Associate Dean of Corrections Education

Greater Spokane Incorporated; Spokane (WA); On-site; USD 107,000 - 121,000; Full time

Job summary

Spokane Community College, part of Spokane Colleges, seeks an Associate Dean for Corrections Education to lead a dynamic team delivering basic and workforce education to incarcerated students at Airway Heights Corrections Center.

Based in Airway Heights, WA, the role oversees program operation, budgets, and collaborations with the Department of Corrections and SCC to advance correctional education and student success.

Qualifications

• Master's degree required.
• Demonstrated leadership, administrative, and budget management experience.
• Experience in a supervisory role across employee groups.
• Teaching experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to complete a 4-week DOC Correctional Worker Core (CWC) training program within 6 months of employment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the department in providing high-quality education programs that meet student needs; evaluate educational needs and services for incarcerated individuals.
• Implement and schedule programs to ensure optimal delivery to populations served.
• Provide assistance and leadership to faculty in planning, developing, and evaluating curriculum.
• Maintain ongoing professional development on trends in corrections education to keep programming current.
• Support faculty and staff in professional development, student achievement initiatives, assessment, and program innovation.
• Supervise faculty, exempt, and classified staff (train, schedule, evaluate, discipline, respond to grievances).
• Adhere to the faculty Master Contract, classified contracts, and district rules/regulations.
• Inform and educate staff on behavior/performance expectations; provide timely feedback and correct issues promptly.
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all interactions.
• Ensure that faculty and staff adhere to applicable DOC regulations and policies.
• Administer DOC's adopted education services budgets, negotiated agreements, and programs at Airway Heights Corrections Center.
• Prepare budgets and approve/monitor expenditures for compliance.
• Oversee collection and dissemination of data for reports, proposals, grants, and budgets.
• Pursue alternative funding sources as available and appropriate.
• Liaise with Student Services on enrollment, registration, and data accuracy per DOC, SCC procedures.
• Maintain communication with Corrections Education staff, SCC/DOC colleagues, other correctional facilities, and community colleges on curriculum, budgets, and BEdA/workforce issues.
• Work collaboratively with other administrators.
• Comply with district policies, state/federal regulations, and collective bargaining agreements.
• Support and advance the Spokane Colleges strategic plan; perform other duties as assigned.
• Support a safe and secure learning environment for students, faculty, and staff.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Supervisory experience

Teaching experience

Communication skills

De-escalation

DOC CWC training

Education

Master's degree

Administrative leadership experience

Job description

Location: SCC Airway Heights Correction Center, Spokane

Department: SCC Corrections Education

Salary Range: $107,364 - $121,156

Starting salary for this position is: $107,364 (Annually)

The salary range represents the earning potential for this position, through training, evaluations and years spent working in this position with Spokane Colleges.

About Us

Spokane Community College, part of Spokane Colleges, serves 15,000 students with career technical, liberal arts, and adult education programs in Spokane and surrounding rural communities.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on 09/02/2026. The application process will not be available after this time. To ensure consideration make sure your application is completed and submitted as soon as possible. Applications will only be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.

About the Associate Dean of Corrections Education

ABOUT US

The Associate Dean for Corrections Education is responsible for leading a dynamic team of faculty and staff who provide basic and workforce education programs for incarcerated students at Airway Heights Corrections Center (a minimum- and medium-security institution for men). This position serves as the primary liaison, connecting the Department of Corrections (DOC) and Spokane Community College (SCC).

The Associate Dean reports to the Vice President of Instruction, and works collaboratively with other Instructional and Student Services deans at SCC and around the state.

The Associate Dean is responsible for the operation and management of all programs, personnel, and activities assigned to the division.

This position is based at Airway Heights Corrections Center in Airway Heights, Washington.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES

• Lead the department in providing high-quality education programs that meet student needs; evaluate educational needs and services for incarcerated individuals. *
• Implement and schedule programs to ensure optimal delivery to populations served. *
• Provide assistance and leadership to faculty in planning, developing, and evaluating curriculum. *
• Maintain ongoing professional development on trends in corrections education to keep programming current. *
• Support faculty and staff in professional development, student achievement initiatives, assessment, and program innovation. *
• Supervise faculty, exempt, and classified staff (train, schedule, evaluate, discipline, respond to grievances). *
• Adhere to the faculty Master Contract, classified contracts, and district rules/regulations. *
• Inform and educate staff on behavior/performance expectations; provide timely feedback and correct issues promptly. *
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all interactions.
• Ensure that faculty and staff adhere to applicable DOC regulations and policies. *

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

Budget & Fiscal Administration

• Administer DOC's adopted education services budgets, negotiated agreements, and programs at Airway Heights Corrections Center. *
• Prepare budgets and approve/monitor expenditures for compliance. *
• Oversee collection and dissemination of data for reports, proposals, grants, and budgets. *
• Pursue alternative funding sources as available and appropriate. *
• Liaise with Student Services on enrollment, registration, and data accuracy per DOC, SCC, and SBCTC procedures. *
• Maintain communication with Corrections Education staff, SCC/DOC colleagues, other correctional facilities, and community colleges on curriculum, budgets, and BEdA/workforce issues. *
• Work collaboratively with other administrators. *
• Comply with district policies, state/federal regulations, and collective bargaining agreements. *
• Support and advance the Spokane Colleges strategic plan; perform other duties as assigned. *
• Support a safe and secure learning environment for students, faculty, and staff. *

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Builds Effective Teams
• Organizational Savvy
• Self-Development
• Learn more about https://ccs.spokane.edu/Working-for-Us/Competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Earned master's degree.
• Demonstrated leadership, administrative, and budget management experience (e.g., as department chair, program director, state agency, private business, etc.).
• Experience in a supervisory role across employee groups.
• Teaching experience.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to de-escalate interpersonal situations successfully.
• Must be able to successfully complete a 4-week DOC Correctional Worker Core (CWC) training program which includes self-defense techniques.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous work experience within a corrections facility, or similar institutional environment.
• Teaching or leadership experience in a community college and/or Corrections Education program.
• Ability to advocate education as a tool to change lives and reduce recidivism.
• Experience working in a unionized environment.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in an office environment inside Airway Heights Corrections Center.
• Work is sedentary.
• Frequent use of computers
• Work directly with students.
• Work involves constant interruptions.
• Must answer on demand questions by phone, in person, or electronically.
• Frequent oral and auditory communication with others.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• 12-month position.
• Position is exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• Requires local or regional travel.
• Criminal background check is required.
• Must successfully complete the 4-week DOC Correctional Worker Core (CWC) training program within 6 months of employment.
• Ability to work in a correctional setting, which includes being searched prior to entering the facility and complying with rules regarding bringing in limited personal belongings.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Spokane Colleges maintain a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant's suitability and competence to perform in the position. Once an applicant is chosen for a position, they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Required Application Materials

To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet required competencies and submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

• Cover letter - addressing your qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
• Resume.
• References - the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references.
• College transcript(s) if applicable - unofficial/copies of transcripts are acceptable; official transcripts are required upon hire.

For questions regarding a job application or the hiring process, or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact HR at mailto:[e-mail].

Equal Opportunity Institution

Spokane Colleges provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, sex, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, genetic information, disability, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal. Spokane Colleges complies with applicable federal and state civil rights laws, including Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Washington state nondiscrimination laws.

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access, Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity compliance, and/or grievances to:

Chief Human Resources Officer

Spokane Colleges

P.O. Box 6000, MS1004

Spokane, WA. 99217-6000

509-434-5040 / mailto:[e-mail].