Correctional Program Officer (Chief, Academy Division)

Corrections professionals who foster a humane and secure environment and ensure public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into our communities.

Duties

Oversees the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Information Center, located at National Corrections Academy (NCA), and is responsible for the management and supervision of the division which includes program planning and policy development, cooperative agreement and contract administration, personnel and fiscal management, operations, utilization of technology and program evaluation, professional contacts with national state and local agencies and organizations and contacts with the media and the public.

Analyzes, monitors and evaluates complex federal, state and local correctional issues to develop policy and programmatic recommendations that deal with persistent and emerging issues having impact on learning, performance and training models as well as programs for application in the field of corrections.

Salary

• $125,776 - $192,331/year

Conditions of Employment

Career Transition Programs (CTAP or ICTAP): These programs apply to Federal and/or DOJ employees who meet the definition of surplus or displaced from a position in the competitive service. To receive selection priority for this position, you must:

1. Meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria;
2. Be rated well-qualified for the position, scoring at least half of the total possible points for the vacancy KSAs or competencies; and
3. Submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP eligibility:
   • A copy of the agency notice (i.e., separation notice or agency RIF letter),
   • Most recent performance appraisal, and
   • Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
   • See USAJOBS' Career Transition Programs for more information.

EEO Statement/Policy: The United States government does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service or other non-merit factor. More information can be found here: U.S Department of Justice - Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Key Requirements:

• U.S. Citizenship is Required.
• See Special Conditions of Employment Section.
• Selective Service Requirement

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements:

Education:

GS-14 and GS-15: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience:

GS-14 and GS-15: 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 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-14:

• Experience with analyzing Federal, state or local correctional policies and procedures to recommend improvements in areas such as education, training and developmental needs for various levels of managers and supervisors to include Senior Level leaders.
• Experience in developing specialized training curricula to provide competency based performance and training programs for corrections professional.
• Experience in preparing a variety of written correspondence, reports, or program initiatives pertaining to the evaluation of training programs and policies of a correctional agency.
• Experience assisting correctional professionals in the development and support of evidence based education, adult learning programs, training programs, and other competency-focused interventions.

GS-15:

• Experience developing and providing policy, procedure, and practical guidelines for federal, state, and officials in administering and creating effective use of technology in support of learning, performance, learning management systems and training programs for the field of corrections.
• Experience establishing and maintaining contact with professional organizations focusing on learning, performance improvement, and training programs from the general fields of business administration, the public sector, human resource management and specifically corrections.
• Experience in training and development for the areas of leadership and management, work place performance enhancement, distance learning and cognitive behavioral programming.
• Experience utilizing technology in support of learning, performance, learning management systems and training programs for the field of corrections.

AND

Selective Placement Factor:

GS-14 and GS-15: Applicants applying for this position MUST also possess the following Selective Factor. In the event that you do not possess the Selective Factor, you will be found ineligible for the position.

Applicants must possess the following:

• Must have five (5) years of experience in an executive-level position within the field of corrections, with responsibilities directly related to leadership development, training, learning, and performance improvement for criminal justice professionals working in jails, prisons, and/or community supervisions. Executive experience may include leading a national, statewide, or agency-wide training division; serving as an Assistant/Deputy/Regional Director responsible for training and professional development; or serving as a Training Academy Director or equivalent within a corrections or criminal justice agency.

AND

• Must have five (5) years in a managerial or supervisory leadership capacity with responsibility for developing and implementing an organization's strategic training and learning agenda; managing annual budgets; overseeing grant development or training related funding initiatives; authoring reports on training outcomes and organizational performance; and designing, implementing, and evaluating large-scale training curricula, leadership programs, performance systems, and evidence-informed correctional practices across multiple operational settings. He/she must demonstrate experience integrating emerging research, adult learning principles, and innovative training methodologies to improve staff performance, operational effectiveness, and organizational culture.

