The Community
Alameda County is the geographic center of the San Francisco Bay Area, located on the east side of the Bay across from the San Francisco peninsula. Commonly referred to as the “East Bay,” the region has been the fastest growing in the San Francisco Bay Area for more than two decades. The East Bay is popular because of its desirable location, incredible diversity, ideal climate, broad economic base, plus its range of available housing and business opportunities. The County itself is one of the most diverse regions in the country.
Alameda County offers a rich array of cultural activities, including the Oakland Museum and the Oakland East Bay Symphony. The region is home to three professional sports teams: the Oakland A’s, Oakland Raiders, and the Golden State Warriors. The wine country of the inland Tri-Valley area, the Chabot Space and Science Center, and outstanding outdoor recreational facilities bring additional opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and education. The University of California, Berkeley and California State University, East Bay are just two of the distinguished academic institutions serving Northern California. Urban transportation options are extremely accessible including the Oakland International Airport, the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system, and the San Francisco Bay ferry system.
Overview of the Position
The Chief Probation Officer (CPO) is an at-will Department Head appointed by the Board of Supervisors who reports through and receives overall policy guidance from the County Administrator. As the Department Head, the Chief Probation Officer oversees a Department with more than 650 employees and an annual operating budget of $124 million. The CPO oversees the Department, currently structured into the following Divisions: Adult Field Services; Juvenile Field Services; Juvenile Facilities; and Administration.
Opportunities and Challenges
The most compelling challenge and opportunity for the new Chief Probation Officer is to lead various organizational changes that focus on all demographics in the system and:
• Build stronger partnerships and strengthen ties with the community and community-based organizations to harness tremendous resources and achieve common goals.
• Utilize money that is not being leveraged. Be astute about available funding streams and secure funding to implement programs that make real and substantial changes.
• Gather and analyze data to know what programs achieve positive outcomes and which do not. Be transparent and make data available.
• Build trust and motivate staff in a way that builds an effective and cohesive team. Reward and recognize employees dedicated to positive reform. Be open to criticism and recommendations.
• Implement alternative programs to incarceration. Achieve improved results with positive behavior change and techniques; increase support for clients and families from staff and community partners.
The Ideal Candidate
Overall, the County is seeking an experienced and innovative leader with a reputation of strategic thinking, sound management, community building, and collaboration. The new leader must have a proven track record of demonstrated leadership, superior performance, and strong regional and interagency relationships that reflect an understanding of the County’s culture and community. Specifically, the County is seeking a Chief Probation Officer who creates a model for the nation and:
• Is a visionary leader and strategic thinker who articulates a clear vision to staff and the community and seeks opportunities to make improvements. Maintains effectiveness and openness in all situations.
• Promotes individual and organizational integrity, honesty, and ethics with high standards and values in the conduct of all activities.
• Builds a strong network of partnerships with the community, community based organizations, educational partner, and other external stakeholders that foster growth, trust and common goals. Finds ways to collaborate with the community and cooperatively gain buy-in.
• Demonstrates excellent interpersonal and communication skills and creates positive, respectful, and productive relationships with the Board of Supervisors, Department Head colleagues and all others. Demonstrates open, honest and professional communication.
• Seizes opportunities, generates creative solutions, and originates action. Fosters an environment of experimentation, creative problem solving, and prompt action to address current problems and future challenges. Gains support from stakeholders for new ideas.
• Has a track record of successful positive justice reform, with a focus on the reduction of ethnic disparities and successful implementation of evidence-based practices, rehabilitation programs and Restorative Justice. Uses data to make informed programming decisions.
• Is an open, transparent, flexible, adaptable, responsive, and inclusive manager who places a critical importance on a team oriented environment.
• Demonstrates strong financial and budget management acumen, maximizes resources, seeks non-traditional funding and uses fiscal data to make informed decisions. Works collaboratively to ensure that the contracting process is managed effectively.
• Seeks and provides opportunities for staff to increase their skills and prepares them for advancement. Recognizes, values and leverages diversity. Creates a climate of inclusion.
• Is politically astute in understanding organizational realities and their impact on proposed ideas and actions. Takes political considerations into account while maintaining program integrity.
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