Assistant Chief Probation Officer (Departmental Promotional Only)

Full Job Description

The San Mateo County Probation Department is seeking a dynamic leader for the position of Assistant Chief Probation Officer.

The San Mateo County Probation Department will achieve excellence in community corrections and will focus on effective service to our county.

To this end, we will develop interventions that demonstrate a blend of our law enforcement and treatment responsibilities.

We will be leaders in our profession exemplifying the highest standards of performance established in the fields of community corrections and organizational development.

The Ideal Candidate for this exceptional career opportunity will be:

• An approachable and politically astute leader, with a management style that fosters trust, loyalty, respect, commitment and partnership.
• A strategic thinker and an excellent problem solver with innovative yet practical solutions to problems who can provide the Chief Probation Officer with research and recommendations he needs to make informed decisions.
• Experienced hard-working and productive manager who leads by example, empowers staff and values a culture of collaboration and accountability of all employees.
• A collaborator and consensus builder, who can energize, motivate and mentor Probation employees around improving quality performance.
• An excellent communicator, both orally and in writing with an ability to make effective and persuasive presentations to achieve consensus.
• A diplomatic member of the Probation executive team.
• An independent thinker who fosters teamwork, welcomes new, creative ideas and appreciates differing opinions.

Requirements

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Direct, supervise, and guide Deputy Directors of the Adult and Realignment Services and Juvenile and Institution Divisions by establishing departmental goals, policies, and performance standards.
• Conduct periodic evaluations of staff members' performance, counsel staff members regarding any performance issues, and mentor and support staff members with career development goals consistent with the department's vision, mission, and values.
• Provide highly responsible administrative and management assistance to the Director of Probation in planning, organizing, directing, and reviewing all functions and activities of the Probation Department.
• Conduct or direct the conduct of periodic review of departmental practices relating to the Juvenile, Adult, and Institutional Divisions.
• Assist the Director to monitor department policy to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local legislation.
• Consult and cooperate with other department managers and outside criminal justice personnel on all aspects of probation services; discuss problems, develop alternative strategies for dealing with those problems, and assist in implementation of solutions, as necessary.
• Assist the Director of Probation with the preparation and oversight of the department's budget.
• Represent the Department before state, federal, and local regulatory, advisory, and governing bodies with respect to probation matters, as requested by the Director.
• Act as the Director in their absence.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

County Status: Departmental Promotional Only.

Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Probation Department with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date may apply.

Education and Experience:

Any combination of experience and education that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Five years of increasingly responsible experience performing a wide variety of duties related to probation management in a large, complex public agency including one year of experience in a senior level administrative or management position.

Knowledge of:

• All aspects of probation administration including appropriate methods, procedures, and technical expertise.
• Pertinent state and federal laws and regulations regarding probation work.
• Principles and practices of modern probation administration.
• Budget preparation and management.
• Policy development and implementation.
• Organizational, administrative, and management principles and practices.
• Supervisory techniques, resource allocation, planning, and budgeting.

Skill/Ability to:

• Learn the County's operations and organizational structure.
• Assist in directing and coordinating all aspects of probation administration.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate the work of professional, technical, and clerical staff.
• Analyze and evaluate statistical data and reports related to probation management.
• Interpret, apply, and explain County policies and state and federal legislation related to probation services.
• Establish and evaluate policies, procedures, and controls related to the County's probation programs.
• Represent the County under diverse circumstances and prepare and deliver oral presentations to small and large groups.
• Effectively and persuasively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Identify existing or potential problems, secure relevant information and data from a variety of sources, determine probable cause(s), and effect appropriate solution(s).
• Successfully develop, control, and monitor departmental budget and expenditures.
• Utilize appropriate interpersonal style and methods of communication to gain acceptance, cooperation, or agreement of a plan, activity, and/or program idea.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

Other Requirement:

• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States by federal law.

Additional Information

Departmental Promotional Only.

Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Probation Department with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%).

Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or a screening committee may select those applicants whose education and/or experience appear to best meet the needs of the position.

All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, please click the "Apply ".

If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

Applicants must complete the County of San Mateo Employment Application Form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for completing the form.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline
Final Filing Date: February 6, 2026, by 11:59PM PST
Application Screening: February 9-10, 2026
Panel Interviews: February 12-13, 2026

About The County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment.

The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Sedrick Dixon (01292026) (Assistant Chief Probation Officer -D161)