AND

• Must also demonstrate the ability to build and sustain national partnerships and professional networks, collaborate effectively with various criminal justice stakeholders, and represent the organization through training initiatives, inter-agency collaborations, and national outreach. The candidate must have served as a subject matter expert in correctional leadership, training, or professional development on a council or other governing board, advisory committee, task force or professional work-group. Experience serving as a presenter or panelist at regional or national conferences focused on corrections, leadership development, training or workforce performance is required.

If applicable, credit will be given for paid and unpaid experience. To receive proper credit, you must show the actual time (such as the number of hours worked per week) spent in activities. **Your eligibility for consideration will be based on your responses to the questions in the application.**

Education ONLY if education is a requirement/substitution for specialized experience, applicant MUST upload legible transcripts as verification of educational requirement. Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, Degree and Date Awarded (if applicable). All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For a list of schools that meet this criteria, Click Here. Foreign Education: For information regarding foreign education requirements, please see Foreign Diploma and Credit Recognition at the U.S. Department of Education website: Recognition of Foreign Qualifications. Other Information Special Conditions of Employment Section: Initial appointment to a supervisory/managerial position requires a one-year probationary period. The incumbent is subject to geographic relocation to meet the needs of the agency. Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a pre-employment and panel interview, urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to, and must satisfactorily pass all screening requirements in relation to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit check. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. SALARY RANGE: Salary reflected on this vacancy announcement is for the "Rest of the U.S."; however, the selectee's salary may be higher based on the worksite/duty station of the appointee. See Salary Tables for your location. This is a non-law enforcement coverage position. This is a National Institute of Corrections (NIC) position. Individuals selected for these positions will lose law enforcement coverage and will need to return to a position with "primary" law enforcement coverage to regain coverage. Required Documents

Failure to provide legible required documents and/or follow the prescribed format often results in removal from consideration. If uploading documentation, do not identify/save your documents utilizing a special character such as %, #, @, etc. Documentation should be identified/saved as VA Letter, DD-214, or Transcripts.

• Veterans' Preference Documentation:
  • Failure to submit all required documents at the time of application will result in the loss of claimed preference eligibility.
    • DD-214: Veterans MUST provide a DD-214 demonstrating that they have been discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions (i.e., the individual must have received either an honorable or general discharge).
    • SF-15: If you are a disabled veteran, a Purple Heart recipient, widow/widower of a veteran, the spouse of a disabled veteran or the parent of a disabled or deceased veteran, you must submit:
      • A completed Standard Form (SF) 15, "Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference" AND all required documentation identified on the SF-15. NOTE: A Department of Veterans Affairs letter must contain the Veteran's Name and Combined Service-Connected Evaluation. For a copy of the most current SF-15, Click Here.
      • If you are on active duty and expect to be discharged or released from active duty service within 120 days, you may submit a Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty from the appropriate Branch Personnel Office containing the following information:
        1. The military service dates including the expected discharge or release date; and
        2. The character of service (must be an honorable or general discharge); and
        3. Any qualifying service/campaign/expeditionary medals.
• Resume (limited to 2 pages) must include your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional). Experience that would not normally be part of the Federal employee's position is creditable when documented by satisfactory evidence of qualifying experience (e.g., a memorandum from the manager, Human Resource Manager, SF- 52, MOU, etc.). If providing a memorandum, it must follow the format below AND clearly cite the duties performed.
  • To receive credit for experience, your resume and/or any satisfactory evidence must
    include:
    • Start date and end date in month/year format (MM/YYYY) AND
    • Number of hours worked per week.
• SF-50: If you are a current/former federal government employee, you must provide an unredacted copy of your latest SF-50.
• Proof of ICTAP/CTAP eligibility, Click Here, if applicable.

For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - How do I write a resume for a federal job?

We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

How to Apply

You must apply through the online application system at www.USAJOBS.gov. Follow the prompts to register, answer a few questions and submit all required documents.

This position may require the completion of additional forms and/or supplemental materials as described under the Required Documents section. Please carefully review the complete job announcement and the "How to Apply" instructions. Failure to provide the required information and/or materials will result in your application not being considered for employment.

USAJOBS Help Center - How to Add a Resume to Your Profile

All required supporting documentation MUST be received by the Consolidated Staffing Unit by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on 09/10/2026.

If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13050401