploma or G.E.D.; valid driver’s license.
• Must successfully complete Juvenile Correctional Officer assessment.
• Must be 21 years of age at time of application.
• Equivalent class qualifications for employment, as noted above.
• Probationary period: 365 days.
• Job
  
  Skills:
  
  Juvenile Corrections, Security, Criminology/Criminal Justice, Conflict Management, Reasoning, Observation, Attention to Detail, Situational Awareness.

The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre‑employment drug screening and criminal background check that includes results from BCI & FBI, Public Safety, and State of Ohio Taxation.

All new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services must partake in paid, mandatory 4 weeks of training. Week 1 is held at CJCF; weeks 2 through 4 are held in Orient, Ohio, 10‑hour training days, Monday through Thursday.

DYS is a "qualifying employer" for the purposes of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug‑free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non‑medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug‑Free Workplace Policy (HR‑39), and as outlined in the posting.