Corrections Officer

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:GL-05: To qualify at the GL-05 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria: A. General Work Experience: Three years of general work experience. OR B. Education: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) in any field leading to a bachelor’s degree, at an accredited college or university. OR C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement. 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. Specialized Experience (for positions above GS-5): One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression is qualifying for positions at grade GS-6 and above. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Experience may have been gained in work such as police officer, mental health counselor in a residential facility, or detention officer. GL-06: To qualify at the GL-06 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria: A. Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower-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. OR B. Education: Successful completion of nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate study from an accredited school with major study in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Social Science, or other field of study related to the position. OR C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement. GL-07:To qualify at the GL-07 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria: A. Experience: One-year specialized 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. OR B. Education: Successful completion of one full academic year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate education from an accredited school with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other fields related to the position. OR C. Combination: A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement. GL-08: To qualify for the GL-08, you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the 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. 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. All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2024 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Wellpinit, Washington. If no specific chart is listed for this geographic location, see the “rest of U.S.” chart.
This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, District 8-Spokane Detention in Wellpinit, Washington. Permanent Change of Station (PCS), may be authorized in accordance with agency policy.