JOIN OUR TEAM! NEXT PRE-SERVICE CLASS FOR NEW HIRES BEGINS ON 2/23/2026!

About Us…

Our mission at the Ohio Department of Youth Services (DYS) is to improve Ohio's future by habilitating youth and empowering families and communities. We believe that all youth will be given an opportunity to live up to their greatest potential and staff are our greatest resource.

DYS is the juvenile corrections system for the state of Ohio. DYS is statutorily mandated to confine felony offenders, ages 10-21, who have been adjudicated and committed by one of Ohio's 88 county juvenile courts. During their stay with DYS, youth are engaged in programming that is designed to address their criminological and behavioral needs. DYS reaches thousands of youth in facilities and those on parole.

Our Guiding Principles…

• Demonstrate staff are our greatest resource
• Treat everyone with respect
• Cultivate a trauma responsive environment for staff and youth to thrive
• Provide the best support and services for youth and families
• Advance our culture of inclusion through understanding and appreciating staff and youth differences
• Commit to and encourage collaboration and continuous improvement to produce better outcomes for those we serve
• Celebrate collective successes and support one another through opportunities to improve

To learn more about DYS, please visit our website by clicking here

DYS is seeking a Unit Manager (Youth Services Unit Administrator) to serve as part of our unit management team at Cuyahoga Hills Juvenile Correctional Facility. The ideal candidate will be a leader with excellent communication skills and a passion to habilitate youth.

The Unit Manager will be responsible for overseeing individual housing units. Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Ensure safety and security of all youth and staff
• Administer, plan and coordinate services of youth housing units (e.g., unit plans, group living, safety, security and idle time); coordinate services (e.g., Behavioral Health Services, recreation, maintenance)
• Oversee and coordinate unit schedules and ensure schedules are followed; ensure groups and structured activities are scheduled; ensure staff document contact in Juvenile Justice Case Management System (JJCMS) (e.g., groups, Interdisciplinary Team)
• Implement and administer DYS policies and procedures, American Correctional Association (ACA), Ohio Revised Code (ORC), Senate Bill 5 (SB5), and Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) which provide uniform direction and administration of proper custodial care, health, safety, and treatment phases for youth; ensure compliance with Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) standards and guidelines
• Direct unit activities and supervise assigned staff; provide guidance and direction to youth and staff; recognize unethical staff behavior; identify group dynamics; awareness of Security Threat Group (STG) activities/incidents; work with non-compliant youth; de-escalate hostile situations among youth and/or staff when needed; conduct reviews and implement corrective action for unit incidents; conduct administrative investigations as assigned
• Respond to and assume Incident Commander role during Critical Incident Management (CIM) situations; monitor JJCMS incidents as it relates to youth assigned to unit(s)
• Provide quality assurance (QA) for unit plan and programming; ensure compliance with QA indicators at both local and Central Office level; responsible for QA results and ensure corrective action following QA report conducted by supervisor or Central Office
• Monitor Use of Force and Separation including Response to Acts of Violence (AOV) Separation Incidents; provide Safe to Release Assessment; check for youth in AOV separation
• Make recommendations to supervisor regarding housing unit policy and procedures to develop methods and/or new programs to be in compliance with Performance based Standards (PbS), Ohio Standards, and ACA; ensure unit’s compliance with youth behavior management system (i.e., Positive Response Incentive Driven Environment)

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• 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) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

42 mos. trg. or 42 mos. exp. in youth programming services in secured environment &/or treatment facility for counseling & motivating troubled youth &/or behaviorally challenged clientele.

Or completion of undergraduate core program in behavioral science (e.g., psychology, sociology, social work, rehabilitation, criminal justice, juvenile justice); and 18 mos. exp. in secured environment &/or treatment facility related to youth programming services &/or behaviorally challenged clientele.

-Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Corrections

BACKGROUND CHECK NOTICE:
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a criminal background check and pre-employment drug screening. Criminal convictions do not necessarily preclude an applicant from consideration for a position. An individual assessment of an applicant's prior criminal convictions will be made before excluding an applicant from consideration.

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING:

All final candidates are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. This training is fully paid for and will cover lodging, transportation (if needed) and meals. Training takes place for 3 weeks, Monday through Thursday, 7AM to 5PM with Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays off.

DYS is a “qualifying employer” for 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.