Job Description

Posting number: 2026-06091

Department: Dept. of Corrections

Division: Prisons - WCC

Job classification: MAINTENANCE MECHANIC 1

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Building & Safety, Corrections, Facility Management, Agriculture, Maintenance, Grounds & Landscaping, Building & Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance, Horticulture

Washington Corrections Center (WCC) is located 35 miles northwest of Olympia, the state capital. WCC is predominantly a Reception and Diagnostic Center, a close, medium-and long-term minimum custody facility. The facility has a primary responsibility to process, test, and classify all adult male incarcerated individuals sentenced to prison in Washington State. The facility has seven living units, compromised of 5 close custody reception units, and 3 medium and long-term minimum units. WCC houses approximately 1,800 incarcerated individuals. There are approximately 500 incarcerated individuals screened and processed each month. WCC also serves as a major transportation hub responsible for the transfer of incarcerated individuals to and from facilities throughout the state.

The primary objective of this position is to support the shared missions of the Department of Corrections (DOC) and the Washington Corrections Center (WCC) by executing comprehensive physical plant maintenance, technical equipment repairs, and large-scale grounds and greenhouse operations across a 250-acre facility. By maintaining structural integrity, optimizing complex facility infrastructure, and providing dedicated supervision and vocational training to an incarcerated work crew of up to 20 individuals, this position directly contributes to staff and community safety. Through collaborative daily maintenance and systemic resource management, the incumbent preserves the facility's physical assets to foster a secure, efficient environment that holds incarcerated individuals accountable, respects diversity, and promotes professional growth and self-improvement opportunities for both staff and residents.

In order to be considered for this position, please apply directly at www.careers.wa.gov to this announcement AND attach the following items to your application:
•A current resume (indicating your related experience)
•A letter of interest (preferably no more than two pages) describing how you meet the qualifications and why you are an ideal candidate for this position.
•Three (3) professional references.

**Please note, an incomplete application package may disqualify you from the process.

We are looking for evidence in your application materials that you have the experience, skills, and abilities indicated in this job posting. Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements of this position may be invited to interview. Carefully review your application before submitting. All information may be verified and documentation may be required.

Examples of duties

Duties include, but are not limited to:

Supervision, Personnel Management & Safety Oversight

• Supervise, manage, plan, assign, physically maintain, coordinate work duties, and inspect the work of up to 20 full-time incarcerated workers for a large year-round program across 250 acres.
• Conduct daily tool accountability inspections, logging in and out all tools and security-related consumables from tool cribs and storage areas, and complete weekly security and tool reports for the Tool Control Sergeant.
• Train work crews on the safe operation of technical machinery, proper handling of equipment, and facility maintenance protocols.

Large-Scale Operations & Resource Management

• Manage, plan, and coordinate operations across two greenhouses (approximately 6,500 sq. ft.), grounds maintenance, horticulture, technical gardening, nursery operations, and floriculture.
• Maintain proper temperature, ventilation, humidity, and light sources for optimum growing conditions in the greenhouses to coincide with various crops and growing seasons.
• Formulate precise work crew schedules to match timelines for soil mixing and sterilization, seed germination, sowing, pricking off seedlings, and transplanting (approximately 26,000 annual flowers and 60,000 vegetable seedlings, with produce donated to the local Food Bank).

Equipment Maintenance & Technical Repairs

• Assist with the maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair of all greenhouses, buildings, equipment, and building systems (including heating, cooling, ventilation, propagation, and irrigation systems).
• Service, maintain, and overhaul grounds maintenance equipment and tools, including all push mowers, riding mowers, edgers, weed eaters, blowers, sweepers, thatcher's, pesticide sprayers, and rototillers.
• Conduct routine maintenance on specialized infrastructure, including direct maintenance and troubleshooting on the automated greenhouse drip systems, sprinklers, garden hoses, and all manual ice spreaders throughout the facility.

Facility Operations & Asset Management

• Manage a systematic inventory program, conducting daily tool and consumable storage inspections to ensure absolute institutional security and accountability.
• Administer operational logistics, including estimating equipment lifecycles, calculating project costs, and generating supply requisitions for approval from the Contraction & Maintenance Projects Supervisor.
• Maintain strict adherence to organizational safety protocols, institutional regulations, and standard operational procedures.

Winter Operations & Safety Maintenance

• Direct facility winterization and safety efforts, coordinating the removal of snow and the application of ice-melt products to eliminate hazards in common areas.

• Operate specialized equipment including the Kubota-sweeper, gator snow machine, and hand shovels to remove snow and ice from facility sidewalks and common areas to eliminate and loosen buildup.

Qualifications

Required qualifications:
• High School Graduate, or equivalent.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Hold or possess the ability to obtain a valid pesticide applicator license within the first six months of employment.
AND
• Two (2) years of experience in gardening, grounds maintenance, landscaping, nurseries, parks, or related activities.

Preferred/Desired Qualifications:

• Ability to work on small motors, repair mechanical items in area of responsibility, knowledge of propagating and growing large amounts of plants from seed and cuttings, ability to harvest seed from, willingness to be a strong team member.
• One (1) year supervisory experience.

Supplemental information

Supplemental Information

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

1. 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.
2. Respectful and inclusive interactions: Corrections appreciates 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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:

• 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.
• 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

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 vacations 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.

OR

PSERS: Many DOC jobs are covered by the Public Safety Employees' Retirement System (PSERS). If someone moves from a Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) eligible position to a PSERS eligible position, they actually retire under two different systems/plans. For more information, please contact the Department of Retirement System at: 1-800-547-6657.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email hillary.evans@doc1.wa.gov or call us at 360-427-4617. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.