DCS LIEUTENANT - 03112025-66041

Work Activities
Job Information

State of Tennessee Job Information


Opening Date/Time:03/11/2025 12:00AM Central TimeClosing Date/Time03/20/2025 11:59PM Central Time
Salary (Monthly):$4,517.00
Salary (Annually):$54,204.00
Job Type:Full-Time
City, State Location:Somerville, TNDepartmentChildren's Services

LOCATION OF (1) POSITION(S) TO BE FILLED: DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES, JOHN S. WILDER YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CENTER DIVISION, FAYETTE COUNTY

This classification of DCS Lieutenant has a starting salary of $4,980 monthly/ $59,760 yearly

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Education equivalent to graduation from a standard high school or high school equivalent (GED/HiSet). Experience must be equivalent to four years of full-time work within youth or adult corrections, military, law enforcement, or security work experience. This experience could include but is not limited to, working with trauma-exposed youths, justice-involved youths, at-risk youths, and youth mentoring programs geared toward reducing recidivism or minimzing exposure to or involvement into the justice system.

Necessary Special Qualifications: Applicants for this class must:

• Be at least twenty-one (21) years of age on the date of application;
• Be a citizen of the United States;
• Have a good moral character, as determined by investigation;
• Complete a criminal history disclosure form in a manner approved by the appointing authority;
• Agree to release all records involving their criminal history to the appointing authority;
• Supply a fingerprint sample in a manner prescribed by the TBI for a fingerprint based criminal history records check;
• Have no conviction for a felony or have been discharged under any other than honorable conditions from any branch of the United States armed forces;
• Pass a physical examination administered by a licensed physician that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position;
• Pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed mental health professional that is consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act and that relates to the essential functions of the position.
  
  

Examination Method: Education and Experience, 100%, for Preferred Service positions.

Overview

Summary: Under direction, is responsible for supervisory children's services work of considerable difficulty; and performs related work as required.

Distinguishing Features: This is the highest class in the DCS Officer sub-series. An employee in this class is assigned to work in an institutional setting providing student and officer supervision as the shift supervisor at a large institution or the supervisor of a 24 hour schedule at a smaller institution. This class differs from DCS Sergeant in that an incumbent of the latter is responsible for acting as an assistant shift supervisor at a large institution or as a supervisor of two shifts at a small institution.

Responsibilities

Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others:

• Acts as the shift supervisor on a daily basis.
• Coordinates staff to ensure institutional schedule is being followed properly in a timely manner without compromising the safety and security of the institution.
  
  

Making Decisions And Solving Problems

• Makes decisions for the facility in the absence of the appointing authority or senior management and takes appropriate actions.
• Anticipates staff shortages and schedules staff to ensure that shortages are kept to a minimum.
• Assigns staff to posts according to institutional needs.
• Knows how and when to utilize the contingency plan in case of emergencies.
• Authorizes the use of confinement for youth.
  
  

Monitor Processes, Materials, Or Surroundings

• Ensures that constant supervision of youth is being maintained.
• Authorizes searches on youth, staff and areas to prevent and detect any contraband.
• Monitors all security posts on a daily basis to ensure compliance with procedures and to address youth needs.
  
  

Identifying Objects, Actions, And Events

• Observes all areas for any unusual activities and/or procedure violations by staff and/or youth.
• Observes and identifies security breaches throughout the institution.
  
  

Updating And Using Relevant Knowledge

• Participates in required trainings and makes suggestions for future training needs.
  
  

Resolving Conflicts And Negotiating With Others

• Addresses and resolves youth and/or staff conflicts immediately before situations escalate.
• Addresses and attempts to resolve youth and staff written grievances.
  
  

Performing For Or Working Directly With The Public

• Ensures visitation procedures are being implemented properly by staff.
• Ensures vendors are authorized and that tool checks are being performed.
• Ensures visitors are authorized on facility.
• Consults with outside law enforcement officials regarding institution incidents.
  
  

Developing And Building Teams

• Works together as part of a team and ensures that the team is effectively staying on task.
  
  

Processing Information

• Verifies youth counts recorded by the Central Operations Center.
  
  

Communication With Supervisors, Peers, Or Subordinates

• Communicates institutional needs to staff throughout a shift.
• Advises superiors of events that require immediate attention.
• Informs security manager of procedures, schedules or other institutional functions that may need to be changed.
  
