Corrections Officer Job in Mescalero, NM

Vacancy No. DE-25-12728191-CAWV-SM Department Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs
Salary $49,739.00 to $75,622.00 Grade 5 to 8
Perm/Temp Permanent FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 5/5/2025 Close Date 5/27/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Public
Locations:
Mescalero, NM


Summary

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, District 4-Mescalero Agency in Mescalero NM
This position is being advertised concurrently with ST-25-12728190-SM which is open to status candidates, other eligibles and applies to Merit Promotion procedures. Applicants who wish to be considered for both vacancies need to submit a separate application for each announcement.


This is a Bargaining Unit position, for more information see USA Jobs What are bargaining units?

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

• United States Citizens • Indian Preference Eligibles (must submit a BIA Form 4432)

Duties

Duties listed are at the full performance level at the GS-08. If selected at the lower level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform these duties and receive training to develop in the position.

  • The position is demanding because the safety and security of the facility, staff and offender (including the offender care and control) are directly dependent on the officer's skills in the following areas: 1) booking and release procedures; 2) inmate behavior management; 3) leadership; 4) crisis prevention and intervention; 5) inmate health care and medication; 6) demonstration or fairness in all dealings with offenders through policy and procedures; 7) observation and supervision of inmates; 8) service referrals for programs and services; 9) documentation, logs and reports on inmate incident and management; and, 10) Transportation of inmates to court, medical, and other facilities.
  • Enforces standard rules and regulations provided in Title 25 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), 69 Bureau of Indian Affairs Manual (BIAM), Department of the Interior (DOI), Departmental Manual (OM) 446, governing the operations of the detention facilities and programs, and the confinement, safety, health, and protection of criminal offenders.
  • Provides preliminary Interviews for physical and mental health with classification assessments.
  • Upon admission provides criminal offenders with an orientation into the facility's rules and operating procedures through the Inmate Handbook.
  • Coordinates, and supervises offender services, activities, and programs, (i.e., access to medical care, courts, mail, recreating, library, work programs, religious, food, laundry, and counseling services).
  • Observe and supervise offender movement, conduct welfare checks and physical counts of inmates, maintains discipline and prevents the introduction of contraband in the facility and completes proper documentation.
  • Instructs offenders in housekeeping, sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in sanitation and in the proper use and care of tools and equipment used in performing unskilled or semi-skilled work Inside or outside of the facility.
  • Manages inmate behavior of offenders in need of supervision. This includes utilizing effective verbal interpersonal communication skills and proper documentation. Will make proper referrals to appropriate resources.
  • Transports to court, medical and other facilities. Provides close supervision of the offender throughout the transport.
  • Implements all safety aspects of facility emergency management plans to include fire and emergency evacuations.
  • Provides for vehicle safety and security by providing defined offender supervision, searches, transportation, classification, and counts, along with maintaining fire safety, key control, perimeter security, and compliance with offender rules.
  • Ensures that offenders are released from the facility according to established regulations and operational descriptions.
  • Completes facility observation on maintenance that is needed by reporting and documenting to the supervisor that a repair is needed.
As a corrections officer, accepts custody of Indian Country offenders from various law enforcement entities ensuring that document packages include valid criminal charges or proper release documents. While in custody of the program, officer is responsible for safeguarding of the offender and their personal belongings. If determined necessary, will escort the offender to appointments such as with the doctor, dentist, or medical clinics; or to Tribal, county, state and Federal detention institutions or other facilities when the need arises.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

  • U.S. Citizenship Required
  • Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472). Form BIA -4432 must be submitted with the application if claiming Indian Preference.
  • You will be required to have federal payments made by Direct Deposit
  • You may be required to successfully complete a probationary/trial period
  • A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
  • If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959 and are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Authorization Act of 1986 requires that you be registered or you are not eligible for appointment in this agency.
  • Incumbent is required to operate a government motor vehicle, must possess a valid driver's license, and have a safe driving record within the 4 year period immediately preceding submittal of GSA Form 3607.
  • Medical requirement.
  • Drug Testing. This position is subject to both pre-employment and random drug testing as a condition of employment. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test is received.
  • This position has been approved for Primary Law Enforcement Coverage,
  • TELEWORK: Indian Affairs has determined that the duties of the position are not suitable for telework.

Qualifications

EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS: (OPM Operating Manual, Qualification Standards ).

Minimum Qualification GL-05:
To qualify at the GL-05 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. General Work Experience: Three years of general work experience.
OR

B. Education: Successful completion of a full 4 year course of study (120 semester hours or 180 quarter hours) in any field leading to a bachelor's degree, at an accredited college or university.
OR

C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-06:
To qualify at the GL-06 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. Experience: One year of specialized experience at the next lower level assisting with the supervision and care of criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility. Experience at this level may include assisting with or performing tasks such as control room, booking, intake, inmate transport, maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates, in accordance with policies and procedures.
OR

B. Education: Successful completion of nine (9) semester hours or fourteen (14) quarter hours of graduate study from an accredited school with major study in Criminal Justice, Criminology, Social Science, or other field of study related to the position.
OR

