Corrections Officer

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards ). GL-05: Undergraduate Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor’s degree, in an accredited college or university, is qualifying for GS-5 level positions; OR General Experience (for GS-5 positions): Three years of general experience, 1 year of which was equivalent to at least GS-4, are qualifying for positions at the GS-5 level. This experience must have demonstrated the aptitude for acquiring knowledge, skills, and abilities required for correctional work, and, in addition, demonstrate the possession of personal attributes important to the effectiveness of correctional officers, such as: Ability to meet and deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns. Ability to be persuasive in selling and influencing ideas. Ability to lead, supervise, and instruct others. Sympathetic attitude towards the welfare of others. Ability to reason soundly and to think out practical solutions to problems. Ability to make decisions and act quickly, particularly under stress. Poise and self-confidence, and ability to remain calm during emergency situations. Qualifying general experience may have been gained in work such as: Social case work in a welfare agency or counseling in other types of organizations. Classroom teaching or instructing. Responsible rehabilitation work, e.g., in an alcoholic rehabilitation program. Supervising planned recreational activities or active participation in community action programs. Management or supervisory work in a business or other organization that included directing the work flow and/or direct supervision of others. Sales work, other than taking and filling orders as in over-the-counter sales. GL-06: Education: Nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate level education in a major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to this position; OR Specialized Experience: One year of specialized experience to the GS/GL-05 grade level assisting with the supervision and care of criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility. Experience at this level may include assisting with or performing tasks such as control room, booking, intake, inmate transport, maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates, in accordance with policies and procedures. GL-07: Education: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position is qualifying for the GL-07; OR Specialized Experience: One year of experience at or equivalent to the GS/GL-06 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility; maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates; and experience with Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Management Plans. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; performing inmate transport; and providing guidance to lower-level correctional officers, in accordance with policies, procedures, and detention standards. GL-08: Specialized Experience: One year of experience at or equivalent to the GS/GL-07 grade level gained in a correctional facility with responsibilities in correctional treatment, care, custody, and control of inmates. Examples of this qualifying experience are supervising and instructing inmates regarding proper sanitation, personal hygiene and work habits; maintaining the control and discipline of inmates in such areas as the housing units, recreation areas, dining rooms, etc.; and responsibility for the custody and control of inmates who require special handling. Physical Demands The duties of a correctional officer, on any shift involves unusual mental and nervous pressure. It requires arduous physical exertion including prolonged walking, standing, and sitting while transporting, lifting of moderately heavy to light objects, restraining of offenders in emergencies and participating in escape and walk-away hunts. Incumbent must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of the position and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others. Work Environment Work performed by this position requires frequent and direct contact with individuals or groups of individuals in confinement who are suspected or convicted of Tribal and/or Federal offenses. Daily stress, exposure to disease, and exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as direct physical attack are an inherent part of this position. Incumbent must be able to go anywhere they are detailed for temporary duty on short notice and may be required to remain away from their regular duty station for extended periods of time to meet the needs of the BIA. MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE LIMIT: The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement. MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS: The duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Upon selection, employees holding primary law enforcement positions must reside within 50 miles of their duty station unless a waiver is approved by the OJS Director or Assistant Director. A failure to comply may result in removal from a primary law enforcement position All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement. Merit Promotion candidates must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the announcement closing date. Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.
This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, District 4-Mescalero Agency in Mescalero, New Mexico. The Office of Justice Services is searching for individuals to provide detention services. The closing date of this announcement has been extended to solicit for additional applicants. Those who have applied previously do not need to reapply, unless updating and/or submitting additional documents.