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Bureau of Prisons/Federal Prison System

Correctional Officer (Senior Officer Specialist)

Department of Justice · Multiple Locations

Salary
$51,632 - $98,113 per year
Pay grade
GL-5 to 8
Schedule
Full-time
Appointment
Permanent
Opened
Nov 1, 2026
Closes
Sep 30, 2027
Remote
No
Telework eligible
No
Openings
Many
Security clearance
Other
Promotion potential
8
Announcement
HR-N-27-0007

Who may apply: Career transition (CTAP, ICTAP, RPL) · Internal to an agency

Apply on USAJOBS

Applications are submitted on USAJOBS.gov, not on Careers.org. Always confirm details in the official announcement.

Summary

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

Duties

  • 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.

Qualifications

To be considered for the position, you must meet the following qualification requirements: Education: GL-05: Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in any field leading to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. GL-06: 9 semester hours or 14 quarter hours of graduate level education in a major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to this position. GL-07: One full academic year of graduate education with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other field related to the position is qualifying for GL-07. GL-08: There is no substitution of education for specialized experience for this position. OR Experience: GL-05: At least 3 years of full-time general experience, one year of which was equivalent to the GL-04 grade level. This experience must have demonstrated the aptitude for acquiring the qualifications required for correctional work, and, in addition, demonstrate the possession of personal attributes important to the effectiveness of correctional officers: General experience is defined as progressively responsible work that demonstrates the ability to: Follow and apply rules, procedures, or regulations. Use sound judgment in decision-making. Communicate effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Maintain composure and take appropriate action in emergency or stressful situations. Ability to meet and deal with people of differing backgrounds and behavioral patterns. Ability to be persuasive in selling and influencing ideas. Ability to lead, supervise, and instruct others. Sympathetic attitude towards the welfare of others. Ability to reason soundly and to think out practical solutions to problems. Ability to make decisions and act quickly, particularly under stress. Poise and self-confidence, and ability to remain calm during emergency situations. Social case work in a welfare agency or counseling in other types of organizations. Classroom teaching or instructing. Responsible rehabilitation work, e.g., in an alcoholic rehabilitation program. Supervising planned recreational activities or active participation in community action programs. Management or supervisory work in a business or other organization that included directing the workflow and/or direct supervision of others. Sales work, other than taking and filling orders as in over-the-counter sales. For additional examples of qualifying general experience, please refer to the "How To Apply" section of this announcement. GL-06: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained: Correctional Officer Detention Officer Police Officer Border Patrol Agent State Trooper Sheriff Park Ranger Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail Mental Health Counselor in a Residential Facility Some examples of this qualifying experience are: Experience with instructing inmates with proper housekeeping and sanitation. Experience working as a Police Officer responding to domestic disturbances and issuing citations for law violations. Experience in investigating crime scenes as a State Trooper. Experience as a Mental Health Worker in a Mental Health Lockdown facility. GL-07: You must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent in difficulty and complexity to the next lower grade. Specialized experience must have equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position to be filled. Examples of occupations where specialized experience may have been gained: Correctional Officer Jailer Detention Officer Deputy Sheriff supervising inmates in a jail. Military Corrections (Brig, Internment/Resettlement Speciali…

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.

Job data from USAJOBS.gov. Careers.org is not affiliated with or endorsed by OPM. Retrieved Nov 4, 2026, 1:54 AM EST.