Platte Valley Youth Center Director
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Platte Valley Youth Center Director
Salary
$105,720.00 - $132,000.00 Annually
Location
Greeley, CO
Job Type
Full Time
Job Number
IKA 01916 08/01/2025
Department
Colorado Department of Human Services
Division
OCYF - Platte Valley Youth Services Center
Opening Date
08/26/2025
Closing Date
9/16/2025 11:59 PM Mountain
FLSA
Determined by Position
Type of Announcement
This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
Primary Physical Work Address
2200 O St, Greeley, CO 80631, USA
FLSA Status
Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
Amber.Holcomb@state.co.us
How To Apply
Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Description
Benefits
Questions
Department Information
This position is open to current Colorado residents only.
Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.
Most State of Colorado employees are eligible for a great benefit package! Please see the Supplemental Information section below for details! (https://dhr.colorado.gov/state-employees/state-of-colorado-employee-benefits)
Description of Job
About this Unit:
The mission of the Division of Youth Services (DYS) is to protect, restore, and improve public safety through a continuum of services that effectively provides supervision of juvenile offenders; promotes accountability to victims and communities; and helps youth lead constructive lives through positive youth development. To achieve its mission, the DYS adheres to Key Strategies, Commitments, and the Colorado Model.
The Key Strategies ensure youth:
Are provided the right services at the right time;
Delivered by quality staff;
Using proven practices;
In safe environments; and
Embracing Restorative Community Justice Principles.
The Commitments support DYS' mission by providing an environment for youth, families and staff that supports:
Non-Violence;
Emotional Intelligence;
Open Communication;
Social Responsibility;
Democracy;
Social Learning; and
Growth and Change.
In addition, the Colorado DYS has created the Colorado Model which embraces the 8 Evidence-Based Principles and specific practice elements.
8 Evidence-Based Principles:
Assess Actuarial Risk and Needs;
Enhance Intrinsic Motivation;
Target Interventions;
Use of Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment Models;
Increase Positive Reinforcement;
Engage Ongoing Support in Natural Communities;
Measure Relevant Processes and Practices, and
Provide Measurement Feedback.
Practice Elements:
Community Collaborations;
Safe and Trauma Responsive Environments;
Focus on Staff and Youth Resiliency;
Relationship and Strengths-Based Orientation;
Ecological Focus;
Integrated Service Delivery; and
Data-Driven Decision-Making.
By grounding our programs in the Key Strategies, Commitments, 8 Evidence Based Principles, and the Practice Elements specific to the Colorado Model, DYS programs supervise, assess, treat, and successfully transition youth back into the community.
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) provides a continuum of residential and non-residential services that encompass juvenile detention, commitment, and parole. DYS is the agency statutorily mandated to provide for the care and supervision of youth committed by the District Court to the custody of the Colorado Department of Human Services. The Division operates ten secure facilities that serve youth between the ages of 10 and 21, who are pre-adjudicated, sentenced, or committed. The Division also contracts with numerous private residential and non-residential service providers throughout the State. For pre-adjudicated youth, the Division is also responsible for the management and oversight of Senate Bill 91-94; a State-funded, locally administered program that provides services to youth at risk of further progressing into the juvenile justice system. In addition to residential programming, the Division administers juvenile parole services throughout the State.
About this Position:
We are seeking a visionary and dedicated Director to lead Platte Valley Youth Services Center, a state-operated juvenile justice youth center, committed to transforming the lives of justice-involved youth. This is a unique opportunity to lead an innovative, multidisciplinary team in a youth center that values emotional and physical safety, staff development, and the holistic care of youth.
The Director will oversee daily operations and strategic direction, ensuring services are trauma-responsive and rooted in evidence-based practices. The center integrates education, behavioral health treatment, and rehabilitative programming, with a strong emphasis on relationship building, accountability, and personal growth.
The Director will lead and mentor a diverse team of professionals across disciplines, maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for youth and staff while ensuring the delivery of high-quality educational and treatment services. This position is key in fostering partnerships that support community reintegration and long-term success for youth.
We are looking for a leader with integrity, vision, and a passion for making a difference in the lives of young people. Apply today to join the Colorado Division of Youth Services as the Director of Platte Valley Youth Services Center.
