Job Description

Posting number: 2026-08321

Department: Dept. of Corrections

Division: Prisons - WSP

Job classification: WMS BAND 1

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Corrections, Management

Summary

Correctional Unit Supervisor (CUS)

Correctional Unit Supervisor (CUS)

Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)

Walla Walla, WA

The Department of Corrections (DOC) is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for the position(s) of Correctional Unit Supervisor (CUS) at the Washington State Penitentiary.

The Washington State Penitentiary is staffed 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. 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.

The Department of Corrections (DOC), as a partner in the criminal justice system, enhances public safety, administers criminal sanctions and programs in accordance with the law and provides leadership for the future of corrections in Washington State.

The Department consists of the Office of the Secretary, Prisons Division, Community Corrections Division, Office of the Chief of Staff, Health Services Division, Communications Department and Risk Management Department.

The Washington State Penitentiary (WSP) is comprised of 4 Close Custody Units, 3 Special Housing Units, 2 Intensive Management Units, 2 Medium Units, 2 Minimum Housing Units and a Hospital. In all, WSP houses approximately 2,000 incarcerated individuals and employees approximately 1,100 staff.

A completed application packet will include:

• A detailed resume
• A cover letter regarding your interest for this position with our agency
• Three professional references
• A copy of college transcripts, if applicable

**Note: This recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies that may occur.**

Examples of duties

Under the supervision of the Correctional Program Manager, this position is responsible for managing a housing unit in accordance with DOC Policy and WSP Operational Memorandums. This CUS position is responsible for management, supervision, security, and classification for an incarcerated individual living unit with direct supervision of a Classification Counselor 3 and Correctional Sergeants.

Washington State Penitentiary CUS works in collaboration with all disciplines to appropriately classify, assess risk, treat incarcerated individuals with dignity, and that appropriate crime-related programming is adhered to by the offender so that re-entry back into the community is productive and safe.

Essential Functions and significant responsibilities of this position include:

Supervises all elements of custody and security that relate to the management of a living unit to include, but not limited to all security devices, security practices, emergency response procedures and preparedness, equipment, and training in the Unit. Responsible for ensuring that all operational policies and Operational Memorandums (OMs) are in effect in their area.

Supervises all elements related to the classification and programming of incarcerated individual to include, but not limited to: recommending risk management levels, custody assignment, approving regular reviews, targeting promotions and intakes, requesting classification overrides, ensuring counselor recommendations are consistent with current policy requirements, auditing caseloads to ensure time frames are being met, chairing Multi-Disciplinary Teams, ensuring staff training, and ensuring that Court/Department imposed sanctions are imposed and enforced if approved.

Ensures that the living unit sanitation level is consistent with expectations that are mandated by local, State, County and Federal guideline, and local facility standards.

Ensures that all safety issues associated with the living unit are consistent with expectations that are mandated by local, State, County and Federal guidelines. Assist and advise in developing policy and procedure for the operation of the Unit.

Ensures that all maintenance issues associated with the effective operation of the living unit are requested and completed in a timely manner that minimizes the impact of staff work areas and incarcerated individual living conditions.

Ensures that all elements mandated by Department policy directives, RCWs, WACs, and OMs are implemented and enforced.

Ensures that proper documentation is completed in the areas of classification actions, incident reports, infraction reports, Performance and Development Plans, monthly performance reports, grievance investigations, tort claim investigations, administrative segregation investigations, confidential information reports, equipment requests, leave requests and others.

Oversees infraction hearings and conducts classification reviews ensuring that all incarcerated individual due process rights are acknowledged and enforced in an objective and impartial manner.

Conducts investigations, as directed, to address security, safety, and staff or incarcerated individual behavior issues.

Conducts investigations as assigned by the Superintendent or PREA unit.

Completes monthly reports on all of the areas that they are responsible for.

Plans, leads, organizes, and controls the work performed by the organization. Ensures appropriate and optimum use of the organization's resources and enhances employee effectiveness through timely appraisal and professional development opportunities. Supports effective communications throughout the organization. Maintains the highest standards of personal/professional and ethical conduct and supports the state's goals for a diverse workforce.

Consults with the Human Resource Consultant (HRC) to supervise and manage all of the human resource issues associated with all staff members and positions that are assigned to the Unit to include but not limited to: staff growth and career development needs, and evaluation of performance, and corrective actions and disciplinary recommendations. Will also ensure that their immediate supervisor is aware of management and personnel issues in their area.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience as a supervisor. * (This experience may be gained concurrently with the required experience below)
• HS Diploma/GED Equivalent + 7 years’ professional experience in juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience.

OR

• AA degree + 5 years’ professional experience in juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience.

OR

• BA degree + 3 years’ professional experience in juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience.

Preferred/Desired:

• A working knowledge of DOC Policies, RCW's, WACs, and Operational Memoranda.
• A working knowledge of incarcerated individual management and supervision, including behavior management, classification process, sanitation, and security and safety.
• Understanding of incarcerated individual programs including preparation of incarcerated individuals for transition back into society.
• A demonstrated ability to provide positive leadership in times of stress, conflict, and unforeseen events; remain calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening, or other crisis/emergency situations; expertly intervene in response to threats.

*Supervisory Experience

Prior supervisory experience is critical to deliver a full range of services effectively. The Correctional Unit Supervisor position supervises, monitors, and directs the operations of an incarcerated individual living unit to include staff supervision, security practices, incarcerated program assignments, sanitation of units, and compliance with DOC custody policies and operational memoranda. Duties require the exercise of full command authority in directing all shift operations of the living unit. Supervision is exercised over subordinate correctional, classification and support services.

· IT IS A REQUIREMENT to provide a cover letter, resume, a minimum of three professional references and if applicable, a copy of college transcripts with your application. The Department of Corrections defines a professional reference 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. Failure to provide this information may result in your application not being considered for this position.

· Your answers to the supplemental questions must be supported by the work experience section in your application or you may not be considered for this position. Resumes will not replace the completed "Work Experience" section in your online application.

· You may be disqualified if your work experience does not include information used to: 1) Meet the minimum qualifications of the job and 2) back up your answers to the supplemental questions. Only complete applications will be considered. Please be sure to answer all supplemental questions and attach all required documents.

Supplemental information

'The mission of DOC is to improve public safety by positively changing lives.'

For additional information about the agency, please visit doc.wa.gov.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• Please attach separately: resume, cover letter, minimum of three professional references, and if applicable, a copy of college transcripts. 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.

Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.

• 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.
• Employees may work directly with or in close proximity to 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 may also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Requires respirator medical evaluation questionnaire, fit testing, training, and use of respiratory protection as required by the WA Industrial Safety & Act standards. Refer to WAC 296-842 to learn more.
• Must be able to work in spaces, climb stairs, walk long distances, and frequently lift up to 30 pounds. Under rare circumstances this position may be required to lift or carry up to 50 pounds and push up to 100 pounds.
• 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 visitwww.uscis.gov.

We are committed to hiring individuals who possess core diversity competencies:

• Foster a positive attitude and openness toward the ever changing social and cultural makeup of the workplace.
• Work effectively with people of different perspectives, abilities, disabilities, races, religions, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and social, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Respectfully acknowledge people's differences and recognize these differences as important and valuable.
• Promote inclusiveness.
• Be culturally sensitive and appropriate.
• Respect and value diverse backgrounds and traditions.

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.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email angela.kelly@doc1.wa.gov or call us at (509) 524-7619. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.