Probation Officer

POSTING TYPE: Open Competitive
DEPARTMENT: Community Corrections
HOURS: Full-Time
LOCATION: This position follows a hybrid schedule, with three days spent in the office or in the field and two days available for telework. The geographic area of responsibility includes all of Dakota County. The Probation Officer will be assigned to the Western Service Center as their home office; however, due to the field-based nature of the role, they will not have a dedicated office or cubicle and will instead use shared workspace as available.
ASSIGNMENT: This position is assigned to supervise youth exhibiting sexualized behaviors and those adjudicated on sex-related offenses. The Probation Officer will work closely with specialized treatment providers to develop and monitor individualized case plans that address core areas such as disclosure work, empathy development, healthy sexuality and sex education, identification of triggers, and relapse-prevention strategies. The ideal candidate will bring strong clinical collaboration skills, sound judgment, and the ability to engage youth and families in sensitive and highly structured interventions.
PREFERRED HIRING RANGE: $73,515- $82,705 /year (2026 Rates) (grade 108)
FULL SALARY RANGE: $73,515- $114,868 /year (2026 Rates)
UNION: AFSCME 450
CLOSE DATE: 4:30p.m. on 12/22/2025

Community Corrections' Mission Statement: Supporting positive change in individual lives to promote healthy, safe and thriving Communities.

Probation officers establish professional relationships with adult and juvenile clients involved in the criminal justice system. The primary responsibility of a probation officer is to actively and directly facilitate client change. This requires a holistic view of human behavior. Dakota County seeks probation officers who see themselves as change agents for their clients, engaging clients, assessing their barriers to success, supporting access to needed services, motivating clients to seek change, and extending interventions that lead clients to greater success. In addition to helping clients get on a better path, probation officers are responsible to monitor and document conditions of probation through court reports and recommendations and facilitate cognitive behavioral and other service groups.

Community Corrections is part of the Community Services Division. Community Services includes Social Services, Public Health, Veteran Services, and Employment and Economic Assistance. The division is focusing on Integrated Service Delivery and meeting the needs of all of our clients no matter which department(s) are providing services. We work with our clients to support their needs for housing, employment, transportation, health care, education, financial assistance and empowerment.

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, Corrections, Social Work, Criminal Justice, Human Services, Sociology, Education or related field.
• AND
• Tw years' work experience with clients from a diverse background in the fields of corrections, social work, social services, education, chemical dependency, mental health, residential treatment, or related field.

Required license:

• Valid driver's license

*Pursuant to Dakota County Policy, this position is designated as Safety Sensitive. "Safety-sensitive position" means a position, including any supervisory or management position, in which impairment caused by drug, alcohol, or cannabis use would threaten the health and safety of any person as defined in Minnesota Statutes Section 181.950, subdivision 13.

These examples do not include all possible tasks in this work and do not limit the assignment of related tasks in any position of this classification. Regular attendance according to the position's management approved work schedule is required for all positions.

1. Collect information about clients through interviews, observations, specialized risk/need assessments, and collateral contacts.
2. Complete client intakes, referrals and written social histories, Pre-Disposition or Disposition Investigations, and timely review reports to court partners with strong rationale for recommendations, attend court hearings, and providing testimony as needed.
3. Help clients to express their thoughts and feelings, helping them to develop insight into themselves and their behaviors.
4. Engage with the client's natural support systems such as family, friends, and employers to support the change process.
5. Following assessment of barriers, risks/needs, engage clients in skill building through role playing, modeling, and other cognitive and behavioral interventions.
6. Demonstrate skill and commitment to working cross-culturally, respectful of lived experiences in all communications and focused on expanding one's own awareness and understanding.
7. Rely on research-supported practices, utilizing motivational interviewing to increase intrinsic motivation to change, and promote skill building by utilizing Evidence Based Practices (EBP).
8. Plan intentional, targeted visits with clients to work on case plan goals, skill development, and risk reduction.
9. Provide active case management, referring clients to appropriate treatment services and supportive services, maintaining collaboration with providers throughout the clients' probation.
10. Intervene in crisis situations to assist clients.
11. Supervise court ordered conditions.

• Ability to explore individual's cultural perspectives to learn the impact of culture on behaviors, attitudes, reactions, communication cues, resiliency, and values of clients
• Skill in communicating across difference based on a strong awareness of one's own personal values, stereotypes, and biases
• Ability to respond in a genuine and empathetic manner to clients, utilizing techniques such as active listening and reflection
• Ability to convey information effectively and appropriately in writing and discussion
• Ability to consider creative approaches to achieving case goals, looking beyond pro forma remedies
• Ability to work in multisystem collaborations, including within the criminal justice system, across the Community Services division, and with treatment and service providers
• Knowledge of Integrated Service Delivery, Social Determinants of Health, or similar perspectives focusing on the importance of attending to self-sufficiency needs to support success
• Knowledge of EBP in community corrections including risk assessment, motivational interviewing, professional alliance, and cognitive interventions
• Knowledge of laws and court procedures in adult and juvenile court in Minnesota
• Ability to manage conflict and deescalate crisis situations
• Ability to adapt to and support organizational change

• Excellent work-life balance.
• Generous paid time off (accrual rate starts at four weeks per year).
• Eleven paid holidays each year and one floating holiday.
• Pension with a generous employer contribution.
• Ability to work from home some of the time.

• You submit an online application that includes supplemental questions
• We assign you a score based on your qualifications
• Top scoring candidates are referred to the hiring manager for interview consideration
• We conduct interviews and reference checks before extending an offer
• We extend an offer and conduct background checks