JOB TITLE: PAROLE BOARD SECRETARY

JOB CODE: 47090

DEFINITION: This is managerial work in overseeing the operations of the Board Secretary Office and the facilitation of official PA Parole Board meetings.

The employee in this job manages and coordinates, through subordinate professional staff, the preparation, maintenance, and processing of parole case files and recording of all original and modified board decisions to grant, deny, or revoke parole. Work includes establishing goals and objectives to maximize operational efficiency; developing, revising, and implementing operational policies and procedures; and providing guidance to the board on the interpretation, implementation, and implication of relevant legislation, court decisions, and legal opinions. Work involves acting as a liaison with federal and state agencies and municipal officials on parole matters. An important aspect of this job involves overseeing parole case files involving the United States Federal Witness Protection Program, Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, Interstate Corrections Compact, Juvenile Lifers, and all requests for commutation due to the time sensitivity and/or confidentiality of these cases. Work also involves facilitating official board meetings to include establishing the agenda, presenting items for action, recording minutes and decisions, and disseminating information. Work is performed under the direction of the Board Chairman and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and results achieved.

EXAMPLES OF WORK: (NOTE: The examples of work are representative of the work, but every position classified to this job may not perform all examples of work listed. Conversely, this is not an all-inclusive list of work examples.)

• Plans, organizes, and directs board operations to include workflow, staffing, and resource needs.

• Develops, revises, and implements policies and procedures related to agency operations.

• Evaluates internal processes to ensure consistency, standardization, and compliance with policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Makes recommendations concerning proposed legislation, court decisions, and legal opinions, to include identifying the impact on program areas, developing alternative solutions, and finding appropriate resources.

• Responds to correspondence and inquiries from criminal justice agencies, family members of inmates/parolees, and other concerned citizens regarding board decisions, policies, and the overall parole process.

• Attends regularly scheduled meetings with the Chairman and Board Members to ensure that the direction of the board is being followed.

• Represents the board on various committees and attests to its position on relevant matters.

• Serves as a member of the board’s senior staff.

• Performs the full range of supervisory duties.

• The employee in this job may participate in the performance of subordinates’ work consistent with operational and organizational requirements.

• Performs related work as required.

ENTRY LEVEL KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of the principles and methods of parole.

• Knowledge of social and economic services available to reentrants released on parole.

• Knowledge of the theories and practices related to individual and group behavior of persons who have been involved in delinquent or criminal activities.

• Knowledge of interview and investigation methods and techniques.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public relations.

• Knowledge of casework principles and practices.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.

• Ability to analyze and interpret policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.

• Ability to communicate effectively orally.

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: (NOTE: These are expected of an employee performing the work of this job at the full performance level. These may not be used for merit system evaluation or examination purposes and are not position-specific performance standards.)

• Knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations of the board and related federal laws and regulations.

• Ability to develop and implement program policies, procedures, and operations and to evaluate their efficacy.

• Ability to plan and direct the activities of subordinate staff to maximize operational efficiency.

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING: (NOTE: Based on the Entry Level Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities)

• Seven years of professional experience in parole, corrections, law enforcement, or social work dealing with offenders or offender programs, which included two years in a supervisory capacity, and a bachelor’s degree;

or

• An equivalent combination of professional experience and training, which included two years supervising staff dealing with offenders or offender programs.