Summary of Job Duties:
This position is the highest-level Appointing Authority responsible for the administration and management of all services/programs, finance and personnel for an individual secure residential youth center and is responsible for ensuring compliance with statute, regulations, Children's Code, and CDHS and Division policy. The Youth Center Director must oversee, develop, implement, and monitor goals and other measurement systems as necessary or required. This position implements and ensures continued advancement of the Divisions' Strategic Plan, DYS Behavioral Management Program and the DYS Treatment Model. The position reports necessary and required information regarding the status and/or progress of the youth services center. Ensures the implementation of DYS initiatives and that programming adheres to the principles of evidence-based practice within a trauma responsive environment. The position provides direct supervision of other leadership positions within the youth center including the Assistant Director position(s), and Program Assistant series staff, School Principal(s), a Clinical Director and contracted behavioral health services. This position identifies, manages, and participates directly in leadership and management efforts aimed at improving youth center operations. Participation in and leading Division wide planning efforts is required. Required is the participation in the DYS Youth Center Director's Group (YCDG) and DYS Senior Leadership Group teams. The Youth Center Director is the 2nd level supervision to all remaining employees at the youth center and serves as liaison to the Division of Facilities Management.
Supervision: Supervision of direct reports, Assistant Director(s) and administrative staff as well as all other agencies staff indirectly. Set performance standards, conduct performance planning and appraisal of staff, ensure staff professional development needs are met. Initiate and conclude necessary corrective or disciplinary actions. Assure direct and indirect supervisory employees are performing supervision functions with their subordinates consistent with State, Department, Division, and youth center expectations. Provide formal and regular interval evaluations of direct report staff and ensure that all other subordinate staff are subject to the same. Apply criteria to approve, evaluate and determine appropriate use of personnel resources pursuant to the Colorado Code of Regulations, Department and Division Policy. The position must also work with the CDHS Civil Rights Office, the Child Protection Ombudsman, and the DYS View it, Voice it program related to employee investigations or complaints.
Programming: Provides programmatic planning, coordinating, monitoring, evaluation, and oversight to all youth center functions. Responsible for Quality Control and continuous quality improvement for the entire youth center. Provides internal oversight and respond to external auditing and review of youth center programs and processes. Ensures gender specific programming in a trauma informed environment. Ensures programming for youth adheres to evidence-based practice and trauma responsive environments. Ensures that programs meet salient needs of youth including varied recreation, religious interests, and other developmental needs. Ensures programming provides for safe and secure environments for all youth. Provides for sound educational programming that is age appropriate and consistent with the Colorado Department of Education requirements. Provides for medical evaluation, support, or treatment to youth in custody appropriate with their legal status and needs. Provides for adequate and continuing opportunities for youth visitation and family engagement. Provides for clinical treatment services for youth who are committed to DYS custody. Monitors and oversees all security and treatment functions, including those related to post-assessment youth, regression committed youth and detained youth. Maintain effective working relationships and communication with Judicial District representatives, School District Officials, Contract Providers, Law Enforcement, DYS Client Managers, and Regional Program Managers as needed to facilitate effective bed management in the youth center and transition to the community.
Safety and Security: Ensures youth center personnel are providing a physically and emotionally safe environment for youth and staff. . Inspects building and living units to recommend modifications to the physical environment to support safety and security. Improve youth center operations by planning for additional or new/improved equipment, technology and/or processes which assist with safe and secure custody. Provides for oversight and quality control of processes such as youth movement or staffing schedules or distributions in the shift. Oversees unit and room assignments and group composition to assist with safe and secure operations. Oversees and monitors compliance of the Federally Mandated Prison Rape Elimination Act. Oversees and monitors new staff training to ensure acquisition of DYS Safe Practices.
Provides structured programming. Provides for and oversees regulated movement and staff spatial positioning. Provides staff continual training to develop and practice necessary verbal and physical skills. Ensures verbal de-escalation practices are consistently applied. Provides staff with trauma responsive training to increase understanding of youth responses or developmental concerns so that their work to intervene may be made more effective. Apply initiatives that are research based and assist in youth behavior management (e.g. MI, Sanctuary Institute, VDI...). Provide for and debrief all incidents for identification of improved/new learning and/or support of good practice.
