[Hiring] Performance-based Standards Coach @Center For Improving Youth Justice

Role Description

The Performance-based Standards (PbS) Coach serves as a trusted advisor and ambassador to participating jurisdictions, supporting the successful implementation and integration of the PbS continuous improvement model into daily facility operations.

This role brings deep, career-long expertise in juvenile justice—particularly within secure care—and applies that experience to guide agencies in improving conditions of confinement, strengthening staff practices, and building sustainable, data-driven systems for long-term improvement. Coaches partner closely with facility and agency leadership to translate PbS data into actionable strategies that drive better outcomes for youth and staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Coaching & Technical Assistance
  • Serve as the primary point of contact and trusted advisor to assigned jurisdictions and facilities.
  • Provide ongoing coaching, guidance, and technical assistance to support effective use of PbS.
  • Conduct regular check-ins, site visits, and trainings to reinforce implementation and continuous improvement practices.
  • Help jurisdictions interpret PbS data and translate findings into actionable improvement plans.
• Partnership & Relationship Building
  • Build strong, collaborative relationships with facility staff, leadership, and agency partners.
  • Serve as a “goodwill ambassador,” fostering trust through active listening, credibility, and shared problem-solving.
  • Create a supportive environment where staff feel comfortable discussing challenges and opportunities.
  • Recognize and elevate effective practices across sites to promote shared learning.
• Continuous Improvement & Field Support
  • Guide jurisdictions in embedding PbS into daily operations as a sustainable, self-driven improvement model.
  • Identify strengths and progress, while constructively addressing areas for improvement using data and experience.
  • Facilitate learning conversations focused on “what’s working, what’s not, and why.”
  • Share proven strategies, tools, and practices from across the PbS network.
• Communication & Feedback
  • Provide clear, constructive, and confidential feedback to site and agency leadership.
  • Serve as a critical “listening post” to elevate field insights and emerging needs.
  • Document and share success stories and effective practices that can benefit other jurisdictions.
  • Contribute to internal team discussions to strengthen coaching approaches and service delivery.
• Work Cycle & Travel Expectations
  • PbS operates on a biannual data collection cycle, with major collection periods in April and October.
  • Coaches are expected to provide increased, responsive support to assigned sites during the reporting and finalization periods that follow (primarily May and November).
  • This includes helping sites complete data entry, interpret results, and prepare for improvement planning.
  • Outside of these peak periods, Coaches are expected to conduct on-site visits and in-person technical assistance, typically scheduled during summer and winter months between data cycles.
  • Travel is a regular and expected part of the role and varies based on assigned jurisdictions.

Qualifications

• Required
  • Extensive, senior-level experience in juvenile justice, including leadership within secure facilities.
  • Demonstrated experience managing operations at the facility and/or agency level.
  • Deep understanding of conditions of confinement, youth development, and system improvement efforts.
  • Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust across diverse stakeholders.
  • Ability to analyze data and guide organizations in using data to drive decision-making.
• Preferred
  • Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or systems.
  • Background in performance measurement, quality assurance, or continuous improvement models.
  • Familiarity with PbS or similar data-driven reform initiatives.
  • Experience providing coaching, training, or technical assistance to agencies.