Older Listing

Posted: December 16, 2025 (30 days ago)

This job has been posted for 2-4 weeks. Consider applying soon if interested.

Quality Assurance Specialist (Quality Assurance Manager - UNICOR)

Justice, Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Department of Justice

Older

Salary

$63,148 - $96,116

per year

Closes

January 12, 2026

GS-5 Pay Grade

Base salary range: $33,878 - $44,042

Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience. Bachelor's degree.

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

Job Description

Summary

This job involves overseeing quality control in a federal prison factory run by UNICOR, ensuring products meet standards and operations run smoothly to support inmate work programs.

It requires monitoring production, inspecting items, analyzing data for issues, and handling complaints in a secure environment.

A good fit would be someone with a background in quality management or related technical fields who is detail-oriented and comfortable working in a corrections setting.

Key Requirements

  • Undergraduate or graduate degree in quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, engineering, computer science, or related fields
  • At least one year of specialized experience in quality assurance, inspection, or production monitoring equivalent to the next lower grade
  • For GL-09: Master's degree or 2 years of graduate education, or equivalent specialized experience
  • For GS-11: Ph.D. or 3 years of graduate education, or equivalent specialized experience with advanced knowledge in operations like procurement and engineering
  • Practical skills in reviewing procedures, analyzing quality data, verifying product compliance, and preparing reports using statistical methods
  • Ability to interpret technical data such as blueprints, specifications, and engineering drawings
  • Experience in auditing supply systems, investigating complaints, and implementing corrective actions

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 Requirements: Education: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study -- quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences, textiles, or other fields related to the position.

OR Experience: Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): Experience that demonstrated a practical knowledge in monitoring, controlling, or maintaining the quality of products or services in quality assurance, procurement, inspection, production, or related areas.

Examples include: Reviewing production activities and capabilities in light of contract quality requirements.

Reviewing written quality or inspection procedures for adequacy, and evaluating the implementation and effectiveness of quality/inspection systems, including sampling plans.

Analyzing quality data to detect unsatisfactory trends or weaknesses in the quality/inspection system.

Verifying by test or inspection, using sampling inspection or intensive product inspection techniques, that products comply with requirements prior to acceptance.

Identifying inadequacies and requesting corrective action. Computing data, summarizing results, and preparing reports or charts depicting pertinent relationships using statistical methods.

Investigating customer complaints and deficiency reports, and providing identification of causes to appropriate authorities.

Reading, interpreting, and applying technical data such as blueprints, engineering drawings, product specifications, or technical manuals.

Reviewing and evaluating supply systems operations and procedures through periodic audits and surveillance inspections.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements above, applicants must have: Education GL-09: Master's or equivalent graduate degree, OR 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree, OR LL.B or J.D., if related.

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: Quality assurance, statistics, mathematics, production management, industrial management, computer science, engineering, engineering technology, physical sciences textiles, or other fields related to the position.

Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work of the position.

OR Experience: GL-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 assisting in reviewing production capabilities to conform with contract requirements.

Experience assisting in preparing and presenting orientation programs, instructional materials, and briefings relative to quality assurance.

Experience evaluating and investigating quality trends, deficiencies and customer related problems and developing and implementing alternatives.

GS-11: Experience demonstrating a thorough working knowledge in all phases of the operation including: planning, procurement, contracting, production, engineering, inspection, testing, product design, shipping and customer relations.

Experience demonstrating technical and practical knowledge for the interpretation and utilization of engineering drawings, process flow charts, blueprints, contracts, specifications, standards, data collection and evaluation, and corrective action techniques.

Experience demonstrating comprehensive knowledge of quality assurance concepts, principles and practices as applied in private industry (ISO900X).

OR Combination of Education and Experience: 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. 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:

This position is located in UNICOR at a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) federal correctional facility.

The Manager has total responsibility for the quality of products manufactured at this site, including the authority to enforce quality requirements in the production areas.

Responsible to develop, implement and maintain a formal quality assessment program in compliance with the quality assurance program statement.

Leads the continuous evaluation and investigation of quality trends, deficiencies and customer related problems and is responsible to develop and implement acceptable alternatives.

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

The staff's 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: 12/16/2025 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 12/17/2025

Source: USAJOBS | ID: N-2026-0024