Personnel: Responsible for comprehensive understanding and use of the state personnel system. Required to assist recruiting efforts, test or evaluate potential candidates, screen and interview, select appropriate staff to advance agency interests, train to specifications of agency, monitor progress, correct performance and correctly apply personnel rule for employees. Position must work collegially in partnership with HR, Timekeeping, Benefits, and the Attorney General's Office. Position must recognize and consult with employees correctly on all elements found in the State Personnel Board Rules. Position must work to ensure that staff are evaluated according to prevailing performance management instruments and standards. Position must ensure compliance of DYS policies. Position must model, coach, train, teach, mentor, and guide staff directly and ensure such happens for indirect reports with the intent of advancing agency interests and assist with personal job performance improvement. Position ensures a work environment that supports a trauma responsive environment for staff including comprehensive implementation of Safety Plans, Self-Care Plans, and the Reflective Supervision Model.
Finances: Develops annual youth center budget based upon assessment of youth center needs and consistent with State, Department, and Division guidelines. Approves and monitors expenditures to assure spending is consistent with budget. Create partnerships as needed to forward agency interests (e.g. DFM, SB-94). Track and administer any recognition or reward monies permissible from personal services funds. Ensure that expenditures are consistent with initial allocation to either personnel or programmatic operating funds. Acts as a signing authority for the agency for P Card and checkbooks as necessary or required. Ensures planning and expenditure of any PREA fund allocation to reduce chances of sexually motivated incidents.
Representation: Responsible to represent the agency accurately and professionally in external groups or processes. Responsible for communicating agency interests, needs, outcomes and planning positively and routinely to stakeholders. Ensures the proper application of statute or regulation regarding the release of information to external parties. Position represents the agency in legal @contexts. Position is knowledgeable of and monitors, participates and supports external agencies and processes that positively affect DYS or agency interests such as JSPC groups/SB94 screening teams or local mental health centers as examples. Position serves on specific agency boards as requested or required. Participation in department, division, regional and community planning efforts that affect agency or scope of services overseen is required. Provide escorted educational tours through the building to ensure reasonable public access and understanding or our mission and practices. Facilitate media relations consistent with Department policy. Serve as the leader and facilitator of the youth center management group. Prepare agenda items, analyze discussions for program and personnel impact and seek to advance the goals of the agency in the spirit of cooperation. Participate in broader Division work teams and assist in resolving Division issues as they arise. Attend Youth Center Director's meetings, DYS Senior Leadership Group, and other committee meetings as assigned or elected.
Data and Measurement Systems:Designs, implements, and monitors internal measurement systems to elicit programmatic improvements in safety, security, or general programming. Identifies and corrects deficiencies through a direct or delegated response. Applies process improvement strategies and capture improvements in procedure to legitimize and standardize implemented change. Responds to prevailing data concerns or requests as needed. Employs data to make sound decisions. Develops, implements, tracks, and promulgates goals and measurement systems to all staff and outside stakeholders as necessary. Involves staff in the creation of goals or indicators for the agency.
Other duties as assigned
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Important Note: Please review your application to ensure completion. For the most equitable applicant experience, CDHS' hiring teams consider only the contents of your application to determine meeting minimum qualifications and for the comparative analysis process. Experience is calculated on a full-time equivalency basis, therefore, it is important to accurately notate the hours you averaged per experience section entry. Volunteer work or related @type of experience may be used to meet the qualifications, but must be clearly documented. It is paramount that in the experience portion of the application, the applicant describes the extent to which they possess the education, experience, competencies and background as they relate to the duties outlined in the job announcement.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Special Qualifications:
Option 1 - Experience:
Ten (10) years of relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned to this position. Experience must include working in human services, preferably working within behavioral health and/or corrections working with youth 21 years of age or younger.
Please note: This experience must be clearly documented on your application and the supplemental questions must be answered.
OR
Option 2 - Experience & Education:
A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in an occupation related to the work assigned equal to ten (10) years. Experience must include working in human services, preferably working within behavioral health and/or corrections working with youth 21 years of age or younger.
Preferred Qualifications:
Direct supervision of Director-level positions, providing leadership, performance oversight, and strategic direction.
Licensed clinician (LCSW, LPC, LMFT, or equivalent) with administrative experience, particularly in behavioral health or juvenile justice settings or Master of Public Administration (MPA) or equivalent advanced degree in public administration, criminal justice, social work, or a related field.
