Juvenile Program Officer - Long Creek Youth Development Center, South Portland.

Juvenile Program Officer - Long Creek Youth Development CenterPay Grade - 16: $26.06 – $31.28/hr. (This rate includes $1/hr. institutional stipend) $54,204.80-$65,062.40 annually not including Shift Differentials or Premium Overtime Rate.Learn About the Role and Hiring Process (VIDEO): experience necessary. Paid training with State Certification provided. Night, Weekend, and Shift Differentials, Premium Overtime Pay, and Merit and Longevity Increases. Lateral credit considered for experience in working with adolescents or as a Correctional Officer.Job Class Code: 5216Open: October 1, 2025Close: Posted until filledRole OverviewJuvenile Program Workers are youth correctional officers and first responders at Long Creek Youth Development Center. The detained and committed juvenile residents of Long Creek are ages up to 21 years old and often have a history of trauma, chronic behavioral issues and/or aggression, and concurrent mental health and substance use disorders.

The primary role of this position is to provide safety and security for the justice-involved youth and staff at Long Creek. This includes being a role model, enforcing rules and regulations, monitoring juvenile resident behavior, and utilizing crisis de-escalation techniques in emergency situations.Minimum Requirements to ApplyAt least 18-Years-Old.HS Diploma or Equivalent (HiSET, GED, etc.).Valid driver's license to apply, Maine driver's license upon hire.No serious criminal or extensive motor vehicle records. See Automatic Disqualifiers at are a 24/7/365 secured facility with 12-Hour shifts.Base schedule of working 7 out of 14 days per pay period. Three days on and four days off one week, then four days on and three days off the next. HALF OF THE SCHEDULED YEAR OFF!NO MANDATED OVERTIME ON YOUR SCHEDULED DAYS OFF unless in extremely rare, emergency cases.DutiesProvide a safe and secure environment for adjudicated and detained youth and the staff.Ensure compliance with rules and regulations.Perform searches of living quarters and areas, buildings, and grounds.Transport juvenile residents to court, appointments, and daily activities.Observe and report individual and group interactions and resident participation in treatment programs.Update logs, maintain detailed records, and share information to support the rehabilitation process.Be a mentor and act as a role model.Counsel, support, and advise residents regarding peer interactions, rules, and regulations, health and safety standards, and treatment strategies.Assist juvenile residents in meeting appropriate standards of behavior.Evaluate the potential for negative interactions and respond with trauma-informed interventions and behavior management.Communicate with and de-escalate juvenile residents exhibiting difficulty interacting with others in the social environment.Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesTo successfully perform the assigned work once hired, one must possess certain knowledge, skills, and abilities. These can be learned on the job and through the top-of-the-line education and training that is provided by Maine Department of Corrections. These include:Knowledge of:Adolescent development and behavior.Methods of providing care, custody, and supervision of juvenile residents in our care.Counseling techniques and modern security principles and practices.Trauma informed care.Restorative justice practices.Ability to:Model appropriate behavior, attitude, ethics, and morals.Provide guidance and leadership to juveniles.Communicate clearly and effectively in both verbal and in writing.Maintain order and supervise juveniles, individually and in groups.Assess adverse situations and act according to appropriate protocol.Exercise independent judgment, discretion, and self-control.Establish and maintain effective working relationships.Observe and communicate situations and resident behavior in detail.Prepare detailed reports of activities.Understand and follow instructions, interpret, and enforce youth center rules.Paid Training & Job Shadow ProgramJob Shadow: New hires start in our paid Job Shadow Program where you will learn the job alongside a certified staff member.Education & Certification: Six-Week paid 'Juvenile Basic Corrections Training Program' (JBCTP) with State Certification held onsite at LCYDC in South Portland, ME.Learn MoreHow to Become a Juvenile Program Worker: for Your Interview: Shadow Program: Long Creek Youth Development CenterLocated in South Portland, ME, Long Creek is the ONLY secure juvenile justice center in Maine.

Our facility is focused on the wellbeing of juvenile residents and staff. We offer multiple programs to support behavioral rehabilitation, educational attainment, and workforce skills for justice-involved youth.Known for its working waterfront, many parks and lighthouses, and retail outlets and restaurants, South Portland offers suburban living with metropolitan nightlife. Enjoy the land, water, and air by being only minutes from the ocean, a 30-minute drive to Maine's mountains, and steps away from the Portland Jetport.Find camaraderie and a sense of belonging when you join our team. We are invested in increasing public safety through improved outcomes for our juvenile residents. This is a great place for applicants interested in public safety, social work, behavioral health, case management, probation, law enforcement, acuity care, adolescent development, advocacy, or psychology.About Maine Department of CorrectionsMDOC is destigmatizing corrections for the betterment of all Maine communities. Through the 'Maine Model of Corrections', we promote the safety of our staff and residents while reducing barriers to meaningful rehabilitative opportunities. We facilitate restorative justice practices that equip justice-involved residents and clients with the skills they need to become contributing members of society upon release, including treatment, education, and job training.

We are committed to rebuilding lives and are searching for great team players, with a professional attitude and well-developed integrity and ethics, to join us in this mission.State of Maine BenefitsNo matter where you work across Maine state government, you find employees who embody our state motto—“Dirigo” or “I lead”—as they provide essential services to Mainers every day. We believe in supporting our workforce's health and wellbeing with a valuable total compensation package, including:Work-Life Balance – Rest is essential. Take time for yourself using 13 paid holidays, 96 hours of accrued sick leave, and 3+ weeks of vacation leave Vacation leave accrual increases with years of service, and overtime-exempt employees receive personal leave.Health Insurance Coverage– The State of Maine pays 85%-95% of employee-only premiums ($11,196.96 - $12,514.32 annual value), depending on salary. Use this chart to find the premium costs for you and your family, including the percentage of dependent coverage paid by the State: Insurance Premium Credit– Participation decreases employee-only premiums by 5%. Visit the Office of Employee Health and Wellness for more information about program requirements.