Correctional Program Specialist (National Policy and Program Coordinator)
Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Posted: January 30, 2026 (4 days ago)
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Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System
Department of Justice
Location
Salary
$125,776 - $163,514
per year
Type
Closes
This role involves leading the creation and oversight of policies and training programs for prison staff to help inmates prepare for life after release while maintaining a safe environment.
It requires working closely with prison administrators, visiting facilities, and advising on correctional best practices.
A good fit would be someone with extensive experience in prison management or policy development who enjoys strategic planning and team leadership.
Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.
To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.
Experience: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.
Specialized experience is directly related experience that included substantial involvement with a correctional program and provided a thorough knowledge of correctional techniques, or experience in meeting and dealing with people that demonstrated the ability to work effectively with inmates and associates in a correctional environment.
Experience must also have demonstrated the ability to perform supervisory or administrative duties successfully.
This includes (1) understanding the problems of custody, treatment, training, and release of inmates of penal or correctional institutions; (2) a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of an institution's internal policies, programs, regulations, and procedures; and (3) training subordinates, coordinating and directing activities and functions, evaluating performance of operations and the effectiveness of programs, and maintaining high standards or work objectives.
This experience must have been gained in an administrative position, or in other positions that included the successful direction, or assistance in the direction of, an entire correctional program or a major phase of such a program.
Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience in developing policy, providing advice, guidance, training, and/or evaluation for correctional programs in field institutions.
Experience in interacting with high ranking officials internal and external such as: community corrections managers, U.S. District Courts, U.S. Probation Offices, U.S.
Marshals, DC Superior Court, Immigration and Naturalization Service and congressional staff in response to Congressional inquiries.
Experience analyzing information and providing recommendations in the formulation, establishment, or modification of program objectives, plans and/or policies having direct impact on national agency operations.
Experience in developing and implementing training programs for Correctional Programs, as well as experience in instructing specialty classes for new staff.
If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as number of hours worked per week) spent in the activities.
**Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.** Major Duties:
Responsible for overseeing the development of policy and training programs for use by personnel working in correctional programs throughout the Bureau of Prisons.
Responsible for developing policy, providing expert advice in an area of correctional specialty, specifically, Policy and Training in the Correctional Programs Branch, Correctional Programs Division of the Bureau of Prisons, or to provide guidance, direction, supervision, advice and/or evaluation for this program in correctional facilities.
Must maintain close working contact with Regional Administrators, obtain comparative data, and make periodic visits to institutions.
Instrumental in development of guidelines used in the Program Review process.
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