Experience with contractor oversight and agency liaison responsibilities.
Secure juvenile custodial expertise which may include knowledge of detention or pretrial programming and/or knowledge of clinical and/or treatment considerations with youth sentenced to long terms, understanding of the Colorado Children's Code or other laws pertaining to juveniles, criminal procedures, and/or SB94 mandates/functions and other prevailing statutory requirements.
Operation of secure custody settings understanding broad spectrum adolescent development and how this is reflected in daily institutional needs and patterns.
Expertise may include extensive knowledge of best practices for girls programming in a secure setting.
Expertise in maintaining oversight of contractors and acting as liaison for contractors.
Administrative experience in juvenile justice setting
Education in related field (Criminal Justice, Social Work, Psychology, Mental Health Counseling, Human Services Admin)
Experience with budgeting, policy implementation, implementation of agency goals.
Experience supervising multiple youth populations (gender specific, detained, committed)
Experience and knowledge of statutes and the Colorado Youth Detention Curriculum
Experience with Cognitive Behavioral Programming, Dialectical Behavioral Programming, adolescent development, family engagement, evidence based practice, trauma responsive environments and behavior management systems.
Highly Desirable Experience:
Five (5) years of supervisory and administrative experience in a juvenile justice and/or a secure residential/adolescent program for youth under the age of 21. The administrative experience must have included such duties as the planning, development, and implementation of budgets, policies, and agency objectives necessary to achieve goals of a juvenile justice organizational unit or program. This experience must be specifically documented on your job application.
Supervision of a complex environment servicing multiple youth populations, including multi-site operations and cross-functional teams.
Juvenile Residential expertise including understanding of the juvenile laws, criminal procedures, Colorado Youth Detention Continuum mandates/functions and SB 286 rules and implementation strategy,
Programming experience with pre-adjudicated and adjudicated youth including understanding of adolescent development, cognitive and dialectical behavioral approaches, trauma responsive environments, evidence-based treatment, family engagement and the creation of an effective behavior management program and treatment modalities. Gender specific expertise including extensive knowledge of best practices for specialized populations in a secure setting,
Expertise in maintaining oversight of contractors and acting as liaison for contractors.
Essential Competencies:
Administration and Management, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Public Safety and Security, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Critical Thinking, Management of Personnel Resources (to include Supervision), Time Management, Oral Communication, Written Communication, Inductive Reasoning, Deductive Reasoning, Interpersonal Skills, Leadership, Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others.
Lived Experience:
The Division of Youth Services (DYS) is committed to hiring individuals who are professional and passionate about their desire to help youth. DYS values candidates who have demonstrated perseverance as a special attribute that can help the youth in our care. DYS encourages qualified candidates with "lived experience" to apply. Lived experience comes from the personal knowledge and understanding that many possess by virtue of first-hand experience with mental health, substance abuse, systems involvement and traumatic events. Lived experience brings unique knowledge, insights and perspectives that are invaluable for organizational growth, increased sensitivity to the youth and families we serve, and new ideas and inspiration for improving service delivery.
Conditions of Employment:
Must be 21 years of age or older
Unrestricted US Driver's License
Must be able to work Shift Work
Transportation of youth in state vehicles, travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites.
Continued employment is contingent upon successful completion of the DYS Pre-service Training Academy, Field Training Program (FTO) and mandatory annual training in all subject areas.
The Diana Screen®, a sexual risk screening tool, is administered to all applicants to the Division of Youth Services (DYS) seeking positions of trust with children and teens to help ensure that ethical boundaries between children and adults are maintained. At the DYS, the safety and protection of the youth who have been entrusted to us is our #1 priority. The results of the Diana Screen will be provided to the Division of Youth Services and may be used as part of the Division's decision on whether candidates are selected.
Full Background CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services),Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults - Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers)
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application and provide an explanation why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify the applicant from the current position. Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.
APPEAL RIGHTS:
If you receive notice that you have been eliminated from consideration for this position, you may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director.
An appeal or review must be submitted on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative. This form must be delivered to the State Personnel Board by email (dpa_state.personnelboard@state.co.us), postmarked in US Mail or hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department's action.
For more information about the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it to the State Personnel Board; go to spb.colorado.gov; contact the State Personnel Board for assistance at (303) 866-3300; or refer to 4 Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, at spb.colorado.gov under Rules.