  

Documenting/Recording Information

• Completes and checks facility incident reports, inquiry reports, disciplinary reports, chemical bin cards, maintenance requests and tool inventories.
• Prepares physical restraint reports.
• Documents attendance and leave information.
• Documents significant events in the shift report (e.g. fights, medical emergencies, etc.).
• Documents via email any additional information as required to the appropriate parties.
  
  

Interpreting The Meaning Of Information For Others

• Explains policies and procedures to subordinates.
  
  

Training And Teaching Others

• Trains subordinate staff and co-workers in both an informal and formal setting
• Ensures required training is being accomplished.
  
  

Guiding, Directing, And Motivating Subordinates

• Prepares and facilitates subordinate staffs Job Performance Plans, Monthly Performance, Briefings, Interim Reviews and Annual Performance Evaluations.
  
  

Coaching And Developing Others

• Explains to youth and staff appropriate behavior expectations.
• Addresses and corrects inappropriate youth and staff behaviors.
• Ensures youth and staff comply with behavior expectations.
• Oversees large staff of DCS Officers, DCS Corporals and DCS Sergeants.
• Models appropriate behaviors for subordinates and youth.
  
  

Assisting And Caring For Others

• Ensures youths personal hygiene needs are being met.
• Administers first aid when needed.
• Ensures individual youth are receiving medications in the dormitory from authorized medical staff.
• Uses physical intervention to prevent self-harm to the youth and/or staff.
  
  

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Or Material

• Inspects areas for damaged or non-functioning doors, locks, etc.
  
  

Establishing And Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

• Establishes a rapport to effectively supervise staff to maintain the integrity of the institution.
• Listens to subordinates feedback on various issues.
  
  

Staffing Organizational Units

• May participate in an interview board for the hiring process for the institution.
  
  

Getting Information

• Ensures staff are monitoring and documenting youth behavior for evaluations and treatment teams.
• Receives briefings from the previous shift.
• Checks e-mail and mailbox for current and updated information.
  
  

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, Or Equipment

• Authorizes the transporting of youth off-campus to various appointments (e.g. court, medical appointment, etc.).
• Operates hand-held radios.
• Authorizes the use of mechanical restraints during transporting youth or physical Interventions.
  
  

Performing Administrative Activities

• Attends staff meetings.
• Attends any other related meetings as assigned.
• Conducts roll call to ensure staff comply with policy and brief staff on
• significant events.
• Approves supplies for an assigned area.
• Ensures all documentation is maintained properly or sent to the required areas.
  
  

Ensuring The Quantifiable Characteristics Of Products, Events, Or Information

• Ensures the amount of supplies are adequate for an assigned area.
  
  

Competencies (KSA's)

Competencies

• Innovation Management
• Problem Solving
• Managing Through Systems
• Total Work Systems
• Hiring and Staffing
• Managerial Courage
• Drive for Results
• Perseverance
• Comfort Around Higher Management
• Written Communications
• Boss Relationships
• Personal Learning
  
  

Knowledge

• Knowledge of operating a motor vehicle
  
  

Skills

• The skill to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents
• The skill to understand verbal communication and convey verbal communication effectively and efficiently
• The skill to listen to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times
• The skill to make appropriate decisions on a daily basis
• The skill to make the appropriate judgment decision, at an advanced level, on a daily basis
• The skill to provide leadership, at an advanced level, by example
• The skill to organize work efficiently and effectively
• The skill to use problem solving techniques, at an advanced level, in daily work
• The skill to be aware of others reactions and understanding why they react as they do, at a broader level
  
  

Abilities

• The ability to track all movement on campus at all times (e.g. youth movement, staff movement, visitor/vendor movement, etc.)
• The ability to recognize inappropriate behavior at all times
• The ability to multitask between two or more activities, at an advanced level
• The ability to coordinate shift assignments to subordinate staff
• The ability to be sensitive when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong
• The ability to deal with difficult personalities and situations, at a broader level, on a daily basis
  
  

Tools & Equipment

• Hand held radios
• Mechanical restraints
• Motor Vehicles
• Washers/dryers
  
  

TN Driver Standards

State of Tennessee positions that may involve driving responsibilities require candidates to meet the following minimum driver qualifications:

• A valid driver's license
• For the past five years, the candidate's driver record must not have record of the following violations: driving under the influence (DUI), reckless driving, license suspension for moving violations, more than 4 moving violations.
  
  

Please include your Driver's License Information under the Licenses and Certifications section of your application.

• Agencies may allow an exception based on other factors.