Correctional Associate Warden-Rutherford Correctional Center

State of North Carolina•Rutherford, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is located at Rutherford Correctional Center in Spindale, N.C. (Rutherford County), a 236-bed minimum custody facility employing approximately 49 staff. The Correctional Assistant Superintendent for Program I serves as a key member of the facility’s leadership team and oversees all program services within a small correctional facility housing fewer than 300 minimum custody offenders. This position provides comprehensive direction and coordination in planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating corrective, rehabilitative, and therapeutic programs that support offender growth and positive behavior. The role ensures staff development, policy compliance, program integrity, and alignment with departmental standards while also assisting with overall facility management, administrative processes, communication, and strategic planning. The position additionally serves as the Associate Warden during the Warden’s absence and rotates as Officer in Charge and Duty Officer. Established working hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm, with 24/7 availability required to meet facility needs. This position reports to the facility Warden. The Correctional Assistant Superintendent for Program I provides leadership and oversight for a wide range of facility programs including classification, chaplaincy, recreation, transitional services, work assignments, prison life initiatives, healthcare, mental health services, evidence-based interventions, and educational opportunities. The position supervises both direct and indirect staff, manages recruitment and performance processes, coordinates resources, ensures compliance with all departmental manuals and policies, and evaluates program effectiveness. This role maintains structured offender schedules, oversees daily and special activities, ensures proper implementation of programming and evidence-based practices, and conducts audits and inspections to maintain operational standards. In addition to overseeing programming, the position directs offender classification processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and policy compliant decisions related to custody levels, transfers, restrictions, and special reviews. The role supports facility operations by preparing reports, responding to inquiries from offenders, families, attorneys, agencies, and the public, coordinating communication among staff, resolving program related concerns, and contributing to budget planning. The position serves as a resource to internal and external stakeholders and consistently maintains professionalism, sound judgment, and effective communication to support safe, compliant, and productive facility operations. The position additionally serves as the Associate Warden during the Warden’s absence and rotates as Officer in Charge and Duty Officer.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an appropriately accredited institution and one year of supervisory or management level experience in correctional programs; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Must be eligible for certification by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission.
Must be eligible for certification by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education & Training Standards Commission.
Pass a criminal background check.
Produce a negative drug screening result.
Successfully complete medical and psychological evaluations.
Possess a valid driver’s license.
Must report or stay over during adverse weather events.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience applying departmental policies and procedures, with working knowledge of correctional programs and offender rehabilitation strategies.
Demonstrated experience in interpreting assessment results and psychological factors related to offender behavior, classification, and program needs.
Demonstrated experience in synthesizing data and applying knowledge of complex correctional operations to make accurate, defensible offender classification and program decisions.

Responsibilities

Provides leadership and oversight for a wide range of facility programs including classification, chaplaincy, recreation, transitional services, work assignments, prison life initiatives, healthcare, mental health services, evidence-based interventions, and educational opportunities.
Supervises both direct and indirect staff, manages recruitment and performance processes, coordinates resources, ensures compliance with all departmental manuals and policies, and evaluates program effectiveness.
Maintains structured offender schedules, oversees daily and special activities, ensures proper implementation of programming and evidence-based practices, and conducts audits and inspections to maintain operational standards.
Directs offender classification processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and policy compliant decisions related to custody levels, transfers, restrictions, and special reviews.
Supports facility operations by preparing reports, responding to inquiries from offenders, families, attorneys, agencies, and the public, coordinating communication among staff, resolving program related concerns, and contributing to budget planning.
Serves as a resource to internal and external stakeholders and consistently maintains professionalism, sound judgment, and effective communication to support safe, compliant, and productive facility operations.
Serves as the Associate Warden during the Warden’s absence and rotates as Officer in Charge and Duty Officer.