Youth Development Counselor - South Mountain Secure Treatment Unit

Position Overview

As a Youth Development Counselor with the Department of Human Services, you will help shape the daily experiences of young residents who need direction and stability. This role provides an opportunity to guide youth through challenges while celebrating their successes. You will support their progress through structure, encouragement, and hands‑on involvement. This position is ideal for someone who values purposeful work and positive impact.

This position helps support the rehabilitation and social development of adjudicated youth through daily supervision and structured guidance. The role focuses on safety, personal growth, and consistent oversight. As a Youth Development Counselor, you will perform the following duties:

• Resident Supervision:
  Oversee youth throughout daily routines to support safety and prevent harmful behavior
• Safety Enforcement:
  Maintain order by responding to emergencies and addressing inappropriate actions using the least restrictive methods
• Contraband Checks:
  Conduct searches of residents and program areas to identify and remove prohibited items
• Resident Guidance:
  Provide instruction that supports social skills, moral reasoning, and daily living abilities
• Case Management:
  Gather information, develop plans, and communicate progress for assigned residents
• Counseling Support:
  Lead or participate in individual, family, and group counseling sessions to promote positive growth

• Full‑time employment, 40 hours per week
• Work hours will be determined through shift work in a 24‑hour a day, 7‑day a week, 365‑day a year operation, including weekends and holidays. Shifts are 8 hours with no duty‑free lunch and may vary but normally consist of 7:00 AM–3:00 PM or 2:00 PM–10:00 PM. You will work a 5‑day work week with 2 regular days off. Your schedule may change based on operational needs.
• Telework:
  You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:
  Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $63,301.00 (before taxes).

• Four years of experience as a Juvenile Justice Specialist (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration) ; or
• Three years of experience as a Juvenile Justice Specialist Supervisor (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration) ; or
• One year of experience in the care, custody, supervision, activities, leadership, or personal guidance of court adjudicated or socially maladjusted individuals in an organized program, and a bachelor’s degree in the behavioral sciences, special education, juvenile justice, or criminal justice; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of experience in the care, custody, supervision, activities, leadership, or personal guidance of court adjudicated or socially maladjusted individuals in an organized program.

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

• A conditional offer of employment will require a medical examination and drug screening.
• This position falls under the provisions of the Child Protective Services Law.
• Under the Law, a conditional offer of employment will require submission and approval of satisfactory criminal history reports including, but not limited to, PA State Police clearance, PA Child Abuse history clearance, and FBI Fingerprint clearance.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or your score may be lower than deserved or you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law.

All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.