About This Position
By statute, the Probation Officer serves in a judiciary law enforcement position and assists in the administration of justice. The incumbent promotes community safety, gathers information, supervises offenders/defendants, interacts with collateral agencies, prepares reports, conducts investigations, and presents recommendations to the court. The incumbent performs duties that involve general pretrial services or probation cases, under the guidance of a Supervisory Officer.
Qualifications
CL 28 - Salary Range: $70,894 to $115,213 Two years of specialized experience with a bachelor's degree. CL 27 - Salary Range: $59,133 to $96,147 Two years of specialized experience or a master's degree. CL 25 - Salary Range: $48,890 to $79,443 One year of specialized experience, superior academic achievement with a bachelor's degree, or one academic year of graduate work. The salary range listed reflects the full pay scale spanning across all classification levels for this position. Starting salaries depend on education, skills, and experience. If the incumbent commences employment at CL 25 or CL27, promotional opportunities are available without further competition based on experience and performance. Specialized Experience: Progressively responsible experience in fields such as probation, pretrial services, parole, corrections, criminal investigations, or work in substance/addiction treatment, public administration, human relations, social work, psychology, or mental health. Experience as a police officer, custodial officer, or security officer is considered, but it does not qualify as specialized experience in determining the classification level. Maximum Entry Age: Officers are eligible for retirement after 20 years of service at the age of 50, or after 25 years of service at any age. Therefore, first-time appointees must not have reached their 37th birthday at the time of appointment. Applicants aged 37 or over who have previous federal law enforcement experience under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) may have previous law enforcement officer experience subtracted from their age to determine whether they meet the maximum age requirement. Medical and Background Requirements: Medical requirements and essential job functions for officers are available for public review at U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Employment Suitability Requirements. Prior to appointment, the selectee considered for this position will undergo a medical examination and drug screening. Upon successful completion of the medical examination and drug screening, the selectee may then be appointed provisionally, pending a favorable suitability determination by the court. In addition, as a condition of employment, incumbent will be subject to ongoing random drug screening, updated background investigations every five years and, as deemed necessary by management for reasonable cause, may be subject to subsequent fitness-for-duty evaluations.
Major Duties
The duties specified herein are intended to provide generalized examples of the major duties and responsibilities that are performed by a U.S. Probation Officer within any unit and do not reflect all duties performed by positions covered by this classification. Additional information regarding the fulfilling career opportunities as a U.S. Probation Officer is located at the following link: U.S. Probation & Pretrial Services Careers. Position descriptions for U.S. Probation Officers are available on our website: Iowa Northern Probation Career Opportunities. Pretrial Investigations Unit: Conducts pretrial investigations by interviewing individuals and their families; compiling criminal history records; and verifying background information through collateral resources. Prepares a bond report that assesses risk of flight or risk of danger to the community pending resolution of the charged offense. Included within the bond report is a recommendation regarding detention or release of an individual who has been charged, as well as any conditions of release that may apply. Presentence Investigative Unit: Conducts investigations and prepares reports by interviewing individuals and their families; reviewing and summarizing the investigative materials; compiling criminal history records; investigating the financial status of the individual charged; and verifying background information through collateral resources. An integral part of this process is the interpretation and application of the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant case law. Provides testimony regarding guideline applications and serves as a resource to the court to facilitate proper imposition of sentences. Pretrial and Post-Conviction Supervision Unit: Integrates evidence-based practices into daily activities and interactions with individuals under supervision. Supervises individuals to provoke positive lifestyle changes, to maximize compliance to court-imposed conditions, reduce risk to the community, and provide correctional treatment. Develops supervision plans, maintains case records, and maintains office and field contacts with individuals under supervision to ensure adherence to court-imposed conditions and required correctional treatment. Detects and investigates violations of supervision, reports violations to the Court, and makes recommendations regarding the response to the reported violations.
