Correctional Officer 1 (CO2), Bellingham Reentry Center

State of Washington; Bellingham (WA); Remote; USD 62,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote/telework/flexible schedules

Up to 25 paid vacation days a year

8 hours of paid sick leave per month

12 paid holidays a year

Generous retirement plan

Flex Spending Accounts

Dependent Care Assistance

Deferred Compensation

Job summary

State of Washington, Department of Corrections, seeks Correctional Officer 1 and 2 for the Bellingham Reentry Center in Bellingham, WA. Roles require security duties, shift work, and completion of CORE Academy with on‑the‑job training. In‑person interviews follow candidacy, and a 6‑week academy is required for CO1/CO2 progression.

These are full‑time and on‑call opportunities with comprehensive benefits, including retirement and paid leave, with overtime as a standard expectation.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school or GED.
• Valid Driver's license.
• The legal right to carry a firearm.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safety and security of the facility and supervise movement of incarcerated individuals.
• Monitor and control activities within the institution according to DOC procedures.
• Participate in academy training and ongoing on‑the‑job training.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Physical conditioning

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Correctional Officer 1 (CO2), Bellingham Reentry Center

Full-time position available

Bellingham Reentry Center/ BRC / Bellingham, WA

Qualified candidates will be invited to in-person interviews

Successful candidates for this recruitment would attend the earliest training academy available.

Salary Information:

Corrections & Custody Officer 1 (DOC WFSE Range 45 Step J-M)

• Full-time - $5,523 - $5,948
• On-call/Hourly - $31.74 - $34.18

Corrections & Custody Officer 2: (DOC WFSE Range 53 Step H-M)

• Full-time - $6,407 - $7,243
• On-call/Hourly - $36.82 - $41.63

To qualify at the Corrections and Custody Officer 2 (CO2) level you must meet the following qualifications:

• One year of experience as a Department of Corrections (DOC) Corrections and Custody Officer, which includes successful completion of the CORE (Academy) and the Correctional Officer Field Training Program.

OR

• One year of experience as a Correctional Officer in adult or juvenile corrections where security functions equivalent to a DOC Corrections and Security Officer 2 were performed.

On-Call Positions

On-call staff may have the opportunity to work an average of 32-40 hours per week, although the positions have no minimum hour guarantee. Incumbents will be required to attend 6 weeks of full-time paid training immediately upon hire and will be considered for full time permanent and/or temporary vacancies as they occur. All correctional officers, including those in on-call positions, are provided with a benefits package including medical, dental, vision and retirement as well as paid sick leave, holiday pay and paid vacation; provided they work at least 20 hours or more each week.

Please note: if you recently applied to this location within the last 90 days, no need to reapply.

Facility information:

The Washington State Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated and talented individuals for the positions of Correctional Officer 1 and/or 2, at the Bellingham Reentry Center (BRC) in Bellingham, WA. BRC is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The on call/intermittent positions have no minimum hour guarantee.

Custody Level: Minimum security

Residents: Male and female facility

BRC is located in the northwest corner of Washington state, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It operates in two side‑by‑side buildings in a downtown college area of Bellingham. BRC has operated since 1976 and has been in its current location since 1981. BRC’s primary goal is to improve public safety by positively changing lives by supporting residents’ reestablishment of positive family ties, access to employment and education and other services that aid in their transition back to the community.

Residents who meet the screening criteria may be transferred to BRC 12 months before their earliest release date. The facility is leased and operated by the Washington State Department of Corrections and provides 24/7 safety and security, food services, case management and maintenance.

Whether the work is inside a prison, in community corrections, or in an administrative office, the Washington State Department of Corrections professional staff experience a high degree of personal satisfaction knowing they are creating environments in which all incarcerated individuals can learn to make choices that contribute to a safer society.

This job class is designated as in‑training. The employee will advance to CO2 after satisfactory completion of the CO1 training requirements.

In an adult correctional facility, Correctional Officers provide safety and security, and assist in controlling, directing, and monitoring the activities and movement of incarcerated individuals. This includes maintaining security of the institution and controlling movement into, out of and within the institution in accordance with established department methods and procedures.

Correctional Officers are expected to be a positive role model and work with the incarcerated individuals to help them become productive members of society from the day they arrive under supervision. Correctional Officers use interpersonal skills and good communication skills to correct and counteract criminal thinking while maintaining safe confinement environments for the individuals to pursue a successful re‑entry into communities. The successful candidates for Correctional Officer 1 will possess creative thinking, self‑confidence, strong role‑modeling and good physical and mental conditioning.

Overtime is an essential function of this position.

Correctional Officers must successfully complete Correctional Worker Core (CWC), a six‑week academy for all correctional workers employed in DOC prison facilities. We know that managing difficult people takes more than force. It takes observation, knowledge, skills, and continual practice. Every DOC employee is provided with initial training designed to help assure safe working conditions and will continue to get on‑the‑job training throughout their employment.

Graduation from high school or GED

Valid Driver's license

The legal (Constitutional) right to carry a firearm

Note: Pre‑employment process includes drug testing and psychological evaluation.

To qualify at the Corrections and Custody Officer 2 (CO2) level you must meet the following qualifications:

• One year of experience as a Department of Corrections (DOC) Corrections and Custody Officer, which includes successful completion of the CORE (Academy) and the Correctional Officer Field Training Program.
• One year of experience as a Correctional Officer in adult or juvenile corrections where security functions equivalent to a DOC Corrections and Security Officer 2 were performed.

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

Our Core Values:

• Cultivate an environment of integrity and trust. Corrections values partnership and trust. We foster openness and support courageous conversations. We are committed to doing what we say we are going to do by being accountable and taking personal ownership in our actions.
• Respectful and inclusive interactions. Corrections appreciate and values individuals by promoting an inclusive and diverse environment, which encourages safety. We respect, value, and listen to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of our stakeholders and consider the impact on those we serve as well as each other.
• People's safety. Corrections believes in creating an environment that values physical, mental, and emotional security and well‑being. We honor those who advance safety for all.
• Positivity in words and actions. At Corrections, we assume positive intentions and believe there is a shared desire for the best outcome. We consistently demonstrate positive behavior and always put forth our best effort.
• Supporting people's success. Corrections is committed to our community – understanding individuals, instilling hope, embracing change, and providing opportunities.

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM‑Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.
• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position.
• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non‑related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates. Please note: Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire. 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.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply.
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol‑free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre‑employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration.
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self‑defense and/or de‑escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire. When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.

Telework Details

This position may be allocated for telework. If authorized for the role, work may be performed from your home or another offsite location within the state of Washington using a reliable internet or cellular hotspot service at that time. Employees are expected to perform assigned duties in a safe manner, to take proper care all state‑issued equipment, and maintain confidentiality of all information in possession while working offsite. Employees will be required to commute to a Department of Corrections facility or field office as business requires, to potentially include components of the onboarding process. Some offices will have a “drop in” area available, however, a dedicated workspace within a DOC facility will not be provided.

What We Offer:

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work‑life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacation days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!

PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems web site.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email: [e-mail]

For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388