A standard appeal form is available at:www.colorado.gov/spb. If you appeal, your appeal must be submitted in writing on the official appeal form, signed by you or your representative, and received at the following address within 10 days of your receipt of notice or knowledge of the action: Colorado State Personnel Board/State Personnel Director, Attn: Appeals Processing, 1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver, CO 80203. Fax: 303-866-5038. Phone: 303-866-3300. The ten-day deadline and these appeal procedures also apply to all charges of discrimination.
Supplemental Information
How to Apply (https://cdhs.colorado.gov/information-for-job-applicants#how-to-apply)
The Assessment Process
For additional recruiting questions, please contactamber.holcomb@state.co.us
About Us:
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, consider joining the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (https://www.colorado.gov/cdhs) (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:
Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan www.copera.org plus 401(k) and 457 plans
Medical and dental health plans
Employer supplemented Health Savings Account
Paid life insurance
Short- and long-term disability coverage
11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave
BenefitHub state employee discount program
Employee Wellness program MotivateMe
Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more
Remote work arrangements for eligible positions
*Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. For more
information, go to https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/student-loan-forgiveness-programs .
Our Values:
We believe in a people-first approach: To serve the people of Colorado, we develop a culture and work environment that creates an energized, inspired, and healthy team capable of giving their best to Coloradans.
Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.
We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.
Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.
We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.
Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.
We are committed to increasing the diversity of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of diverse backgrounds and abilities.
ADAA Accommodations: CDHS is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Nancy Schmelzer, at cdhs_ada@state.co.us or call 1-800-929-0791.
~THE STATE OF COLORADO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~
The State of Colorado offers permanent employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, life and disability insurance, as well as a comprehensive leave program. Please click the following link for detailed information: www.colorado.gov/pacific/dhr/benefits
Please note that each agency's contact information is different; therefore, we encourage all applicants to view the full, official job announcement which includes contact information and class title. Select the job you wish to view, then click on the "Print" icon.
01
Your legal name is used in the hiring process for background checks. Did you use your full legal name in your application?
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02
The bottom of this job announcement provides links to additional information on how to apply, the assessment process, toll free applicant technical support, and about how the State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer. Please acknowledge below that you have read the information provided in these links.
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I am unable to access the links with this information on the job posting. (If you select this option, please contact the recruiter, whose information is listed on this announcement, so that they can send this information directly to you.)
03
Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must disclose the information on the application. In the space below, please provide an explanation as to why the prior termination or resignation should NOT disqualify your application from the current position.
04
If you are a current or former State of Colorado employee, please list your employee number (starts with 997...). Failure to provide this requested information may render your application incomplete, and you may no longer be considered for the position.
05
Due to the youth population served, incumbents of this position must be at least 21 years of age. Are you 21 years of age or older?
Yes
No
06
This position may require in-state travel. Are you willing and able to accommodate this condition of employment?
Yes
No
07
This position requires transportation of youth in state vehicles, travel to assigned trainings and/or alternate work sites. Are you willing and able to accommodate this condition of employment?
Yes
No
08
Due to the nature of this position the incumbent will be required to be on-call for critical operations of a 24/7 facility. Are you willing and able to accommodate this condition of employment?
Yes
No
09
Do you possess any professional licensure? (If so please list current licenses held):
10
Describe your professional experience in the juvenile justice system, including supervisory and administrative experience in a residential facility serving adjudicated and/or detained youth.
11
What is your experience with evidence based programming? Please list what evidence based programs you have implemented and the outcomes of those programs.
12
What is your philosophy about improving and correcting the performance of subordinate staff?
13
Describe your experience planning, developing, and implementing budgets, policies, and agency objectives necessary to achieve goals of a juvenile justice organizational unit or program.
14
As a Facility Director you are responsible for carrying out facility-based as well as Division wide systemic change: A) What key elements are critical to the planning, organizing and carrying out of systemic change in a complex organization? B) Give an example from current or recent experiences involving significant systemic change that demonstrates your operational style and ability to lead people and programs. C) Describe the outcome of this experience and include lessons learned and/or what element you might change in the process.
15
Please describe your experience working in trauma responsive settings and describe how this aligns with your professional philosophy of supervision of staff and care of youth.
Required Question
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