C. A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-07:
To qualify at the GL-07 grade level you must meet ONE of the following criteria:

A. Experience: One year specialized experience at or equivalent to the GS/GL-06 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders at a correctional and/or detention facility; maintaining documentation on inmates, controlled movements and supervision of inmates; and experience with Standard Operating Procedures and Emergency Management Plans. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; performing inmate transport; and providing guidance to lower level correctional officers, in accordance with policies, procedures, and detention standards.
OR

B. Education: Successful completion of one full academic year (18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours) of graduate education from an accredited school with major study in criminal justice, social science, or other fields related to the position.
OR

C. Combination: A combination of experience and education that totals 100% of the requirement.

Minimum Qualification GL-08:
To qualify for the GL-08, you must have one year of specialized experience at or equivalent to the GL-07 grade level independently providing supervision and care to criminal offenders in the operation of a correctional and/or detention facility and serving as a work leader over lower-level correctional officers. Experience at this level may include independently enforcing rules and regulations governing facility security, inmate accountability and inmate conduct; distributing and balancing the workload among team members; providing training to lower-level correctional officers; and meeting or exceeding the detention standards by adhering to policies and procedures. Experience may have been gained in work such as serving as a correctional/police officer, mental health counselor in a residential facility, or detention officer/jailor.

Physical Demands
The duties of a correctional officer, on any shift involves unusual mental and nervous pressure. It requires arduous physical exertion including prolonged walking, standing, and sitting while transporting, lifting of moderately heavy to light objects, restraining of offenders in emergencies and participating in escape and walk-away hunts. Incumbent must be physically capable of performing efficiently the duties of the position and be free from such defects or disease as may constitute employment hazards to themselves or others.

Work Environment
Work performed by this position requires frequent and direct contact with individuals or groups of individuals in confinement who are suspected or convicted of Tribal and/or Federal offenses. Daily stress, exposure to disease, and exposure to potentially dangerous situations such as direct physical attack are an inherent part of this position. Incumbent must be able to go anywhere they are detailed for temporary duty on short notice and may be required to remain away from their regular duty station for extended periods of time to meet the needs of the BIA.

MAXIMUM ENTRY AGE LIMIT:
The maximum entry-age for this position shall not exceed age 37, unless you have sufficient prior Federal civilian law enforcement [or firefighter, if applicable] experience or you are a preference eligible veteran. If you are a preference eligible veteran, you may be eligible for this position after your 37th birthday. You must supply a copy of your Defense Department Form 214 (DD-214) along with Standard Form 15 (if applicable) and any associated documentation in accordance with the instructions in this vacancy announcement. Failure to provide this documentation with your application will result in the loss of eligibility to receive a waiver of the maximum entry age requirement.

If you have an approved age waiver, please submit that with your application. NOTE: If you have previous law enforcement (LE) Federal experience, you must enter the number of MONTHS when you respond to the questionnaire. For example, if you have 5 years of Federal LE experience, you must enter 60 months, 4 years would be 48 months, etc. Otherwise, the system may screen you out.

MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS:
The duties of this position require moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, and exposure to inclement weather. Manual dexterity with comparatively free motion of finger, wrist, elbow, shoulder, hip, and knee joints is required. Arms, hands, legs, and feet must be sufficiently intact and functioning in order that applicants may perform the duties satisfactorily. Sufficiently good vision in each eye, with or without correction, is required to perform duties satisfactorily. Near vision, corrective lenses permitted, must be sufficient to read printed material the size of typewritten characters. Hearing loss, as measured by an audiometer, must not exceed 35 decibels at 1000, 2000, and 3000 Hz levels. Since the duties of these positions are exacting and responsible, and involve activities under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability. Any physical condition that would cause the applicant to be a hazard to himself/herself, or others is disqualifying.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Preference in filling vacancies is given to qualified Indian candidates in accordance with the Indian Preference Act of 1934 (title 25, USC Section 472).

Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur in the same location within 90 days from the closing date.

Education

If you are qualifying based on your education, you MUST provide transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated: (1) official or unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

If you are using education completed in foreign colleges or universities to meet the qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education which shows the education credentials have been evaluated by a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign education programs and such education has been deemed equivalent to that gained in an accredited U.S. education program; or full credit has been given for the courses at a U.S. accredited college or university. For further information, visit: FOREIGN EDUCATION

Additional information

All new hires earn the beginning salary of their pay grade (Step 1). See 2025 Salary Tables and select the pay chart for Mescalero, New Mexico.

The full performance level of this position is GL-8. Promotion potential in this announcement does not constitute a commitment or an obligation on the part of management to promote the employee selected at some future date. A career ladder promotion is at the discretion of management, and in no way guaranteed.

CAREER TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS: These programs apply to employees who have been involuntarily separated from a Federal service position within the competitive service or Federal service employees whose positions have been deemed surplus or no longer needed. To receive selection priority for this position, you must: (1) meet CTAP or ICTAP eligibility criteria; (2) be rated well-qualified for the position with a score of or above; and, (3) submit the appropriate documentation to support your CTAP or ICTAP eligibility. For more information visit: http://www.opm.gov/rif/employee_guides/career_transition.asp .

