***Cabarrus Hiring Event*** - Youth Counselor - Wednesday, October 7, 2026 from 9:00am - 3:30pm.

The Department of Public Safety's mission is to safeguard and preserve the lives and property of the people of North Carolina through preparation, prevention, and protection with integrity and honor. Our agency houses many public safety divisions, including Emergency Management, Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Alcohol Law Enforcement, Samarcand Training Academy, and the North Carolina National Guard. Join us along with our more than 3,000 employees and 12,000 National Guard members in providing exceptional public safety services to the citizens of North Carolina.

Cabarrus Youth Development Center (Stonewall Jackson YDC)

850 Holshouser Road

Concord, NC 28027

Interviews will be conducted on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 9:00am to 3:30pm at the Cabarrus Youth Development Center (Stonewall Jackson YDC), 850 Holshouser, Concord, NC 28027.

Cabarrus Youth Development Center and Cabarrus Juvenile Detention Center in Concord, NC.

Candidates for these positions are eligible to receive a shift premium (10%) when assigned to either 2nd or 3rd shift.

This job classification also qualifies for the employee Referral Bonus program. If you were referred to this job posting by a current DPS employee, and you are hired, that employee could qualify for a referral bonus.

Work Schedule:

This is a full-time position. Work hours will vary depending on the facility that they are hired for. Candidates must be able to work weekends and holidays on a rotating basis and be able to work on a variable work schedule to meet the needs of juveniles and their families.  

Benefits:

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) with State Benefits, including paid vacation, paid sick leave, paid holidays, retirement, and health insurance. To view an example of total compensation, please click here NC OSHR: Total Compensation Calculator

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) is an Equal Opportunity Employer who embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws, state laws and Executive Orders.  Consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are committed to full inclusion of qualified applicants and will review requests for reasonable accommodation to perform essential job functions during the hiring process or while on the job.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program 

For applicants with student loans, becoming a state employee may include eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Visit www.studentaid.gov to learn more.

Transcripts

• Degrees and transcripts must be received from appropriately accredited college or university.

• Applicants who earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program, must attach an unofficial transcript to receive credit for education.

• International degrees and transcripts must be evaluated for accreditation by a recognized evaluation service by the closing date of this posting.  Failure to provide documentation may result in ineligibility. The National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) has several options to provide credential verification :https://www.naces.org/members.

Military Experience 

• Applicants seeking Veteran's Preference must attach a DD-214 Form (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty that includes Character of Discharge - Member 4 or Service 2 form) to the application.

• Applicants seeking National Guard Preference:

  A current member of the North Carolina National Guard in good standing must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS).

  A former member of the North Carolina National Guard who served for at least 6 years and were discharged under honorable conditions, must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.

The NC Dept. of Public Safety must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the "National Standards to Prevent, Detect, and Respond to Prison Rape. "PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions. Selected applicants for positions which are subject to PREA will undergo a PREA-specific background check. Our agency supports second-chance employment for individuals who were previously incarcerated, or justice involved, and we invite all potential applicants to apply for positions for which they may be qualified. Due to the nature of work performed in our agency, prior convictions and/or charges may prohibit employment for positions which are subject to PREA or other position-specific background checks.

If applying for a Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division, please click this link for specific certification requirements: Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification.

Per NC General Statute 143B-1209.54, applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBI’s Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (“RAP Back”).  This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.

Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted by the hiring manager.  If you are no longer under consideration, you will receive an email notification.

If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact Ariana Garcia at Ariana.Garcia@ncdps.gov

#JJ

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an “equivalent combination of education and experience.” If that language appears below, then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience, OR a combination of both. See the Education and Experience Equivalency Guide for details.

Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and two years of experience working with the juvenile/family client population and/or related human services experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Qualifications Applicants for positions designated as Juvenile Justice Officers are subject to and must meet the hiring and training standards established by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission, as defined in Title 12, Chapter 9 of the NC Administrative Code, by the statutory authority of GS 17C.

Click here to learn more about the requirements for Juvenile Justice Officer & Juvenile Court Counselor Certification.

The State of North Carolina is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and dedicated to providing employees with a work environment free from all forms of unlawful employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. The state provides reasonable accommodation to employees and applicants with disabilities; known limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; and for religious beliefs, observances, and practices.