Building Trade/Construction Occupation Trades Teacher

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Collegeville (PA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Phoenix seeks a Building Trade/Construction Occupation Trades Teacher. You will deliver hands-on carpentry and construction instruction to inmates, guiding skill development and practical techniques that support reintegration after incarceration.

In this role you adapt curriculum, teach trades, assess progress, and maintain records. You will work 37.5 hours weekly, 7:45–3:45, with retirement benefits and strict safety

Qualifications

• High school graduation and 2 years wage experience beyond apprenticeship (Carpentry).
• If no apprenticeship period, 3 years wage experience in Carpentry.
• PA Vocational Certificate I/II for Carpentry, or Vocational Intern Certificate, or Emergency Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Adapt Curriculum: Adjust lesson plans and teaching methods to meet student needs based on assessments and learning goals.
• Provide Instruction: Teach building and construction trade skills, assign coursework, and assess student progress through tests and evaluations.
• Maintain Records and Supplies: Update education files, track attendance, manage inventories, and order supplies and equipment as required.
• Monitor Behavior: Establish classroom expectations, oversee tool use, report missing items, and exercise custody of inmates.
• Support Program: Apply department policies, provide input on procedures, and contribute to curriculum planning and improvement.

Skills

Classroom management

Curriculum development

Instructional planning

Education

High school diploma

PA Vocational Certificate I/II Carpentry

Vocational Intern Certificate

Job description

Become a Building Trade/Construction Occupation Trades Teacher with the Department of Corrections (DOC) at the State Correctional Institution (SCI) at Phoenix and take on a role where your skills help inmates grow in powerful ways. You will teach hands‑on carpentry and construction techniques that learners can carry into future opportunities after incarceration. Your guidance helps inmates build confidence, develop new abilities, and reach meaningful goals. Join a team that values your expertise, supports your work, and celebrates the impact you make every day.

This position provides vocational instruction in building and construction trades to support inmate learning and skill development. The work helps prepare students for future opportunities by teaching practical techniques and reinforcing positive learning habits. As a Building Trade/Construction Occupation Trades Teacher, you will perform the following duties:

• Adapt Curriculum: Adjust lesson plans and teaching methods to meet student needs based on assessments and learning goals
• Provide Instruction: Teach building and construction trade skills, assign coursework, and assess student progress through tests and evaluations
• Maintain Records and Supplies: Update education files, track attendance, manage inventories, and order supplies and equipment as required
• Monitor Behavior: Establish classroom expectations, oversee tool use, report missing items, and exercise therapeutic care, custody, and control over inmates
• Support Program: Apply department policies, provide input on procedures, and contribute to curriculum planning and improvement

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment, 37.5 hours per week
• Work hours are 7:45 AM to 3:45 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• This position is eligible for full retirement benefits at age 50 or 55.
• Telework:You will not have the option to telework in this position.
• Salary:Selected candidates who are new to employment with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will begin employment at the starting annual salary of $72,215.00 (before taxes).
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Education equivalent to high school graduation and two years wage earning experience beyond the completed apprenticeship period in the specified parenthetical; or
• If there is no approved apprenticeship period for the specified parenthetical, education equivalent to high school graduation and three years of wage earning experience in the specified parenthetical.
• Please Note: The specified parenthetical for this posting is Carpentry. The specific apprenticeship period for this parenthetical is 3 years.

Special Requirements:

• You must have possession of or eligibility for a current Pennsylvania Department of Education Vocational Certificate I or II for the specified parenthetical; or
• You must have possession of or eligibility for a current Pennsylvania Department of Education Vocational Intern Certificate for the specified parenthetical; or
• You must be eligible for a Pennsylvania Department of Education Emergency Certificate for the specified parenthetical.

Other Requirements:

• Successful completion of basic training in Elizabethtown, PA is required.
• You must meet the PA residency requirement. For more information on ways to meet PA residency requirements, follow the link and click on Residency Guidelines.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

Legal Requirements:

• You must pass a background investigation and meet Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) compliance requirements.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. §7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.