Correctional Officer (Senior Officer Specialist)

About the role

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

What you will do

• Provides supervision, care and correctional treatment of inmates.
• Incumbent is concerned with maintenance of institution security contributing to the health and welfare of the inmates and the promotion of good public relations.
• Enforces rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody.
• From time to time, may be authorized to carry firearms and to use physical force, including deadly force, to maintain control of inmates.
• During institution emergencies or other periods of heavy workload or limited staff, may be required to work long and irregular hours, unusual shifts, Sundays, holidays and unexpected overtime.
• Information as to operations and procedures is provided by post orders, BOP program statements, local supplements, custodial manual, internal correspondence and staff meetings.
• Incumbent must be flexible and have a broad knowledge base to use own initiative in the resolution of problem situations.

Requirements

• 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: Meet CTAP eligibility criteria; Be rated well-qualified for the position [with a score of 85 or above] based on the competencies listed above; and 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

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.

If you are selected for this position and qualified based on education (i.e. basic education requirement and/or substitution of education), you will be required to provide an OFFICIAL transcript prior to your first day on duty.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position.

You will be assessed on the following competencies: Attention to Detail Customer Service Decision Making Flexibility Influencing/Negotiating Integrity/Honesty Interpersonal Skills Learning Reading Comprehension Self-Management Stress Tolerance Teamwork Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration.

Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration. You will be evaluated based on your assessment score and the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation. Applicants who receive a score of 85 or higher will be reviewed first, and reviews will continue until 10 qualified applicants have been identified.

Applicants who receive a score of 75 or below will not be reviewed. Your resume and supporting documents will be compared against your responses to the online assessment to determine whether you meet the qualification requirements listed in this announcement.

If the information in your application materials does not support your assessment responses, your score may be adjusted and/or you may be removed from consideration.

There are several parts of the application process that affect the overall evaluation of your application: Your resume, which is part of your USAJOBS profile; Your responses to the eligibility questions; Your responses to the online assessment; Your supporting documentation, if required. Time-in-Grade: Federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements for consideration.

You must meet all qualification requirements upon the cut off dates (end of month).

If you applied to more than one grade level, BE ADVISED that you may be selected at ANY grade level for which you applied and are found qualified (i.e., if the job is announced at the 9/11 grade levels and you apply for the GS/GL-9 and the GS-11, and you are found qualified at BOTH grade levels, you may be selected at either grade level).

Due Weight for Performance and Awards: Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official. The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.

Please submit: a copy of your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation; and a list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years. If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available.

Please indicate if any prior performance appraisals/evaluations were at an acceptable level. To preview the application questionnaire, click the following link: ***

Documents you must provide

• 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 - All Applicants: You must submit a resume (a two page or less resume is required) that includes your name, contact information, and relevant experience (cover letter optional).
• Additionally, for each job entry listed in your employment history, you must include: Official position title, Employer name and contact information, Start and end dates (month and year, MM/YYYY, format), Indicate number of hours worked per week, and A list of duties performed and accomplishments.
• 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 above AND clearly cite the duties performed.
• For more help, visit USAJOBS Help Center - What should I include in my resume?
• College Transcripts: If you are using education to qualify for this position, or education is required, you must submit a transcript containing a school name and student name in addition to full listing of courses, credit earned, grade and grade-point-average, subject area, degree(s) earned, and dates of award (if applicable).
• Note: If you are selected for this position, official transcripts will be required prior to your first day.
• SF-50: If you are a current/former federal government employee, you must provide an unredacted copy of your latest SF-50.
• Proof of CTAP Eligibility: If you are a displaced Federal employee claiming eligibility under CTAP, you must submit: A copy of the agency notice (i.e., letter of intent to separate, separation notice, or agency RIF letter), Your most recent performance appraisal, and Most recent SF-50 showing current/former position, grade, promotion potential, and duty location.
• Due Weight for Performance: You must submit a copy of your most recent performance appraisal, and A list of any awards (e.g. superior performance awards, special act or achievement awards, quality step increase, etc.) you received in the last 5 years.
• Any performance appraisal/evaluation and award documentation you provide will be forwarded to the selecting official.
• The selecting official will review this documentation and give it due weight consideration during the overall selection process.
• Due weight for performance applies to federal and non-federal work.
• If you do not have your most recent performance appraisal/evaluation, please submit a statement as to why it is not available.
• Note: See USAJOBS Current & Former Employees for more information.
• Professional Certification/License: if applicable.
• We cannot be held responsible for incompatible software, delays in mail service, applicant application errors, etc.

Benefits

SALARY RANGE: The salary range for this announcement reflects Rest of US GL-05/01 $51,632 to highest GL-08/10 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA $98,113. See current pay scales for locality area for which you are applying at *** and search pay tables.

ADDITIONAL SALARY INFORMATION:A 15%-50% Recruitment Incentive will be paid to the Selectee(s) who meets the criteria for recruitment bonuses. For more information, visit BOP Incentives. Retention Incentives may be authorized upon completion of the recruitment service agreement period.

Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowances (COLA):There is an 8.64% (of basic pay) Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) authorized for FDC Honolulu, HI, and a 2.49% for MDC Guaynabo, PR. See COLA and Locality Pay Rates in Nonforeign Areas for more information.

What to expect next

GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION PREFERENCES: In this announcement, you will be required to select at least one preferred duty location. These preferences help us understand your interest, but they cannot be guaranteed. Final duty assignments are determined by the Bureau's staffing needs, availability of positions, and funding.

You may receive a final offer for a location outside your stated preferences. By applying, you acknowledge that you may be offered employment at a duty station outside of your preferred duty locations within the Bureau of Prisons and its nationwide mission requirements. To explore available BOP institutions and offices, please visit BOP Locations.

We will notify you of the outcome after each step of the application process has been completed. However, you can also see your application status any time by logging in to your USAJOBS account and looking on the "Applications" page. Click the position title to expand the display for each application in the list.

We strive to extend a final offer of employment within 80 days from the close of this announcement. Additional selections may be made from this announcement within 80 days. When deemed necessary, the selection process may be extended up to 180-days from the date the certificate(s), (Exception, Best Qualified Lists) is/are generated to make a selection.

Additional information

Additional selections may be made from this announcement. Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution. Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

AGE REQUIREMENTS: Although 5 U.S.C. 3307 established a maximum entry age of 37 for initial appointment to a position in a Bureau of Prisons institution, applicants can be considered up to age 39. If you are above the maximum entry age and have prior federal law enforcement coverage, you MUST submit an SF-50 to verify prior coverage.

Qualified Preference Eligible Veterans may be exempt from meeting the maximum age. Refer to the Required Documents Section for the appropriate documentation to submit to validate veteran eligibility. The representative rate for this position is $66,999 per annum ($32.10 per hour).

Special Conditions of Employment Section: 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.

All applicants not currently working in an institution will be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding convictions of misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence in order to be authorized to carry a firearm. Successful completion of the "Introduction to Correctional Techniques," three-week training course at Glynco, Georgia is required.

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. Although competitive and non-competitive applications are being accepted, the selecting official may elect to have only one group reviewed.

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests: If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application.

Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis.

If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision.

You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement.

To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments. (***)