Job Opportunities in United States

Job Description

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a Cottage Director (Youth Counselor Supervisor) to join the team at the State Training School (STS) in Eldora. This position directs the operations of a cottage by providing supportive counseling and behavioral health treatment for youth, ages 12-18, who were adjudicated delinquent. This is a full-time position with an 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday schedule typically, however flexibility is required to handle the operations of the cottage effectively when needed. This position is supervisory in nature and oversees staff which includes Youth Services Workers (YSWs) and Youth Counselors within an assigned cottage. The State Training School encourages a strong team environment, with the opportunity for professional development as a manager and leader. Additionally, HHS and STS offer opportunities for advancement to motivated individuals.

The primary role of this position is to direct all operations for your assigned cottage. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

• Work to create and develop a professional and therapeutic setting that best meets the needs of the youth in your cottage.
• Create and maintain weekly schedules with meaningful programming.
• Help train staff and implement new policies and revisions.
• Assist youth in the grievance process at the cottage level.
• Manage oversight of time and attendance of assigned employees.
• Issue coaching, retraining, and discipline as needed.
• Author employee performance evaluations and keep track of individual goals.
• Help to facilitate Aggression Replacement Training (A.R.T.) and other therapeutic programs.
• Coordinate the efforts of your team of approximately 11 YSWs and 2 Youth Counselors.
• Assist staff in the secure management of youth in your direct care.
• Provide weekly behavioral assessment updates on the progression of the youth in your cottage.
• Attend meetings and participate in management-level decision making on a weekly basis.
• Cover additional duties, including managerial functions at STS, when necessary.

If you enjoy rewarding yet challenging work, helping young men find stability in their lives and security in their future, this is this the right job for you. Your work at STS has the potential to have a positive impact on the lives of youth in crisis, changing their future for the better.

STS offers a holistic social, behavioral, psychiatric, academic, and secure environment with vocational program that utilizes counseling, treatment, and consequences paired with praise, incentives, and opportunity. Services and programs provide individualized evaluation and treatment along with opportunity in the form of educational, vocational, social, and recreational programs. Transitional services are provided by the STS staff as well as contract staff to maximize each youth’s chances for success upon return to their community. The STS offers an onsite school that operated all year, giving youth the opportunity to graduate during their stay.

Working at STS comes with a special perk! This location offers access for staff to the impressive on-campus gym during off student hours. This includes 3 full size basketball courts, two fully stocked weight rooms with machine and free weights, showers, and lockers. We also provide a cardio room for staff only featuring exercise mats and advanced treadmills and stationary bikes. Usage of these resources is completely free for all STS staff.

We have a great total compensation package, including:

• Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) (Employee contributes 6.29%/State of Iowa contributes 9.44%)
• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan) (State of Iowa matches up to $75/month)
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance (See below for additional information)
• Vacation Leave (96 hours/year to begin, and increases with years of service)
• Sick Leave (144 hours/year)
• Paid Holidays (9 days/year)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Life Insurance ($20,000 paid for by the State of Iowa)
• Long-Term Disability Insurance

For additional information on benefits click here.

Click here to see how we compare with other employers or offers by using our Total Compensation Calculator.

Eldora Highlights
STS is located in Eldora, a quaint community with a population of approximately 2,800 residents, located in north central Iowa. Eldora is an Iowa River Greenbelt Community and the Iowa River Greenbelt Scenic Drive winds through a picturesque landscape of valleys, woods, and streams. With easy access to the Iowa River and Pine Lake, outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy hiking, kayaking, canoeing, hunting, and fishing, as well as the many educational opportunities, cultural activities, and entertainment events nearby, including a picturesque 9-hole golf course surrounded by Pine Lake State Park.

Eldora is 45 minutes away from Ames and Cedar Falls, 30 minutes from Marshalltown, and only 20 minutes from Iowa Falls. Des Moines, Iowa’s capital, is just 1 hour and 15 minutes away.

• Ames, Iowa is the home of Iowa State University, featuring one of the nation’s premier Engineering schools and leading Veterinary and Agricultural programs. https://www.iastate.edu/
• Cedar Falls is the home of the University of Northern Iowa, https://uni.edu/
• Iowa Falls is the home of Ellsworth Community College. https://ecc.iavalley.edu
• Des Moines has one of the nation’s finest State Fairs and is home to the Iowa Cubs, Wells Fargo Arena host site of NCAA Basketball, premier concerts, and Lauridsen Skatepark, the nation’s largest skatepark.

The State of Iowa is an EEO/AA Employer
HHS values those with “lived experience” and encourages adults who were fostered as youth, foster parents, and/or parents who were in the DHS system to apply. Minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply (Hearing and Speech Impaired – Relay Iowa 1-800-735-2942 TDD).

Our agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four year college or university with a minimum of twelve semester hours in child development, criminology, mental health, psychology, social work, sociology, or closely related area and the equivalent of three years of full-time employment working with youth and/or adults in the above areas or closely related area at a level comparable to Youth Counselor, Social Worker 2, or above;
a Master's degree in the above areas or closely related area and one year of the above experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience substituting one year of the above experience at a level comparable to a Youth Services Worker or above for each year of the above education up to a maximum of four years shall be considered as qualifying; the equivalent of eighteen months of full-time employment as a Youth Counselor in the state classified service shall be considered as qualifying.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description. (Download PDF reader)