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Posted: January 29, 2026 (1 day ago)

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Correctional Treatment Specialist (Special Population Program Coordinator)

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Fresh

Salary

$64,102 - $97,577

per year

Closes

February 20, 2026

GS-11 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $62,107 - $80,737

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-10. Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 years graduate study.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves coordinating programs for special groups within a federal prison, helping inmates address personal challenges and prepare for life after release through counseling and group activities.

It focuses on creating a safe, supportive environment while ensuring security and public safety.

A good fit would be someone with a background in social sciences or counseling who enjoys working with people in need of rehabilitation and has experience in group facilitation or case management.

Key Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree with at least 24 semester hours in behavioral or social sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, criminal justice, social work), or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • For GS-11: Three years of graduate education leading to a Ph.D. in corrections or related field (e.g., criminal justice, psychology, counseling), or equivalent doctoral degree
  • Or, at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-09 level, such as analyzing inmate risks and needs, facilitating group sessions, or trauma-informed counseling in correctional or criminal justice settings
  • Experience in casework, counseling, or social rehabilitation in correctional institutions or similar environments
  • Skills in trauma-informed facilitation, including group process design, conflict resolution, and adult learning principles
  • Ability to create and maintain documentation for individual and group activities
  • U.S. citizenship and ability to pass background checks for federal prison employment

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: Basic Requirements: A. Degree - that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences. OR B.

Combination of education and experience - that included at least 24 semester hours of course work in the behavioral or social sciences, and that provided applicants with knowledge of the behavioral or social sciences equivalent to a 4-year degree as shown in A above.

Evaluation of Education: Courses, such as sociology, correctional administration, criminal justice, government/political science, psychology, social work, counseling, and other related social or behavioral science courses may be used to satisfy the 24-semester-hour requirement.

Evaluation of Experience: Experience must have been gained in (1) casework in a correctional institution or in another criminal justice setting; (2) counseling in any setting, provided it required diagnostic or treatment planning skills to achieve specific social or occupational goals; or (3) work treating persons in need of social rehabilitation.

AND In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, you must have: Education: GL-09: Two years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a master's degree OR master's or equivalent graduate degree.

GS-11: Three years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

Graduate Education must have been in corrections or a related field, such as criminal justice, sociology, psychology, counseling, social work, or other course work related to the position.

OR Experience: GS-09 and GS-11: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade level.

To be creditable, this experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular qualifications to perform successfully the duties of the position, and must typically be in or related to the position to be filled.

Some examples of this qualifying experience are: GL-09: Experience analyzing and interpreting individual risks and needs to assist with goal setting and target accomplishments.

Experience with group training from a linear outline using adult learning principles and helping the group apply information presented.

Experiencing creating and maintaining group and individual documentation.

GS-11: Experience with trauma informed process facilitation: helping the thinking of the group; providing space for open communication; understanding flexible vs.

linear leadership; and identifying and encouraging individual insights.

Experience designing and planning trauma informed objectives of group sessions, setting the context and expectations, monitoring the efficiency of the group process and adjusting as necessary, designing group process to match individual participant needs, and selecting the proper facilitation techniques.

Experience identifying underlying participant conflicts and using tension within the group process.

OR Combination of Education and Experience: GL-09 and GS-11: Combinations of successfully completed graduate level education and specialized experience may be used to meet total experience requirements.

Only graduate level education in excess of the amount required for the next lower grade may be combined with 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 or 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:

Functions as a Special Population Program Coordinator within the secure confines of a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility Provides comprehensive clinical psychological services to inmates who are members of a special population in an effort to help inmates address issues specific to the special population of which they are a member.

Performs duties consistent with the identified target population. Provides group and individual counseling to inmates who are members of a targeted special population.

Assist in community/reentry planning to address special population needs which may include residential reentry center placement, community treatment services, hospital placements, street releases or coordinating with the United States Probation Office.

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.

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Posted on USAJOBS: 1/29/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 1/30/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: WRO-2026-0051