Community Employment Navigator

Community Employment Navigator

(Corrections Specialist 3)

Full Time Permanent

Location: Correctional Industries Headquarters Tumwater WA

Salary Range: $5610 - $7540 Monthly

Are you looking to build a meaningful career in public service Do you thrive on helping others succeed and creating real lasting impact If so the Washington State Department of Corrections Correctional Industries (CI) team may have your next opportunity! Were seeking a passionate and results-driven Community Employment Navigator (Corrections Specialist 3) to support incarcerate individuals as they transition back into their communities while building and maintaining professional relationships with employers and community organizations.

In this role youll serve as a vital bridge between training reentry and long-term success. Youll collaborate closely with internal teams and external partners to support incarcerated workers through job readiness preparation guidance and post-release employment services. Your work will empower individuals with CI experience to navigate career pathways and build futures they are proud of.

The ideal candidate is a relationship-builder at heart someone who can foster and maintain strong connections with Washington employers and community partners with a goal of creating a pathway of continuous employment for former CI workers from prison into the community. . Youll help open doors by promoting the value of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals demonstrating how employment contributes to safer healthier communities statewide.

Correctional Industries (CI) is committed to maintaining and expanding incarcerated work training programs which develop marketable job skills instill and promote positive work ethics and reduce the tax burden of corrections. CI is a unit with the Reentry Division and provides incarcerated individuals with work training opportunities an established/documented work history cognitive behavioral soft skills training employment-based certifications and work readiness training and support pre/post release.

If youre excited about joining a mission-driven team dedicated to transforming lives and contributing to safer communities we encourage you to explore this opportunity and apply!

A completed application packet will include:

We are looking for teammates who share our vision of public service committed to an equitable and inclusive culture that fosters and inspires excellence while promoting innovation engagement and safety leading to better outcomes for our incarcerated population our agency and our community.

As aCorrections Specialist 3 some of your duties will include:

• Developing and maintaining employer and community partner relationships with the goal of promoting/educating on hiring of formerly incarcerated individuals to include:
  • Engaging with Washington employers statewide through various means including scheduled meetings business-related networking events cold-calls job fairs and reentry networking events for second chance hiring
  • Educating employers on the benefits of employing former CI workers including their technical and soft skills training and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Washington Bonding Program
  • Participating and assisting in the coordination of mock interview events
• Supporting individuals reentry success through employment navigation services which could include:
  • Providing career/employment navigation services to incarcerated individuals pre and post-release
  • Assisting individuals with development and/or refinement of work readiness documentation
  • Working with individuals to establish employment release goals/plan and develop job retention plan
  • Coordinating supporting and connecting individuals with employers and/or other support services within their community of release
• Support CIs Workforce Development program
• Other duties as assigned

What we need (required qualifications):

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum of two (2) years of proven work experience providing career/job readiness support services occupational training or workplace readiness assistance.
• Minimum of two (2) years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful
• Demonstrates knowledge of key industries within Washington state (i.e. manufacturing hospitality etc.) through professional experience and understanding employer/workforce needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

What will make your application stand out (preferred qualifications):

• Bachelors degree from a recognized accredited college and/or university whose accreditations are recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
• Three (3) or more years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful partnerships
• Minimum of two (2) years of proven community and/or employer outreach and engagement experience in cultivating and sustaining relationships leading to impactful partnerships
• One (1) or more year supervising incarcerated individuals
• Familiarity with community resources and support services

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.

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 applicants 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 and. Until this documentation is provided you will not beselected 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. does not use E-Verify; therefore we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information please .

Telework Details

This position may be allocated for telework. 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 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 theDepartment of Retirement Systems web site.

For questions about this recruitment or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process please email or call us at . For TTY service please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-.