LAND MANAGEMENT WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITY ACT: If applying under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act, you must provide documentation to support your eligibility (SF-50) and performance (references and/or performance appraisal). Under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act (LMWFA) two groups of individuals are eligible to apply under this announcement: current and/or former employees serving or who have served under time-limited competitive appointments at land management agencies. Land Management Agencies include: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

  • Current appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; AND 3) must have performed at an acceptable level during each period of service.
  • Former appointees: 1) must have been hired under competitive examining procedures to a time limited appointment with a land management agency; 2) must have served under one or more time limited appointment(s) by a land management agency for a period totaling more than 24 months without a break in service of 2 or more years; 3) must have separated for reasons other than misconduct or performance; AND 4) must have performed at an acceptable level through the service period.
Certain candidates may be eligible to apply under a special hiring authority including those for disabled individuals, Peace Corps employees, Foreign Service employees, veterans, etc. For more information, visit the following OPM websites: USAJOBS Information Center: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/; Vets Info Guide: http://www.fedshirevets.gov/.

Former Federal Employees are required to indicate whether they received a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) buyout in their previous employment with the Federal government, and are required to submit a copy of the applicable Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50) regarding the VSIP. Most individuals who accept reemployment with the Federal government within 5 years of receiving the VSIP amount, must repay the gross amount of the separation pay prior to reemployment.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your resume will be evaluated after the closing date to determine whether you meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position described above. Qualified candidates will then be further evaluated to assess the quality, depth, and complexity of your accomplishments, experience, and education in relation to the competencies or knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the position as demonstrated by your responses to the assessment questions. Competencies measured include:

  • Detention
  • Oral Communication
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Technical Competence


We will compare your resume and supporting documentation to your responses on the assessment questionnaire. If your responses to the assessment questions cannot be supported by your resume, your score may be adjusted to more accurately reflect your experience. Qualified applicants will be evaluated, rated and referred to the selecting official under category rating procedures, and placed in one of the following categories:

BEST QUALIFIED: Applicants possess all of the job related competencies identified above.

WELL QUALIFIED: Applicants possess a majority of the job related competencies.

QUALIFIED: Applicants meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements but do not meet the definition of Best Qualified or Well Qualified.

DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE: PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume/ application does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s). Your resume must contain sufficiently detailed information upon which to make a qualification determination. Please ensure that your resume contains specific information such as position titles, beginning and ending dates of employment for each position, average number of hours worked per week, and if the position is/was in the Federal government, you should provide the position series and grade level.

Qualified Indian preference candidates will be referred to the hiring manager in order of veterans' preference.

You may preview the assessment questions here in the https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12728191. Additional selections may be made from this announcement if identical vacancies occur within 90 days from the date the certificate was issued.

Required Documents

The following documents are required for this position:

  1. Resume which details work experience including dates worked (mm/yy-mm/yy), position title, Grade (if federal service), and hours worked per week.
  2. On-line Assessment Questionnaire
  3. Transcripts (if using education to qualify) - Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, an official transcript may be requested at a later time.
  4. BIA Form 4432 (if claiming Indian preference)
  5. Veteran's documentation -
  • For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214, Copy 4 that MUST show an Honorable Discharge (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., copy of military orders, campaign documents as or expeditionary award citation, etc.) proving your military service was performed under honorable conditions.
  • For 10-point veterans' preference, you must submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference and the supporting documentation required by that form.
  • If you are a disabled veteran you must submit a Veterans Affairs (VA) letter on VA letterhead that states your overall combined rating and a DD214 (copy 4) reflecting an honorable discharge.
ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 11:59PM Eastern Time ON THE CLOSING DATE OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If your application package is incomplete in any way, you will not be considered for this position, and requests for extensions will not be granted. Please double check your application package before you submit it. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WILL NOT BE SOLICITED FROM OR ACCEPTED BY THIS OFFICE.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

ONLINE APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

To apply for this position, you must complete the online application and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below.

- To begin, click Apply to access the online application. You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply. If you do not have a USAJOBS account, you will need to create one before beginning the application.

- Follow the prompts to select your resumé and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. You will have the opportunity to upload additional documents to include in your application before it is submitted. Your uploaded documents may take several hours to clear the virus scan process.

- After acknowledging you have reviewed your application package, complete the Include Personal Information section as you deem appropriate and click to continue with the application process.

- You will be taken to the online application which you must complete in order to apply for the position. Complete the online application, verify the required documentation is included with your application package, and submit the application.

To verify the status of your application, log into your USAJOBS account (https://my.usajobs.gov/Account/Login ); all of your applications will appear on the Welcome screen. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/how-to/application/status/.

PLEASE NOTE - NO APPLICATION MATERIAL WILL BE ACCEPTED VIA E-MAIL.

Agency contact information

Shelly MacDonald
Address
AS-IA Human Resources
12220 Sunrise Valley Dr., Room 4047
Reston, VA 20191
US

Next steps

Once your online application is submitted you will receive a confirmation notification by email. Your application will be evaluated by the Human Resources Office to determine your eligibility for the position. After the evaluation is complete, you will receive another notification regarding the status of your application.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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