lead counselor-ycp

Requisition No:

Agency: Military Affairs

Working Title: LEAD COUNSELOR-YCP

 Pay Plan: SES

Position Number:

Salary:  $61,000.00 

Posting Closing Date: 11/30/2025 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

Department of Military Affairs

*** OPEN COMPETITIVE***

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59 p.m. on closing date

VACANCY #

WORK LOCATION: STARKE, FLORIDA

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS (DMA)

The mission of the Florida Department of Military Affairs is to provide management oversight of the Florida National Guard and provide units and personnel ready to support national security objectives; to protect the public safety of citizens and to contribute to the national, state and community programs that add value to the United States of America and to the State of Florida.

FLORIDA YOUTH CHALLENGE ACADEMY

The Florida Youth Challenge Academy's mission is to provide a highly disciplined and motivational environment, free from outside distractions, which fosters academics, leadership, development, personal growth, self-esteem, and physical fitness for qualifying high school dropouts. The Academy consists of an operational staff and cadre with in-depth military experience, certified instructors from the Clay County School District system, a registered nurse, counselors and recruitment and placement personnel.

OUR BENEFITS INCLUDE:

• Health Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Dental, Vision, and Supplemental Insurance     
• Retirement Benefits   
• Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays
• Opportunities for Career Advancement
• Tuition Waiver for Public College Courses
• Training Opportunities
• For benefit information available to State of Florida employees, go to

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

1. 
   
2. New employees of the Department of Military Affairs will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screening.
3. New employees of the Department of Military Affairs are required to participate in a direct deposit/electronic transfer program. 
4. The Department of Military Affairs is paid on a monthly basis.
5. This position is a Cooperative Agreement position.
6. As a CANDIDATE, you may be required to provide documentation (i.e., High School Diploma or Equivalency, College Transcripts, ETC.) to verify meeting these Minimum Qualifications.
7. Must be able to pass a Department of Juvenile Justice Background screening/test.
8. Must have and maintain a valid State of Florida Driver's License.
9. Must possess or be able to obtain First Aid/CPR certification within six months of employment.

*NOTE*

To be considered for this position, application must be fully completed, your responses to qualifying questions for this position must be verifiable by documentation provided through the electronic application process and clearly stated within the employment history.   

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• A Master's Degree from an accredited College or University in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling or related field AND Two (2) years of professional experience in Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Case Management, or related field; OR
• A Bachelor's Degree from an accredited College or University in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or related field AND Four (4) years of professional experience in Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Case Management, or related field; OR
• An Associate's Degree from an accredited College or University with major coursework in Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, or related field AND Six (6) years of professional experience in Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Case Management, or related field; OR
• A High School Diploma AND Eight (8) years of professional experience in Counseling, Social Work, Human Services, Case Management, or related field
• Must be licensed with the State of Florida as a Counselor, LMHC, LCSW, LPC, or LPCC.
• Experience with DSM-5.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bilingual in Spanish, not required, but preferred.
• Knowledge of laws relating to children and families.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working with at-risk youth.
• Experience managing or supervising employees.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Reviews applications and sits on interview panel for prospective cadets to assist team members with determining appropriateness of program for the child. 
• Provides the opportunity for individual and group counseling of cadets, including retention counseling and future life goals.  Assists in and coordinates referrals for parents to other mental health specialist if needed. 
• Provides recommendations to the Placement Coordinator to assist cadets in making appropriate choices when transitioning from Academy life to another school or employment. 
• Develops and monitors departmental policies and procedures to ensure mission goals are met.  Monitors department effectiveness and recommends procedural changes if needed. 
• Resolves difficulties between clients (cadets) and other personnel to include staff, families, and outside agencies.
• Provides supervision to subordinate counselors in accordance with established organizational chart. 
• Responsible for current Counseling Departments operations bases on Deputy Director and Director's guidance. 
• Plans workloads, deadlines, work objectives and time utilization with employees. 
• Evaluates employees through established evaluation criteria. 
• Trains and coaches' employees to ensure they perform effectively and efficiently.
• Develops and teaches curriculum for life skills and job skills, to enhance the cadet's opportunity to be successful at a job, continued education, or military. Includes basic skills for living and working. 
• Achieves successful completion of assigned core components by Program Week 18.
• Must be flexible with the assigned work schedule due to the complexity and requirements of the job. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: 

• Knowledge of management principles
• Knowledge in counseling techniques and practices as wells as an understanding of adolescent development
• Skills in human and public relations to include enhances communication skills
• Experience working with at-risk youth, particularly ages 16-19 years old
• Knowledge of professional ethics relating to Counseling
• Ability to manage and supervise a department in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to develop guidelines and procedures for the delivery of social services
• Ability to develop and present staff development and training programs
• Ability to follow through on all phases of the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of cadets
• Ability to provide casework services to cadets
• Computer skills to include Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Ability to key in data entry fields and maneuver around the internet
• Ability to understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, policies and procedures
• Ability to supervise a department and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others

SPECIAL REMINDERS:

The State of Florida and The Department of Military Affairs participate in the E-Verify program. Federal law requires that all employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of any person hired to work in the United States.

Male applicants born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion unless they are registered with the Selective Services System (SSS) before their 26th birthday, or have a Letter of Registration Exemption from the SSS. For more information, please visit the SSS website:

All members of the Florida Retirement System are required to contribute 3% of their salary on a pre-tax basis.

If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be canceled, suspended, or deemed ineligible depending upon the date of your retirement.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section , F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

The Department of Military Affairs values and supports employment of individuals with disabilities. Qualified individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section , F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.