Correctional Officer (Senior Officer Specialist)

Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System • Aliceville, AL

4d

About The Position

Correctional professionals foster a humane and secure environment and support public safety by preparing individuals for successful reentry into communities. The Correctional Officer provides supervision, care, and correctional treatment of inmates, maintains institution security, contributes to inmates’ health and welfare, and promotes good public relations. The officer enforces rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability, and inmate conduct to ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody. The officer may be authorized to carry firearms and use physical force, including deadly force, to maintain control of inmates. During emergencies or periods of heavy workload or limited staffing, the officer may be required to work long and irregular hours, unusual shifts, Sundays, holidays, and unexpected overtime. Guidance on operations and procedures is provided through post orders, Bureau of Prisons program statements, local supplements, the custodial manual, internal correspondence, and staff meetings. The role requires flexibility, broad knowledge, initiative, sound judgment, and the ability to resolve problem situations.

Applicants must meet the applicable education or experience qualifications for the GL-05 through GL-08 levels, as well as the medical requirements for Correctional Officers. The duties involve unusual mental and nervous pressure and arduous physical exertion, including prolonged walking and standing, restraining prisoners in emergencies, and participating in escape hunts. Applicants must be physically capable of performing the duties efficiently and must not have a defect or disease that creates an employment hazard to themselves or others.

Appointment is subject to satisfactory completion of a urinalysis, physical examination, and background investigation. Applicants are subject to National Crime Information Center and credit checks. Some applicants must complete an inquiry regarding misdemeanor domestic violence convictions to be authorized to carry a firearm. Successful completion of a three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques course in Glynco, Georgia, is required. The announcement states that the representative rate is $66,999 per year ($32.10 per hour); the salary range varies by grade and locality. A 15%–50% recruitment incentive may be paid to qualifying selectees, and retention incentives may be authorized after completion of the recruitment service agreement period. The announcement also describes applicable federal benefits, without specifying a particular benefits list.

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship is required.
• Meet the applicable education or experience qualifications for the grade sought (GL-05 through GL-08).
• GL-05 education qualification: successful completion of a full four-year course of study leading to a bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university.
• GL-06 education qualification: 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of graduate-level education in criminal justice, social science, or another related field.
• GL-07 education qualification: one full academic year of graduate education with a major study in criminal justice, social science, or another related field.
• GL-08: education cannot substitute for specialized experience.
• GL-05 experience qualification: at least three years of full-time general experience, including one year equivalent to GL-04, demonstrating aptitude for correctional work and relevant personal attributes.
• GL-06 experience qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade.
• GL-07 experience qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade.
• GL-08 experience qualification: at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade, gained in a correctional facility involving correctional treatment, care, custody, and control of inmates.
• Meet the medical requirements, including physical capability to perform arduous duties involving prolonged walking and standing, emergency restraint of prisoners, and participation in escape hunts; be free of defects or disease that may pose employment hazards.
• Complete a urinalysis, physical examination, and background investigation to the satisfaction of the appointing authority.
• Successful completion of the required three-week Introduction to Correctional Techniques course at Glynco, Georgia.
• Applicants not currently working in an institution may be required to complete a qualification inquiry regarding misdemeanor domestic violence convictions to be authorized to carry a firearm.
• Meet all qualification requirements by the announcement closing date of 09/30/2027.
• If qualifying through education, provide legible transcripts with the application; degrees and coursework must be from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Applicants qualifying based on education must provide an official transcript before their first day on duty if selected.
• Applicants above the maximum entry age must submit an SF-50 verifying prior federal law enforcement coverage; qualified preference-eligible veterans may be exempt from the maximum age requirement.
• For CTAP selection priority, eligible applicants must meet CTAP criteria, be rated well-qualified with a score of 85 or above based on listed competencies, and submit the required supporting documentation.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, care for, and provide correctional treatment to inmates.
• Maintain institution security and contribute to inmate health and welfare.
• Promote good public relations.
• Enforce rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability, and inmate conduct.
• Ensure judicial sanctions are carried out and inmates remain in custody.
• Use initiative and sound judgment to resolve problem situations.
• When authorized, carry firearms and use physical force, including deadly force, to maintain control of inmates.
• During emergencies or periods of heavy workload or limited staffing, work long and irregular hours, unusual shifts, Sundays, holidays, and unexpected overtime as required.

Benefits

• A 15%–50% recruitment incentive may be paid to selectees who meet the criteria.
• Retention incentives may be authorized upon completion of the recruitment service agreement period.
• Federal employees and their families have access to a comprehensive benefits package; specific benefits are not listed.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level