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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

The Mission: To lead a team of dedicated professionals in providing a safe, secure, and habilitative environment where youth can transform their lives.

The Ideal Leader: We are looking for a visionary "change agent" who embodies commitment to excellence and high professional standards. The ideal candidate is a solution-driven leader with the interpersonal skills to build deep connection with staff and youth, the adaptability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, and the judgment to lead through complex challenges.

Core Responsibilities:

1. Driving the Habilitative Mission

As the primary leader of IRJCF, you will oversee all security and programming operations. You will ensure that facility protocols—including Managing Youth Resistance (MYR) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) models—are implemented effectively to balance facility safety with a focus on youth growth and correction.

2. Building a Supportive Culture

You will prioritize being a visible and accessible leader. By "walking the facility" daily and maintaining open lines of communication with staff at all levels, you will build the trust and connection necessary to address concerns, mentor future leaders, and ensure every employee feels heard and valued.

3. Strategic Resource Management

You will serve as the vital link between the facility and the DYS Central Office. Through active collaboration with the Director and Deputy Directors, you will manage the facility budget and procurement processes, ensuring that resources are strategically allocated to support both operational security and the agency’s long-term goals.

4. Operational Excellence and Safety

Indian River is an ACA-accredited facility committed to industry best practices. You will lead the quality improvement processes, analyzing data and security trends to stay ahead of potential disturbances. You will ensure the facility remains in total compliance with state regulations, maintaining a safe environment for the public, staff, and youth.

5. Empowering the Workforce

You will lead the facility's human resources efforts, ensuring a work environment defined by mutual respect and professional integrity. You will promote equal employment opportunities and ensure a workplace free from intimidation, fostering a culture where every staff member is committed to the mission and supported in their professional journey.

Why Lead at Indian River?

Indian River is a cornerstone of the Ohio Department of Youth Services. This role offers the opportunity to lead a team that has already demonstrated a commitment to excellence through recent ACA re-accreditation. As Superintendent, you will have the platform to innovate, lead, and directly impact the future of juvenile justice in Ohio

Preferred Qualifications

• Strategic Leadership: A proven trackable record of leading teams through organizational change with professionalism and creativity.

• Exceptional Communication: The ability to foster collaboration among internal teams and external stakeholders.

• Solution-Focused: A resilient problem-solver who remains calm under pressure and drives positive outcomes for youth and staff.

• Mission-Driven: A deep dedication to public safety and the habilitative success of the young men in our care.

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.

Completion of undergraduate core program in business or public administration or social science (e.g., social work, psychology, criminology); and 5 yrs. exp. in supervisory or management position (e.g., security, training & education, business) in juvenile correctional facility or adult correctional facility or juvenile/adult parole program or court/legal system; and 18 mos. trg. or 18 mos. exp. in budgeting; and 1 yr. trg. or 1 yr. exp. in labor relations.

Or completion of graduate core program in business or public administration or social science (e.g., social work, psychology, criminology); and 4 yrs. exp. in supervisory or management position (e.g., security, training & education, business) in juvenile correctional facility or adult correctional facility or juvenile/adult parole program or court/legal system; and 18 mos. trg. or 18 mos. exp. in budgeting; and 1 yr. trg. or 1 yr. exp. in labor relations.

Or equivalent of Minimum Class Qualifications For Employment noted above.

Job Skills: Executive Leadership

BACKGROUND CHECK NOTICE:
The final candidate selected for this position will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check that includes results from BCI and FBI, Ohio Department of Public Safety and Ohio Department of Taxation. 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 new candidates hired to the Department of Youth Services are required to attend 3 weeks of mandatory, paid training at the Correctional Training Academy in Orient, Ohio. Training Academy hours are Monday through Thursday, 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Travel, meals, and lodging are provided.

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.