Correctional Program Officer (Administrator, Program Review Branch - Operations)

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

Duties

Serves as Administrator, Program Review Branch (Operations) and is responsible for the coordination of objectives and activities of the Branch. The Administrator is under the direct supervision of the Senior Deputy Assistant Director for the Program Review Division.

Charged with monitoring the Bureau's system of evaluations and reviews which are designed to determine program effectiveness and operational efficiency; test administrative and financial controls; prevent and detect fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement; assess compliance with policy and regulations; and generally ensure the integrity and quality of programs and operations throughout the agency.

Also charged with planning, organizing, conducting and analyzing evaluations in the following areas: Financial Management, Employee Services, Health Services, Community Corrections, Correctional Programs, Correctional Services, Federal Prison Industries, Food Service, Education Services, Facilities Management, Information Security Services, Psychology Services, Religious Services, Safety and other areas as directed by the Executive Staff of the Bureau of Prisons.

Salary

• $169,279 - $197,200/year

Conditions of Employment

Career Transition Programs (CTAP): This program applies 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 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.

Qualifications

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

Education:

There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position.

Experience:

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 a 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:

• Experience assigning work to subordinates based on priorities, selective consideration of the difficulties and requirements or assignments, and the capabilities of employees; includes reviewing assigned work on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis and approving leave.

• Experience giving advice, counsel or instruction to employees on both work and administrative matters; includes hearing and resolving complaints for employees, referring group grievances and more serious unresolved complaints to a higher level supervisor or manager.

• Experience reviewing problem areas with agency program managers and recommending changes in policies and program directions to correct deficiencies, strengthen controls, and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness.

• Experience examining evaluation work papers to ensure that conclusions, findings and recommendations contained in the evaluations reports are accurate and fully supported by sufficient, reliable and relevant evidence.

If applicable, 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.**

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 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION INFORMATION: This announcement is for a specific duty location. While your selection of a preferred duty assignment indicates your interest, final duty assignments depend on the Bureau's staffing needs, available positions, and funding. By applying, you acknowledge that you may be offered employment at a duty station within an approved Bureau of Prisons worksite other than the listed location, if required to support the Bureau's nationwide mission. Division: Program Review Branch, Program Review Division, Central Office, Washington D.C. The representative rate for this position is $186,207 per year ($89.22 per hour). Special Conditions of Employment Section: This position IS NOT included in the bargaining unit. 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 urinalysis, physical, and background investigation. All applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and credit checks. The addresses listed on the USAJOBS account/resume must be the primary residence at the time of application. You may be required to provide proof of residence. Additional selections may be made if vacancies occur within the life of the certificate. Although competitive and non-competitive applications are being accepted, the selecting official may elect to have only one group reviewed. This is a secondary/non-law enforcement coverage position. Individuals that DO NOT have three years of law enforcement coverage gained in a primary law enforcement position by the closing date of the vacancy announcement are ineligible for secondary law enforcement position(s) and coverage but may still be considered for a non-law enforcement position. Individuals selected who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and who have not had three years "primary" law enforcement retirement coverage, will not be covered by law enforcement retirement while in this position. To regain coverage, individuals must return to a position with "primary" coverage. Current Federal Law Enforcement Employees: Completion of the mandatory courses "Introduction to Correctional Techniques (ICT) Phase I and Phase II" is a condition of employment for this secondary law enforcement position. Employees who have not yet completed ICT Phase I and II will be required to do so after entering the position. This requirement does not apply to non-law-enforcement positions. Eligibility for secondary law enforcement coverage is determined in accordance with applicable regulations. Coverage may be attained through any qualifying federal law enforcement officer service that meets the definitions in 5 U.S.C. 8401(17) and satisfies the conditions in 5 CFR 842.803. 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.

• 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.
• Employees applying with an interchange agreement must provide proof of their permanent appointment.
• A copy of their latest yearly performance appraisal/evaluation.
• Proof of 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 11/16/2026.

If applicable see Notice for Preference Eligible Veterans Applicants

Reasonable Accommodation: To request reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please contact National Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator (NRAC) at BOP-HRM-NRAC@bop.gov for assistance.

To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13108795