JPD - Supervising Family Navigator

Chicago, IL
Full Time
Mid Level
JOB TITLE: Supervising Family Navigator
DIVISION: Pretrial Services
UNION: Non-Union
GRADE: 20
SALARY:  $83,235 annual/$40.017 hourly
REPORTS TO: Deputy Chief Probation Officer

POSITION SUMMARY
The Supervising Family Navigator provides leadership coaching, and support to the Family Navigator team while promoting family-centered, trauma-informed and culturally responsive services. This position serves as a key liaison between families, communities and the Juvenile Probation & Court Services Department, ensuring that family voice and lived experience remain central to service delivery and program development.  

A core requirement of this role is experience as a parent, caregiver, or primary support person of a youth involved in the Cook County juvenile justice system. The supervisor leverages this lived experience, along with professional and leadership skills to mentor staff, strengthen community partnerships, advocate for families, and support positive outcomes for youth and caregivers. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities below describe the primary functions of the position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties performed.

Transformational & Trauma-Informed Supervision
  1. Provide reflective, strengths-based supervision to Family Navigators through regular individual and group supervisory conferences.
  2. Coach staff using trauma-informed, healing-centered practices that acknowledge secondary trauma, emotional labor, and the value of lived experience.
  3. Support Navigators in setting and maintaining healthy professional boundaries while honoring authentic connection with families.
  4. Facilitate supervision meetings that promote learning, accountability, and psychological safety.
  5. Identify professional development needs and support growth plans aligned with individual strengths and program goals.
  6. Provide guidance and coaching to help Family Navigators successfully transition lived experience into a professional role within a court-based environment, including expectations related to communication, documentation, collaboration, and professional conduct.
Program Leadership & Quality Assurance
  1. Oversee day-to-day operations of the Family Navigator program, ensuring consistency and fidelity to the program’s mission.
  2. Review case documentation, progress notes, and data entry to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and trauma-responsive language.
  3. Collaborate with department leadership to assess program outcomes, identify trends, and continuously improve service quality and delivery.
  4. Provide guidance and consultation on complex family engagement situations, including conflict resolution, safety considerations, and system navigation.
  5. Ensure coverage and staffing needs are met within a flexible, rotating schedule environment.
Community Partnership & Systems Collaboration
  1. Strengthen and sustain partnerships with community-based organizations, schools, behavioral health providers, and advocacy groups across Cook County.
  2. Represent the Family Navigator program in interagency meetings, community events, and collaborative initiatives.
  3. Support Navigators in conducting community-based visits that prioritize safety, dignity, and trust.
  4. Partner with probation leadership, Juvenile Probation Officers, and court stakeholders to improve coordination, communication, and family engagement.
  5. Advocate for family and community perspectives in system meetings, program planning, and collaborative initiatives.
Staff Wellness & Collective Care
  1. Support staff in accessing internal resources, peer support, and wellness strategies.
  2. Address staff performance concerns through coaching, supervision, and corrective guidance in accordance with departmental policy.
Administrative & Leadership Duties
  1. Ensure compliance with Department policies, timekeeping requirements, and Code of Conduct.
  2. Participate in hiring, onboarding, and training of Family Navigators.
  3. Attend required supervisory, unit, division, and department meetings.
  4. Support implementation of departmental initiatives and program improvements.
  5. Perform additional duties as assigned by departmental leadership.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
  1. Knowledge of trauma-informed, healing-centered, and culturally responsive practices when working with justice-impacted youth, families, and staff.
  2. Skill in providing reflective supervision, coaching, and mentorship that supports professional growth, accountability, and emotional wellness.
  3. Ability to integrate lived experience perspectives into leadership, guidance, and advocacy in a way that supports authentic engagement with families while maintaining professional boundaries.
  4. Knowledge of community resources and service systems across Cook County that support youth and families involved in the juvenile justice system.
  5. Skill in building collaborative partnerships with community organizations, probation staff, and court stakeholders to improve family engagement and service coordination.
  6. Ability to review documentation, monitor program operations, and ensure quality, accuracy, and trauma-responsive language in case records and data systems.
  7. Ability to manage competing priorities, address complex family or system challenges, and support staff working in flexible and community-based environments.
  8. Ability to work collaboratively with diverse populations and multidisciplinary teams.
  9. Comfort with technology and case management systems.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
  1. High School Diploma or equivalent (Bachelor’s degree preferred).
  2. Experience coaching or mentoring individuals transitioning into professional roles, including supporting professional boundaries, workplace expectations, and skill development is strongly preferred.
  3. Demonstrated experience working with justice-impacted youth and families.
  4. Personal lived experience as a parent, caregiver, or primary support person of a youth involved in the Cook County Juvenile Justice system. Professional or volunteer experience alone does not satisfy this requirement. 
  5. Prior experience in supervision, coaching, or team leadership (formal or informal).
  6. Valid Driver’s License/proof of insurance or the ability to utilize other modes of transportation for travel within Cook County.
  7. Ability to supervise staff working flexible, rotating schedules.
  8. Ability to pass required background checks (criminal history does not automatically exclude applicants).
Preferred Qualifications
  • Bilingual Spanish/English.
WORKING CONDITIONS / PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
  1. Ability to lift and carry items up to 20 pounds.
  2. Ability to work in-person 100% of scheduled work week.
  3. Ability to walk short distances, climb stairs, and travel throughout Cook County.
  4. Ability to sit for extended periods and use a computer and telephone daily.
  5. Work may include community-based visits and meetings in homes, schools, and community settings across Cook County.
This position requires a pre-employment drug screening and criminal background check.  Applicants are advised that as a Drug Free Workplace, use of medical or recreational marijuana is prohibited and will disqualify a candidate from employment. 

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of all required screening criteria.

Information concerning the benefits for this position can be found at the Circuit Court of Cook County Employment Opportunities Page.

Please apply by filling out the application at our Career Page.
THE OFFICE OF THE CHIEF JUDGE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
It is the policy of the Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County to provide equal opportunity in employment to all employees and applicants for employment. No person is to be discriminated against in employment because of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation.
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