Conditions of Employment
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study that demonstrates the capacity to understand and apply legal requirements and human relations skills relevant the position. Valid driver's license. United States citizenship or eligibility to work in the United States.
Education
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a field of academic study that demonstrates the capacity to understand and apply legal requirements and human relations skills relevant the position.
How You Will Be Evaluated
We will review your resume and supporting documents to ensure you meet the basic qualification requirements. We will evaluate each applicant who meets the basic qualifications on the information provided and evaluate your relevant professional, educational, and work experiences as it relates to specialized experience, identified in the Qualifications section above, required for this position.
Additional Information
All applicants must review the additional information available at Iowa Northern Probation Career Opportunities prior to applying. Earning Potential: Officers are eligible for semiannual or annual pay increases based on their step level and satisfactory performance. Promotional opportunities to specialist and supervisory positions are available on a competitive basis. The current specialist opportunities within the Northern District of Iowa include Sentencing Guidelines Specialist, Special Offender / Sex Offender Specialist, Evidence Based Practices Specialist, Treatment Services Specialist, and Location Monitoring Specialist. Specialist positions generally qualify as a CL29 with a salary range of $84,284 to $137,032. Supervisory positions generally qualify as a CL30 with a salary range of $99,611 to $161,910. About Us: Candidates will find the U.S. Probation Office in the Northern District of Iowa is an excellent place to launch or continue a career within the federal court system. We offer a positive and professional work environment, a competitive salary, and a full range of federal benefits. Our agency is comprised of 45 to 50 staff with locations in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Sioux City, Iowa. Our staff bring a diverse range of educational backgrounds, including studies in Education, English, Public Policy, Sociology, Psychology and Criminal Justice. Our staff also bring diverse professional experiences, including state probation and correctional officers, substance abuse counselors, and social workers. The Northern District of Iowa is an Equal Opportunity Employer
How to Apply
Email the following documents in a single PDF to [email protected] Email Subject Line: 25-05 USPO For additional questions, contact Human Resources via email or by phone at (319) 286-2395. Submit the Following Application Packet: Letter of application describing your interest in the position, explaining how your experience relates to the stated duties, responsibilities, and required skills and abilities. Completion of the AO78-Federal Judicial Branch Application of Employment. Resume with references. Copies of college transcripts; and Copies of the two most recent performance-based evaluations from current and/or previous employers.
Required Documents
Letter of application describing your interest in the position, explaining how your experience relates to the stated duties, responsibilities, and required skills and abilities. Completion of the AO78-Federal Judicial Branch Application of Employment. Resume with references. Copies of college transcripts; and Copies of the two most recent performance-based evaluations from current and/or previous employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for the US Probation Officer position at U.S. Courts?
The salary range for this position is $48,890 - $115,213/yr. This is a CL-25/28 position on the General Schedule pay scale. Actual pay may vary based on locality adjustments.
Where is the US Probation Officer job located?
This position is located in Sioux City, Iowa. This is an on-site position.
What qualifications do I need?
CL 28 - Salary Range: $70,894 to $115,213 Two years of specialized experience with a bachelor's degree. CL 27 - Salary Range: $59,133 to $96,147 Two years of specialized experience or a master's degree. CL 25 - Salary Range: $48,890 to $79,443 One year of specialized experience, superior academic achievement with a bachelor's degree, or one acad...
How do I apply for this position?
Apply through USAJobs.gov by clicking the 'Apply on USAJobs' button. You'll need a USAJobs account, a federal-style resume, and supporting documents. The deadline is Feb 8, 2027.
Is a security clearance required?
No security clearance is required for this position.
What does CL-25/28 mean?
CL-25/28 refers to the General Schedule grade level. Higher grades require more experience and offer higher pay. Visit our GS Pay Scale page for full salary tables by grade and locality.
What benefits do federal employees receive?
Federal employees receive comprehensive benefits including health insurance (FEHB), retirement through FERS, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with government matching, paid annual and sick leave, paid parental leave, life insurance, and student loan repayment programs.