Department: Corrections
Position Type: Temporary
Schedule Type: Part-Time
Hourly Rate: $18.33
Overview
Corrections professionals in Vermont work in a system that believes in the basics of human change. Intensive training prepares entry-level Correctional Officers for a career that blends security work, human services, and leadership opportunities. Whether you are motivated by the opportunity to make a difference or to explore personal growth, working as a temporary Correctional Officer may be the best decision that ever led you in unexpected directions. Whether or not your path as a temporary officer leads to permanent employment (which is often the case), the skills you acquire and the impact you make will endure.
Training
Temporary officers receive the same core training as permanent staff. The start of your career in Corrections begins with a week at the correctional facility observing the duties and role of a correctional officer. Then, the next five weeks of instruction are at the Vermont Correctional Academy, where you will learn the core skill set of a corrections professional. After graduation, you will participate in eighty hours of onsite training supervised by staff at your new facility.
Temporary Employment
Temporary employees do not receive benefits and cannot work more than 1280 hours per year. Temporary employees may very likely work 40 hours per week but could work less. The number of hours worked will vary from facility to facility, depending on current needs. Temporary work is typically for variable hours and is not expected to be full-time. The State does not guarantee 40 hours of work per week.
Hourly rates within the Classified or Temporary Bargaining Unit Pay Plan will change effective January 5, 2020. At that time, the starting rate (Step 1) for this job opening will be $18.33 per hour.
Who May Apply
This position, Correctional Officer I - Temporary, is open to all State employees and external applicants.
This is an ongoing posting to fill temporary positions that may arise in the facility. See the description above regarding temporary employment.
AHS Affirmative
The Vermont Agency of Human Services strives to build a diverse and inclusive community. It is our fundamental belief that in order to create and sustain a healthier Vermont, we as an organization must honor the cultures, beliefs, and values of those we serve in order to foster an environment of mutual respect, acceptance and equal opportunity. We are committed to building and maintaining a multicultural and diverse workforce which reflects the increasing diversity of Vermont. To view the State of Vermont's Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy, please click here.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Graduation from high school or GED.
Experience: Two years of full-time work experience. Preference will be given to individuals who have previous experience working in a correctional setting or have a military background. College coursework from an accredited college or university may be substituted on a year for year basis for the experience.
Minimum Physical Requirements
Adequate physical condition to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. As a prospective Correctional Officer, it is important to understand that one of the essential tasks associated with the job is the ability to don a self-contained breathing apparatus and perform evacuation procedures, potentially including search and rescue functions. The Department of Corrections must adhere to OSHA standards that relate to the use of such devices, including CFR 1910.134(e), "Medical Evaluation," which states: "Employers must provide a medical evaluation to determine each employee's fitness to wear a respirator."
Position Expectations
Successful applicants must be willing to meet ALL of the following job requirements: willing to work any shift (7 a.m.-3:00 p.m; 3:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m or 11:00 p.m.-7:00 a.m) if applicable, be willing to report to work each day clean-shaven (mustache that does not extend beyond the upper lip is optional); willing to work every weekend, with regular days off during the week; willing to work all holidays which do not fall on scheduled days off; must be willing to work on the day(s) off or double shifts (16 hours); willing to conduct strip searches and visually check body cavities of inmates of the same gender for contraband (no contact); willing to supervise inmates, regardless of their gender, while they are in the bathroom or shower area.
DOC PREA Requirements
Conviction History Requirements: Candidates who have any felony conviction record or who, within the past five (5) years, have been placed under supervision or sanctioned for a misdemeanor conviction must receive a waiver from the Commissioner of Corrections in order to be considered for employment. You may access the application and corresponding documents by clicking here. Once you have completed the application, please send it directly to the hiring manager identified as the contact person in this job posting.
PREA (Prison Rape Elimination Act) Requirements: In accordance with federal regulation, any person applying for employment in the Department of Corrections must provide relevant information. Previous institutional employers will be contacted and required to provide information regarding substantiated incidences of sexual abuse or resignation during a pending investigation of an allegation of sexual abuse. By submitting this online job application, you certify all information furnished is true and complete. The information you provide in accordance with this regulation may be used, and previous employers may be contacted for the purpose of investigating and verifying your work history.
Special Requirements
Overtime work is required to maintain safe staffing levels and is considered a condition of employment. The ability to work overtime as required is considered an essential function of this job class.
The Department of Corrections does not hire anyone who has been convicted of a felony without a waiver from the Commissioner of Corrections. Any person under supervision or sanctioned for a misdemeanor conviction within the past 5 years is likewise ineligible for employment.
Candidates must pass any level of background investigation applicable to the position. AHS Policy 4.02, Hiring Standards, pursuant to 20 V.S.A. 2056c or other applicable statutory authority, requires criminal record checks for all AHS positions, including motor vehicle driving record checks and national record checks where appropriate.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of Vermont is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applications from women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds are encouraged.