Are you someone who has a passion for making a difference in the lives of adolescents? The State of Wisconsin, Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Challenge Academy is currently seeking a Lead Counselor (Military Affairs Program Supervisor) working with youth 16-18 years old.

The Wisconsin Challenge Academy is a residential alternative education program designed to reclaim the lives of youth and produce graduates with the education, strength of character, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as adults and become responsible citizens. The Wisconsin Challenge Academy is located on Fort McCoy and a part of the Department of Military Affairs. To learn more about the Wisconsin Challenge Academy, please go to http://www.challengeacademy.org.

The DMA provides essential, effective, and responsive military and emergency management capability for the citizens of our state and nation. During emergencies, no single organization can handle the response. The DMA consists of several organizations working together to plan, prepare, coordinate, and respond effectively when our communities and neighbors need us the most.

We offer an opportunity to engage with a team of dedicated professionals, with a truly worthwhile mission.

The DMA offers great life/work balance. This position is eligible for limited telework after an initial training period.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year.
• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits (health plan options start at just $39/month for single plans and $97/month for family plans after two months of employment).
• A casual atmosphere and flexible work schedules, depending on the position's requirements.
• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.
• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program.
• A free and confidential employee assistance program EAP
• Working for Wisconsin State Government may make you eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

Under general supervision of the Challenge Academy Deputy Director, this position will plan and provide administrative supervision over the Counseling Department of the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy. This includes the development and implementation of counseling-related programs, supervision of subordinate staff, and participation as a member of various institution management teams.

This position provides development and oversight in areas such as character development, crisis counseling, career planning, job placement, independent living, alcohol and drug abuse, anger management, etc. to 16–18-year-old at-risk youth (cadets) enrolled in the Challenge Academy. The incumbent, in coordination with subordinate staff, will provide direct services to cadets as well as consultation and training to Academy staff. Provide character development lessons in a group setting and incorporate those concepts in counseling individuals who exhibit problems in adjustment and growth in the areas of social, emotional, educational, vocational, and health planning. Collect information necessary to determine which issues need to be addressed; maintain contact with cadets and assist in preparation for future success; confer with cadets about problems and questions they may have related to work activities, rules, regulations, or personal matters. Coordinate and monitor progress of cadets and prepare accurate, timely reports, forms, and records. Consult with other staff members to determine appropriate action to take in specific situations. Incumbent will be expected to have on-call responsibilities and will be expected to work nights and weekends as deemed necessary by the Academy mission.

Starting pay is between $28.00 and $31.00/ hr.

This position is in the 81-03 pay schedule/range. A 12-month probation may be required.

For current permanent state employees, pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.

The Department of Military Affairs does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.

To learn more about the complete compensation package, please visit the Total Rewards Calculator.

Special Requirements in PD

• In order to gain access to the military facilities and to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled, DMA will conduct a comprehensive background check which includes a FBI fingerprint-based background check
• Must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a valid driver's license as a condition of continued employment
• All new permanent, project, and limited term employees will be required to report to JFHQ in Madison on the Monday of their first week of employment for the New Employee Orientation (NEO) program. Additional information will be sent to the new employees and their supervisors on the Tuesday prior to NEO

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will have the following:

• Experience counseling youth or young adults
• Performing duties related to supervisory responsibilities (e.g. new employee orientation and training, coaching on performance, directing and reviewing the work of others, etc.)

In addition to the minimum qualifications, well-qualified candidates will also have the following preferred qualifications:

• Performing supervisory duties (i.e. hiring, evaluating performance, enforcing work rules and discipline, and hearing grievances)
• Counseling at-risk youth in the planning of careers, education and life choices
• Developing lesson plans for a character development program

Your resume and letter of qualification are very important parts of your application. In these materials, you should clearly describe your education, training, and experience as they relate to the bulleted items listed above.

Your qualifications should be addressed in your resume and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. These materials are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job.

Here are instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials. The vast majority of applicants are able to outline their background and experience in their resume in 1-3 pages; the same applies to the letter of qualification.

Click “Apply for Job” to start the application process. If you have not signed into your account, you will need to sign in before applying. If you do not have an account, click “Register Now” to register for an account and apply for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application. You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.

You will be required to attach your current resume and letter of qualifications in a Word or PDF compatible format.

For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here. Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or reinstatement) should complete the online application process by the stated deadline.

Applications must be submitted through Wisc.Jobs. Failure to submit all required materials will result in an incomplete application and ineligibility for this position. Application materials will not be accepted if received in an incompatible format, an email, as a hard copy or a fax.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Lori Roy at lori.roy@widma.gov or 608-640-9012.

If you have technical difficulties, Wisc.Jobs helpdesk is available Monday-Friday, 7:45am - 4:30pm at 608-267-1012 or wisc.jobs@wisconsin.gov. Some applicants report better performance when using the Chrome browser.

The Department of Military Affairs is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. For complete information on veterans’ hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment Assistance page on the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ website.

If viewing through an external site, please click here to apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.

The online application process must be completed by 11:59p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Late applications will not be accepted.