Adolescent Services Superintendent

Overview
Are you a strong leader in the Human Services field? 
Do you have a passion for working with youth?
Here's your next career move!

Come expand your career with an organization that values and supports you to learn, grow, and develop. Join our collaborative, supportive, and results-driven team. This role provides the opportunity to bring your whole self to work, engage, lead, and drive your own learning and growth within the organization. La Crosse County leaders are committed to provide a supportive and inclusive work environment. We are also dedicated to your learning and development to grow in an organization that is deep in talent.  

This administrative leadership position is responsible for a team comprised of supervisory and line staff within the 3 units of Western Regional Adolescent Services (Secure, Shelter, and CORE (Community Option for Re-Engagement).   Vision and values that align with the care and safety of youth within these facilities and that aligns with state mandates, including but not limited to DCF 59, DOC 346, and WI Statute Chapter 938, are of utmost priority.  This position is a salaried position, reporting to the Family & Children's Services manager of La Crosse County Human Services.  Employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and leadership capabilities. This is a full-time, salaried position, primarily working weekdays, and may occasionally require work outside of the normal work schedule.

Salary range: $77,961 - $100,200

Associate Experience – What’s In It For You?
 Supportive, collaborative, inclusive, and diverse workforce.
 Career learning, development, and growth opportunities.
 Culture of respect and dignity, teamwork, honesty, and integrity.
 Serving your community in a purposeful and meaningful way.
 Flexibility with generous paid time-off benefits.
 Excellent benefits:
 ••Wisconsin Retirement System - Very stable and strong
 ••Health Insurance with options for free care
 ••Dental Insurance with comprehensive coverage
 ••Life Insurance with short and long-term disability

We will be accepting applications until the right person is hired.
La Crosse County Respects Diversity
Essential Job Functions
ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS

Acts with integrity and builds trust through demonstrated respect, humility, and honesty. Treats others with dignity. Encourages open communication. Actively listens and demonstrates open-minded thinking and willingness to accept other’s points of view. Engages stakeholders and effectively collaborates. Demonstrates the courage to speak out appropriately with leaders and peers even when your point of view is unpopular. Employs vision and strategy to drive positive results by leading with clear goals, objectives, and desired outcomes. Seeks out new opportunities to drive results through new processes and initiatives. Evaluates and monitors to hold self and others accountable for results. Demonstrates ability to be flexible while informally influencing others through coaching, motivation, and team-minded thinking to arrive at solutions that provide positive outcomes for all stakeholders. Seeks feedback and listens to learn despite personal setbacks. Demonstrates agile thinking while understanding the dynamics of the organization and public influence and perception.  Uses analytical skills, experience, and input from others to make critical decisions. Takes intelligent risks and leads the organization through change. Demonstrates perseverance by pushing through difficult and challenging situations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Empowers supervisors while expecting them to utilize the five Pillars of Excellence ("Results That Last", Studer):  Service, Quality, Finance, People, and Collaboration. Utilizes Evidence-Based and Servant Leadership principles. Maintains staffing patterns and internal policies and procedures as are necessary for the effective operation of all units of WRAS and to meet relevant federal, state, and local requirements. Supervises and directs supervisory, professional and paraprofessional staff of all units and shifts of WRAS; responsible for hiring, supervision, training, motivation, evaluation, providing performance feedback, scheduling and layout of work of section personnel. With a focus on providing services that incorporates best practices including trauma informed, cognitive behavioral, culturally responsive and strengths-based principles to develop and implement programming that meets the needs of the youth in our care. This includes but is not limited to addressing mental health, substance use disorders, familial issues and rehabilitative needs. Utilizes trauma informed, culturally responsive and strengths-based practices to develop proactive practices that address behaviors of youth in care who are violating facility rules that ensures safety. Maintains confidentiality of work-related information. Guides supervisors and staff through trainings and modeling to focus on interpersonal communication, engagement and increasing self-regulation with youth in our care. Is trained and knowledgeable in physical and verbal de-escalation techniques to be able to lead and/or assist line staff and supervisors in emergency situations. Responsible for data collection and outcome evaluation to determine program success. Prepares reports on services as required by the Human Services Director, Health and Human Services Board, and/or state agencies. Responsible for the continued licensure of the shelter and secure unit. Ensures all state mandated reporting takes place in a timely manner. Serves as the representative for WRAS by serving on state committees and meeting with representatives from the legislature, Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Families, etc. Collaborates with system and community partners (i.e. School District, youth serving agencies, law enforcement, etc.) to ensure positive community partnerships and maximized opportunities for youth in care. Maintains facility inventory and supervises inventory control.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
•Demonstrated skill in strategic planning.
•Ability to plan and monitor budgets.
•Strong leadership skills.
•Proven analytical skills.
•Comprehensive knowledge of programs and services which serve and benefit the juvenile justice population, as well as current best practices / evidence-based programs in this area.
•Considerable knowledge of the justice system, including the various system partners and processes.
•Ability to use data effectively in monitoring program performance, obtaining desired results and focusing resources on current needs.
•Considerable knowledge of community resources and resource development.
•Considerable knowledge of federal, state and local laws and regulations as they relate to the juvenile justice systems.
•Ability to plan, organize, manage, supervise, and coordinate a variety of service delivery systems.
•Ability to lead work teams and work collaboratively as part of a committee.
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of multi-disciplinary personnel and community contacts and partners.
•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with children and their caretakers.
•Ability to communicate effectively with county officials and professional personnel.
•Ability to supervise, train, motivate and provide performance feedback to personnel.
•Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
•Ability to make sound decisions in crisis situations.
•Ability to administer CPR from kneeling position.
•Ability to shares in the on-call duties of WRAS as needed.

Training, Experience and Other Requirements
•Graduation from an accredited college or university with a degree in Social Work, Psychology, Criminal Justice, Public Administration or closely related field.
•Strong preference for individuals with supervisory experience in human services programs.
•Preference for strategic planning and leadership in developing human service programs.
•Experience which brings knowledge of criminal justice system processes.
•Acceptable combinations of education and experience may be substituted as equivalents.
•Verification of previous employment per Wisconsin Statutes.
•Must obtain certification per Department of Justice Training and Standards requirements as Secure Detention Officer, which requires 160-hr. training program to be completed within the first year of employment.  Must maintain Secure Detention Officer certification during employment which requires 24 hours of training annually. Persons not meeting certification cannot work in the facility.
•Successful completion of reference check, physical evaluation, and criminal background check acceptable to the State Training and Standards Bureau, which includes no felony convictions.
•Must have a valid driver’s license and good driving record.
•Must successfully pass pre-employment drug screen.