Substance Abuse Worker

Buncombe County, NC - USA

Yearly Salary: $ 31084 - 54397

Posted on: 28-09-2025

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Description of Work

The NC Department of Adult Correction continuously recruits for Substance Abuse Workers and will accept applications regardless of whether there is a current vacancy. Your application for this posting will remain on file for 180 days and will be screened for vacancies as they occur.

Substance Abuse Workers provide paraprofessional services in 24/7 residential treatment centers. These centers serve probationers sent by the courts and parolees released from the NC prison system and are located in Black Mountain NC and Goldsboro NC. Applicants may choose to be considered at one or both locations.

The responsibilities of a Substance Abuse Worker (SAW) at either of the facilities will require a broad understanding of the basic substance abuse services provided. As a SAW an individual must effectively communicate and continuously establish good working relationships with co-workers and other professionals involved in the treatment of substance use disorders. This position requires shift work; therefore properly monitoring resident behavior and activities is critical and will require sufficient documentation of all incidents and medical emergencies by completing essential shift reports.

Job duties include but are not limited to the following:

Applying intervention techniques when needed.
Setting up cleaning up and maintaining the food service and equipment areas.
Administering medications as directed by medical staff.
Loading and unloading facility supplies as needed.
Transporting residents from across the state to this facility. This may occur at any hour of the day or night while on duty.
Monitoring the security of buildings grounds and vehicles.
Thoroughly understanding the security and emergency procedures of the facility.

Work Schedule:
Have flexibility to work any shift (3rd 2nd and 1st) to staff the 24/7 operation of these facilities; according to the need. Employees may be assigned to work 8 or 10-hour shifts 4 or 5 days a week.

Shift Premium Payis also available in addition to the base salary for employees assigned to 2nd and 3rd shifts.

Other Responsibilities:

Required to work weekends and holidays as scheduled.
Accommodate modifications to work schedules including hold-over or schedule changes on short notice to provide critical operational needs.
Transport residents in departmental vehicles at any time during the night or day while on duty. This may require driving in different types of weather traffic or road conditions.
Must possess a valid North Carolina drivers license.
Must possess CPR Certification or able to obtain within 6 months of hire.

This is a full-time position (40 hours per week) withState Benefits**Applicants must pass a background check to be eligible for this job.**

THIS POSTING IS FOR MULTIPLE POSITIONS656542

Note to Current State Employees:
State employees are encouraged to apply for positions of interest even if the salary grade is the same as or lower than their current position. If selected for this position a new salary will be recalculated taking into consideration the quantity of relevant education and experience funding availability and internal equity. Based upon these factors a pay increase MAY result.

Goldsboro NC Drug Abuse & Alcoholism Treatment (DART) Center Program
The DART Center is a 300-bed residential treatment center delivering substance use disorder treatment services to probationers sent by the courts and parolees released from the NC prison system. This facility serves men and is located in Goldsboro North Carolina.

Black Mountain NC - Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women
The Black Mountain Substance Abuse Treatment Center for Women (BMSATCW) is a 96-bed residential treatment center providing substance use disorder treatment services to probationers sent by the courts and to parolees released from the NC prison system. This facility serves women and is located in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities / Competencies

Effective July 1 2025 candidates now meet the minimum qualifications of a position if they have the minimum education and experience listed from the class specification. The knowledge skills and abilities listed in the vacancy announcement should be used as management preferences and be used to screen for the most qualified pool of applicants.

Management Preference

Experience documenting information and/or reporting incidents (to include emergencies) in a workplace setting.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Some state job postings say you can qualify by an equivalent combination of education and experience. If that language appears below then you may qualify through EITHER years of education OR years of directly related experience OR a combination of both.
See details.

High school or General Educational Development (GED) diploma and a valid drivers license

OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Supplemental and Contact Information

We have a mission that matters! Come Join Us!

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (DAC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer that embraces an Employment First philosophy which consists of complying with all federal laws state laws and Executive Orders. We are committed to reviewing requests for reasonable accommodation at any time during the hiring process or while on the job.

Rehabilitation and Reentry is a division within the Department of Adult Correction. The division provides the continuity of services to individuals who have been incarcerated or are transitioning to the community. Division staff work collaboratively with internal prison staff Community Supervision (PPO) staff and local Reentry Councils by developing implementing and monitoring correctional and reentry interventions for justice involved individuals

DAC uses the Merit-Based Recruitment and Selection Plan to fill positions subject to the State Human Resources Act with the most qualified individuals. Hiring salary will be based on relevant qualifications internal equity and budgetary considerations pertinent to the advertised position.

It is critical to our screening and salary determination process that applications contain comprehensive information. Information should be provided in the appropriate areas to include the beginning and ending dates of jobs worked education with the date graduated all work experience and certificates/licenses. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing this application. Answers to Supplemental Questions must refer to the education or work experience listed on this application to receive credit. Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.

Applicants seeking Veterans Preference must attach aDD-214 Member-4 Form(Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) to their applications.
Applicants seeking National Guard Preference must attach a NGB 23A (RPAS) if they are a current member of the NC National Guard in good standing. If a former member of the NC National Guard who served for at least 6 years and was discharged under honorable conditions they must attach either a DD256 or NGB 22.
If applicants earned college credit hours but did not complete a degree program they must attach an unofficial transcript to each application to receive credit for this education.
If applying for a position certified through the NC Dept. of Justice - Criminal Justice Standards Division click this link for specific certification requirements: Correctional & Probation/Parole Officer Certification.
The NC Dept. of Adult Correction must adhere to the US Dept. of Justice Final Rule on the National Standards to Prevent Detect and Respond to Prison Rape. Click this link for information on hiring and promotion prohibition requirements for all positions in the NC Dept. of Adult Correction:PREA Hiring and Promotion Prohibitions.
Per NCGeneral Statute 143B-972.1 applicants hired into a position certified as a criminal justice officer or justice officer are required to electronically submit fingerprints to the NC State Bureau of Investigation for a state and national criminal history record check and enrollment in the FBIs Next Generation Identification System: Criminal Justice Record of Arrest and Prosecution Background Service (RAP Back). This is in addition to submitting fingerprints during the application process.
If you were ever charged with a criminal offense at some point in your life you will be required to provide certified and true copies of warrant(s) and judgment(s) for each offense (other than a minor traffic violation) as a condition of employment even if documentation and charges have previously been reported to this agency.

Due to the volume of applications received we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application please log in to your account and click Application Status. If you are selected for an interview you will be contacted by management. If you are no longer under consideration you will receive an email notification.

For technical issues with your application please call the Applicant Support Help- Line at . If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status please contact Lisa Byrd at.

Description of WorkThe NC Department of Adult Correction continuously recruits for Substance Abuse Workers and will accept applications regardless of whether there is a current vacancy. Your application for this posting will remain on file for 180 days and will be screened for vacancies as they occu...