Correctional Program Officer (Unit Manager)

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: Education: GS-11: Ph.D.

or equivalent doctoral degree or 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree or LL.M., if related.

Major study – Correctional Administration, Criminology, Psychology, Social Work, Sociology, or other fields related to the position.

Graduate education must provide the applicant with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the duties of the position.

GS-12: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

OR Experience: GS-11 and GS-12: 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.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GS-11: Experience in directing the work of an organizational unit.

Experience in supervision of assignments, directing and reviewing work of subordinates, evaluating work performance, identifying training needs, recommending selections, promotions, awards, disciplinary or other actions, planning, scheduling and coordinating the work, counseling employees, and resolving employee complaints and grievances.

Experience in planning a program and assuring proper implementation.

GS-12: Experience in planning, developing and implementation of programs and operations specifically designed to meet the various needs of an inmate population within a correctional environment.

Experience in completing and ensuring quality control of inmate related issues such as progress reports, transfer recommendations, Victim/Witness notifications, Central Inmate Monitoring packets, and various correspondence with probation officers, attorneys, judges and other law enforcement officials.

Experience in developing, implementing and evaluating the operations within a housing unit, such as security procedures, safety and sanitation procedures, recreational programming, and assignment of living quarters, security and custody level.

Experience and knowledge of case management, treatment theories and techniques, recreational and vocational programs related to the management of an inmate population within a correctional environment.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GS-11 Only: Have a combination of education and experience.

This experience must have equipped you with the qualifications to perform the major duties of this position as described above. 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 Unit Manager performs a major role in the planning, development, administration and evaluation of a unit program for incarcerated federal offenders.

Must have broad understanding of the field of criminology and corrections, must display management skills in the administration of a treatment program, and must have a comprehensive knowledge of the dynamics of human behavior.

Directs and manages a housing unit within a federal correctional institution and is responsible for the total administration of the unit as well as the planning, development and implementation of individual programs tailored to meet the particular needs of inmates in the unit.

Along with all other correctional institution employees, incumbent is charged with responsibility for maintaining security of the institution.

The staff correctional responsibilities precede all others required by this position and are performed on a regular and recurring basis.