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Posted: February 25, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Correctional Program Officer (Deputy Chief of Staff)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Location

Washington, District of Columbia

Salary

$169,279 - $197,200

per year

Closes

March 11, 2026More DOJ jobs →

SES Pay Grade

Base salary range: $147,649 - $221,900

Typical requirements: Executive-level leadership experience. Senior executive qualifications required.

Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).

Job Description

Summary

This role involves assisting the top leaders of the federal prison system by handling complex decisions on operations, policies, and staff issues to keep prisons secure and help inmates prepare for life after release.

It requires working in a high-level office in Washington, D.C., dealing with sensitive information and advising on everything from daily management to big-picture strategies.

A good fit would be someone with years of leadership experience in corrections who can communicate well, solve tough problems, and guide teams effectively.

Key Requirements

  • At least one year of specialized experience in correctional programs, including knowledge of inmate custody, treatment, training, and release
  • Proven ability to perform supervisory or administrative duties, such as directing programs, training staff, and evaluating operations
  • Experience in executive leadership, strategic decision-making, and coalition-building across organizational levels and with external stakeholders
  • Skills in conducting policy studies, analyses, and reporting, including interpreting legislation, regulations, and agency guidance
  • Ability to make decisions and provide guidance on personnel issues like grievances, disciplinary actions, and performance management
  • Final Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (TS/SCI) clearance required due to access to sensitive facilities

Full Job Description

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: Basic Requirement: 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 have also 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.

AND In addition to the basic requirements, applicants must also have: Education: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience: Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Exercising executive leadership, strategic decision-making, coalition-building, and effective communication across multiple organizational levels and with external stakeholders.

Conducting and overseeing sensitive policy studies, analyses, and reporting activities, including the interpretation and implementation of legislation, regulations, and agency guidance.

Making decisions and providing authoritative guidance on complex personnel, organizational, or operational issues that directly affect staff, including resolving grievances, disciplinary actions, and performance management concerns.

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:

The position is located in the Executive Office of the Director, Bureau of Prisons (BOP or Bureau), within the Federal Prison System.

Shares in the duties and responsibilities of the Chief of Staff, providing advice and assistance to the Director and Deputy Director on a wide range of complex and sensitive issues relating to the law enforcement mission and management of the BOP.

Responsible for making significant decisions impacting the operational activities throughout the Federal Prison System. Requires access to the BOP's Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).

Accordingly, a final TS/SCI clearance is required.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 2/25/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 2/26/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CO-2026-0160