CDOC - Associate Warden (Sterling)

Salary: $8,898.00 - $14,238.00 Monthly
Location : Sterling, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: SCF PM III 30709 10.2026
Department: Department of Corrections
Opening Date: 10/21/2026
Closing Date: 11/4/2026 4:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Sterling, CO
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Type of Announcement: The primary duties of this position are located within 30 miles of the state border; therefore, this position is exempt from the residency requirements. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.

Who May Apply:

A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Job Location:

Sterling Correctional Facility

The resulting eligibility list may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.
Description of Job

The Colorado Department of Corrections is recruiting for a dynamic leader to provide supervision and oversight of facility operations. In support of the CDOC mission, vision, and value statements, the Associate Warden will provide daily administrative/operational management over facility program areas, to include housing, security, group living, offender services (education, food service, programs, physical plant operations, etc.). Position ensures safe, secure and humane operations, upholding public safety and successful reentry of offenders.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Implement departmental policy and directives; assists in the development of management plans, strategic plans, and procedures to follow management directives as they relate to facility operations;
• Collaborate with management staff in the development and oversight of the facility's budget, ensures managers adhere to allocated budget, and assists in the development of contingency and supplemental requests;
• Direct supervision of assigned staff. Assess needs and develop staffing patterns, approve leave requests, prepare/sign performance
  documentation, provide effective direction, mentorship and feedback to others;
• Oversee the development of the facility emergency operations plan;
• Serve as Incident Commander; assigns subordinate staff to positions as required in the Incident Command structure, monitors exercises, and assures that actual incidents are documented appropriately;
• Monitor the Code of Penal Discipline (COPD) and offender classification process by ensuring the facility is operating within departmental policy, initiatives, and appropriate offender management to capacity concepts;
• Provide oversight of the classification system at the facility to ensure offenders are appropriately classified, and reviewed for reclassification,
  off grounds clearance, special status reviews, and placement into Restrictive Housing.
• Supervise professional level management staff through performance management, evaluation of performance, initiates the hiring and disciplinary process, and assigns work schedules and job assignments;
• Provide effective leadership to facility personnel and implements strategies which promote staff development and growth;
• Assume the Appointing Authority responsibility for the Warden as delegated;
• Conduct daily inspection of buildings grounds, activities, and programs area;
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Class Code & Classification Description:

H1A4XX Program Management III

Minimum Qualifications:
Experience: Ten (10) years of relevant experience in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Public Administration or a related field to the work assigned.

- - OR - -

Education and Experience: A combination of related education and/or relevant experience in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Sociology, Public Administration or a related field to the work assigned equal to ten (10) years.

Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes.

Required Competencies:

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage staff with diverse professional experience and qualifications;
• Strong knowledge and experience with Performance Management and Personnel; has the ability to assess and address staff deficiencies in line with the State Personnel Board Rules and Department Regulations;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively and maintain a positive culture;
• Strong verbal and written communication and public speaking skills;
• Ability to effectively manage in a complex, changing environment;
• Comprehensive operational knowledge of institutional facilities;
• Ability to progressively manage a multiple programmatic governmental organization with efficiency, effectiveness, and elegance;
• Ability to provide innovation, implement and improve the operations through effective performance measures.
• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing;
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Oversight of operations in a correctional institution to include experience in reviewing and overseeing staffing patterns and shift scheduling for essential posts. Experience in implementing strategies for the mitigation of overtime costs and staff fatigue.
• Experience in reviewing employee grievances to include providing written responses and developing plans of action for follow up;
• Experience in overseeing quality control and compliance processes in a correctional setting which could include; compliance program oversight, security auditing oversight, Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) auditing, and oversight of prison policy to include developing and reviewing facility implementation adjustments which align with Department standards;
• Supervising correctional supervisors, providing guidance regarding the performance management of correctional staff as outlined in PMP (Performance Management Program), Administrative Regulation 1450-02. Coaching and mentoring supervisors in a correctional setting;
• Gathers and submits information in responses to correctional litigation. Experience in the oversight of Use of Force reviews to include after action reviews, responding to offender disciplinary appeals, answering offender classification appeals, review of offender grievance responses, and gathering information for the Attorney General's Office to assist in the Department's legal defense;
• Oversight of the essential services for incarcerated people in a 24 hour correctional operation, could include, laundry services / food services operations, physical plant and climate control operations / life safety program, and or clinical services;
• Oversight of emergency management coordination focusing on immediate response strategy and long term resolution in a correctional setting.

MPORTANT INFORMATION

The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ's will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, Online Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Be sure the "Work Experience" section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and "see resume" statements will not be accepted in lieu of the "Work Experience" section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.
Please note that while this change in role may constitute a change in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual's current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.
If you have transcripts, a license or other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.

If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.
In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least (10) ten years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than (10) years. Failure to provide this information could result in delays and/or elimination from the background investigation process.

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support: If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time). Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application first, ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and second, close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.
**You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records**
Conditions of Employment: All job offers are contingent upon a successful medical screening by a healthcare professional, certifying the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. Applicant must consent to hold harmless CDOC and its agents and staff from any liability arising in whole or in part from the testing and the use of this information in connection with CDOC's consideration of application for employment.