Youth Facilities Senior Administrator

JR Youth Facilities Senior Administrator (Open) Agency

Health & Human Services – Agency 25

This position can be located in Kearney or Hastings, Nebraska. The role requires regular presence at all YRTC locations and availability during evenings and weekends in response to emergent operational needs.

$1,000

Beginning at $150,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience, if approved.

Reports to the Children & Family Services Director, Dr. Alyssa Bish.

• Provide strategic leadership and strategic direction for Nebraska's youth rehabilitation and treatment facilities and assigned juvenile justice programs.
• Oversee the administration and performance of Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Centers (YRTCs), ensuring safe, effective, and compliant operations.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that improve outcomes for youth while supporting rehabilitation, treatment, and public safety.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, regulations, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, and juvenile justice best practices.
• Lead quality assurance, performance management, and continuous improvement initiatives using data to drive operational excellence.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and evidence-based treatment and rehabilitation programs.
• Oversee facility budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation to ensure effective stewardship of public resources.
• Partner with courts, probation, law enforcement, behavioral health providers, education systems, community organizations, tribal governments, and other state agencies to coordinate services for justice‑involved youth.
• Serve as the department's representative with executive leadership, legislators, stakeholder groups, and community partners regarding youth facility operations and juvenile justice initiatives.
• Foster trauma‑informed, family‑centered, culturally responsive practices throughout youth rehabilitation programs.
• Lead, coach, and develop facility leadership while promoting accountability, employee engagement, and operational excellence.
• Respond to critical incidents, emergency situations, legislative priorities, and other issues requiring executive leadership.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, public administration, behavioral sciences, social work, psychology, human services, or a closely related field, and at least seven years of progressively responsible leadership experience overseeing juvenile justice, corrections, residential treatment, behavioral health, child welfare, or other complex human service programs.

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, Behavioral Sciences, or a related field.
• Executive leadership experience overseeing secure residential treatment, juvenile justice, corrections, behavioral health, or other complex human service operations.
• Experience leading multi‑site operations, strategic initiatives, and organizational change.
• Demonstrated success managing large budgets, contracts, and public resources.
• Knowledge of trauma‑informed care, evidence-based practices, and juvenile justice systems.

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement, and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).#benefits

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.