Job Specification Details

Administrative, supervisory, and coordinating work at a professional level for the Department of Corrections involving the promotion and management of restorative justice and community development practices as applied to a broad range of correctional services, with an emphasis on offender reentry. Duties include oversight of program and volunteer functions within correctional facilities, field offices, and municipal partnerships. Management of grants to communities and supervision of related grant-funded personnel, and Volunteer Coordinators, as appropriate. Liaison with other components of the criminal justice system including human services agencies and AHS Field Directors. Duties are performed under the general direction and direct supervision of the Corrections Community and Restorative Justice Executive. 

All employees of the Agency of Human Services perform their respective functions adhering to four key practices: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Integrates restorative case planning processes into current Corrections practices. Oversees working agreements between the Department of Corrections and community partners that promote the development and provision of local conflict and dispute resolution services, offender deflection services (i.e. pre-charge boards), offender accountability processes (i.e. reparative boards), and offender reentry services (i.e. Circles of Support and Accountability), all based upon restorative justice principles. Prepares and manages statewide community restorative justice budget including allocation process. Negotiates, prepares and manages (monitors compliance, assesses performance, assures quality) community restorative justice grants and contracts with community partners. Provides information and coordinates services with pertinent stakeholders, including community justice centers, municipal executives and select boards, law enforcement agencies, human service agencies, and other criminal justice authorities to promote understanding, cooperation and collaboration, and to ensure effective delivery of services. Plans information technology systems to support the reporting of community justice performance metrics. Assists local offices with release sensitive offender reentry cases such as high-risk sex offenders, including direct participation in community notification meetings and with identifying appropriate cases for consideration of receiving individualized reentry enhancement services such as Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA). Promotes public awareness of the Department's community restorative justice initiatives and overall policies and practices; represents and assists the Commissioner with matters pertaining to public relations and media inquiries. In conjunction with stakeholder agencies and/or alone, arranges and provides technical assistance, training and facilitation in content-specific areas such as CJC strategic planning, conflict transformation and Circles of Support and Accountability for staff, community partners and volunteers. Develops community restorative justice goals and strategies.  Access training needs of volunteer management and restorative justice community partners to develop and implement restorative justice and volunteer training.  Manages the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for restorative justice grants.  Acts as appointing authority to approve hiring, suspension, and termination of grant-funded staff. Evaluation of community-based grants and partnerships. Directs activities of the Quality Management Unit, as appropriate. Oversee quality assurance of correctional volunteer management.  Performs related duties as required.

This position operates within the construct of central office management. There is significant travel and need for meetings, both public and departmental, for which private means of transportation must be available. Duties will entail significant amounts of evening and weekend activity, and ability to respond to emergencies on a stand-by basis. Pressure from deadlines, program revisions, and labor relations issues may occur. Direct contact with offenders is limited, but situations may arise creating a potential for physical assault and injury.

Expert knowledge of principles involved in planning, development and operation of restorative justice practices and programs.

Expert knowledge of local and state agency involvement in restorative justice, offender reentry and community development.

Expert knowledge of grant administration.

Expert knowledge of organization and operational procedures found in correctional field operations and facilities.

Considerable knowledge of administrative practices and procedures including supervisory techniques and budgetary matters.

Considerable knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations relating to detention, sentencing, custody, probation, parole, and community release.

Knowledge of functions and methods of related agencies such as the courts, Human Services, and other law enforcement agencies.

Ability to formulate policies, plans, and procedures applicable to the general operation of a correctional facility or field program.

Ability to prepare a plan of fiscal, personnel, and other resources needed in the operation of a correctional system in a geographic area.

Ability to determine program resources, including volunteer services, for rehabilitation of offenders within correctional facilities and community settings.

Ability to take prompt, decisive, and correct action in emergency situations.

Ability to prepare a variety of written and oral reports.

Ability to identify, collect, and compile data sets to create reports.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Ability to effectively manage a number of concurrent work assignments.

Ability to acquire, interpret, and apply information that affects offender reintegration policy, as well as pre- and post-adjudication policies.

Ability to coordinate a variety of agencies and groups to achieve collaborative relationships.

Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

Ability to perform job duties within the framework of the four key practices of the Agency of Human Services: customer service, holistic service, strengths-based relationships and results orientation.

Education/Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent AND six (6) years or more of administering or managing a correctional and/or humans services program including two years of supervisory, program planning and evaluation in restorative and community justice, offender re-entry or community-based grant management responsibilities.

Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or Human Services

Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. In accordance with AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, Vermont and/or national criminal record checks, as well as DMV and adult and child abuse registry checks, as appropriate to the position under recruitment, will be conducted on candidates, with the exception of those who are current classified state employees seeking transfer, promotion or demotion into an AHS classified position or are persons exercising re-employment (RIF) rights.