Principal Probation Officer PROMOTIONAL

Modified: April 15, 2021 10:00am

COUNTY OF ERIE - DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL
invites applications for the position of:

Principal Probation Officer PROMOTIONAL

#72-044 - Promotional (for current employees only)

Salary: $60,239 - $78,664 Annually
Opening Date: April 15, 2021
Closing Date: May 19, 2021
Application fee: None

Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.

**********************Application Fee Waiver**********************

Employees of Erie County CSEA collective bargaining unit shall have all fees associated with County provided promotional civil service examinations waived. 

Residence Requirements:

THIS EXAMINATION IS OPEN TO ALL QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES OF THE ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PROBATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill one anticipated vacancy within the Erie County Department of Probation.  The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated or exhausted.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will not supersede currently existing promotional eligible lists for this title, if any. The duration of all promotional eligible lists is four years from date of establishment unless otherwise indicated or exhausted.

Examples of Duties:

Principal Probation Officer supervises Probation Supervisors I and other professional staff responsible for the control, supervision and care of adults and juveniles subject to court-ordered probation investigation, supervision or intake services which require them to meet certain standards of conduct;

Assigns work to Probation Supervisors 1 and supervises the professional probation work in multiple units of a probation department including planning, directing and coordinating the work, reviewing cases submitted by Probation Supervisors 1 for compliance and conferring with Probation Supervisors 1 regarding other aspects of the delivery of probation services;

Instructs professional probation personnel regarding rules, techniques and procedures applicable to cases and projects to ensure proper interviewing, report preparation, case record keeping and probation supervision;

Meets and coordinates probation services with other departments and service providers and represents the probation department on boards such as an alternatives-to-incarceration advisory board;

Meets and confers with judges, court personnel, attorneys and police regarding probation matters;

Reviews and responds appropriately to community complaint calls regarding lower level probation professionals;

Develops initial policies and procedures and makes recommendations to an Assistant Probation Director or a Deputy Probation Director for review;

Provides information to an Assistant Probation Director or a Deputy Probation Director related to the probation department’s annual report to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives;

Prepares records and reports related to the work performed;

May meet with a budget director and provide information regarding the probation department’s annual budget;

May perform some duties of a Probation Supervisor 1;

May use a firearm in performing duties and exercising authority pursuant to departmental policy.

Qualifications:

QUALIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR TAKING THE TEST: Candidates must be permanently employed in the competitive class and must be serving and have served continuously on a permanent or contingent permanent basis in the competitive class for 24 months immediately preceding the date of the written test in the position of Probation Supervisor.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Possession of a current driver’s license or the ability to otherwise meet the transportation requirements of the position.

Notes:

Note 4: Supervisory, administrative or executive positions in a probation agency are positions classified as Probation Supervisor 1 or higher.

Note 5: Individuals whose duties and responsibilities include the use of a firearm must also complete training pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law Section 2.30(3).

Note 6: The class specifications including the minimum qualifications for positions in Probation Departments are established by rule and regulations of the Division of Criminal Justice Services. These class specifications are found in Title 9 NYCRR Part 347, Appendix H-10, Standard Specifications for Professional Probation Positions.

Note 7: *This position is allocated to the competitive class pursuant to Executive Law Section 257(1).

Examination date:

June 26, 2021

Applications Must Be Postmarked or Hand Delivered By:

May 19, 2021

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

Scopes / Subjects of examination: A test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas.

Ensuring effective inter/intra agency communications
These questions test for understanding of techniques for interacting effectively with individuals and agencies, to educate and inform them about topics of concern, to clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with the staff of one's own agency and/or that of other agencies in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.

Preparing written material
These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

Administrative supervision
These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.

Probation trends and casework These questions test for a candidate's knowledge of laws, rules, regulations and current probation trends, and the ability to apply casework supervision principles to situations typically relevant to and encountered in a probation setting.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: It is recommended that candidates use a quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculator. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.


 

INFORMATION FOR PROMOTION CANDIDATES

Unless otherwise indicated, the eligible list resulting from this examination will have a duration of four years and will not supersede existing promotional lists, if any.

RATINGS REQUIRED:  Test is rated on a scale of 100 with a passing mark at 70.  Test instructions may further divide the tests into parts and set minimum standards for each part.

Points will be added to scores of candidates who achieve a passing mark as follows: Seniority:  For each year of service in the classified service:

Less than 1 year……………………..................…0 points

1 year up to 6 years…………….…........................1 point

Over 6 years up to 11 years.....………......….........2 points

Over 11 years up to 16 years….…........….........…3 points

Over 16 years up to 21 years………..................…4 points

Over 21 years………………………..................…5 points

VETERANS:  Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively added to their earned scores if successful in the PROMOTIONAL examination.  You must claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment.  If you have already used these credits for a permanent position in NYS, you may not claim them again.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A None filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.