Job Details for Deputy Chief U.S. Probation Officer – Type II
| Court Name/Organization | Kentucky Western Probation and Pretrial Services |
| Overview of the Position | The Deputy Chief (Type II) will be stationed in Louisville but will have district-wide responsibilities. The incumbent will oversee the district-wide court and supervision services and provide other needed administrative and management services. These services will consist of direct supervision of the Supervising U.S. Probation Officers and oversight for the continuity, training, and overall quality of the investigative and supervision services provided for the Court. Other duties include administrative functions in support of the district. The Deputy is the “alter ego” of the Chief and serves in the Chief’s capacity during absences of the Chief. A strong collaborative relationship is required. |
| Location | Louisville, KY |
| Opening and Closing Dates | 10/14/2025 - 11/10/2025 |
| Appointment Type | Permanent |
| Classification Level/Grade | JSP 14 - JSP 16 |
| Salary | $161,889 - $207,500 |
| Announcement Number | KYWP 2025-06 |
Position Description
Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Participates in the organization and management of the office to ensure expeditious handling of investigative work for the Court, institutions, and parole authorities, and the effective supervision of defendants and offenders.
- Ensures the accountability and development of the management team and staff in the performance of their duties.
- Assists the Chief Probation Officer in the formulation, implementation, and modification of probation and parole policies in the district.
- Assists the Chief Probation Officer in managing the district’s budget.
- Assists in the selection of professional and clerical personnel for appointment.
- Participates in systematic analysis of performance for all subordinates.
- In consultation with the Chief, develops, leads, implements, and manages programs and projects.
- Supervises administrative work to include inventorying and ordering equipment and supplies, preparing statistical reports, and personnel papers, maintaining files and records, and disposing records.
- Assists in estimating personnel, space allocation, travel expenses, and purchases of services, equipment, and supplies.
- Assists in establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with all components of the criminal justice system to include Federal, state, and local law enforcement, correctional, and social service agencies.
- Assists in promoting and maintaining conditions which encourage staff loyalty, enthusiasm, and morale.
- Recommends and develops training programs and supports training opportunities for staff; encourages, mentors, and ensures continuous professional development and learning.
- Participates in public relations which explain correctional services to the community.
- Confers with judges, attorneys, and other interested parties to interpret office policy and procedures.
- Monitors community issues and events with a special focus on alleviating hazardous office and field incidents.
- Occasionally, deputy chief probation officers may perform the duties of a probation or pretrial services officer or supervising probation or pretrial services officer.
- Collaborates with key IT staff to increase agency’s effectiveness through technology. Assists in planning for future technology needs and coordinates these plans with anticipated workload trends and best serves the interest of the district.
Qualifications
To qualify for a position of Deputy Chief Probation Officer Type II at JSP 14, 15 or 16, a person must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and possess the following years of specialized experience, one of which must have been at the next lower grade level or its equivalent.
JSP Grade Level Years of Specialized Experience
- 14 (CL 30 Equivalent) 6 (including 1 year of experience at or equivalent to CL 29 or JSP 13)
- 15 (CL 30 Equivalent) 7 (including 1 year of experience at or equivalent to CL 30 or JSP 14)
- 16 (CL 31 Equivalent) 7 (including 1 year of experience at or equivalent to CL 31 or JSP 15)
Education Substitutions
Completion of one academic year (30 semester or 45 quarter hours) of graduate study in one of the social sciences may be substituted for one year of the specialized experience; or, completion of a master’s degree or two years graduate study (60 semester or 90 quarter hours) in an accredited university in one of the social sciences or a Juris Doctor (JD) degree may be substituted for two years of the specialized experience.
Note: A degree which relies primarily upon credit for life experience rather than academic course work is not considered qualifying for substitution of educational experience for actual work experience under this section.
Preferred Qualifications
Additional qualifications, skills, and experience preferred:
- A graduate degree in a closely related field or juris doctorate.
- Previous SUSPO / management/leadership experience, education, or training relevant to U.S. Probation Office operations.
- Direct management experience in developing, implementing, and administrating comprehensive results-oriented, evidence-based programs, practices, and policies for post-conviction offenders under probation or supervised release.
- Experience in budgeting (i.e., budget creation, review, and oversight) and financial management (including internal controls and internal audits), staffing, and human resource functions, long and short-range planning, and oversight of information technology.
Specialized Experience
Progressively responsible experience in the investigation, supervision, counseling, and guidance of offenders in community correction or pretrial programs as required. Experience in closely allied fields such as education guidance counselor, social worker, caseworker, psychologist, substance abuse treatment specialists, and a correctional researcher may constitute a portion of the specialized experience. Experience in police officer, FBI agent, customs agent, marshal, or similar positions do not meet the requirements of specialized experience. Specialized experience must be earned after the bachelor’s degree has been granted.
Miscellaneous
Responsibilities of this position include, but are not limited to:
- Participates in the organization and management of the office to ensure expeditious handling of investigative work for the Court, institutions, and parole authorities, and the effective supervision of defendants and offenders.
- Ensures the accountability and development of the management team and staff in the performance of their duties.
- Assists the Chief Probation Officer in the formulation, implementation, and modification of probation and parole policies in the district.
- Assists the Chief Probation Officer in managing the district’s budget.
- Assists in the selection of professional and clerical personnel for appointment.
- Participates in systematic analysis of performance for all subordinates.
- In consultation with the Chief, develops, leads, implements, and manages programs and projects.
- Supervises administrative work to include inventorying and ordering equipment and supplies, preparing statistical reports, and personnel papers, maintaining files and records, and disposing records.
- Assists in estimating personnel, space allocation, travel expenses, and purchases of services, equipment, and supplies.
- Assists in establishing and maintaining cooperative relationships with all components of the criminal justice system to include Federal, state, and local law enforcement, correctional, and social service agencies.
- Assists in promoting and maintaining conditions which encourage staff loyalty, enthusiasm, and morale.
- Recommends and develops training programs and supports training opportunities for staff; encourages, mentors, and ensures continuous professional development and learning.
- Participates in public relations which explain correctional services to the community.
- Confers with judges, attorneys, and other interested parties to interpret office policy and procedures.
- Monitors community issues and events with a special focus on alleviating hazardous office and field incidents.
- Occasionally, deputy chief probation officers may perform the duties of a probation or pretrial services officer or supervising probation or pretrial services officer.
- Collaborates with key IT staff to increase agency’s effectiveness through technology. Assists in planning for future technology needs and coordinates these plans with anticipated workload trends and best serves the interest of the district.
Application Info
Applicants must be citizens of the United States of America or be eligible to work in the United States.
Qualified applicants should submit a resume, an AO 78 - Application for Judicial Branch Federal Employment, cover letter, and written response to the following statement: Describe your management style and explain how, as Deputy Chief, it will positively impact the Western District of Kentucky.
The application packet should be sent to employment@kywp.uscourts.gov no later than Nov. 10, 2025 at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Interviews are tentatively scheduled for Nov. 19, 2025.
The federal Judiciary is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.