CDOC - Social Work/Counselor IV - Social Emotional Learning Specialist (COLORADO SPRINGS)

Salary: $7,301.00 - $10,222.00 Monthly
Location : Colorado Springs, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: HQ 20292 SWC IV - SEL 11.2026
Department: Department of Corrections
Opening Date: 10/29/2026
Closing Date: 11/12/2026 4:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Type of Announcement: This position is open only to Colorado state residents.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information:
Primary Physical Work Address: Colorado Springs, CO. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.
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: This position is only open to Colorado state residents.
Location: Positions are located in at the CDOC Headquarters in COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.

Description of Job

This position will support student emotional growth, design school-wide wellness programs, and coach teachers on inclusive practices. Will participate in Individualized Education Program (IEP) and 504 meetings, recommend and support behavioral interventions, provide educational case management and SEL services, assist with conflict resolution and social skill development, and develop education programs for all students.

The job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Conducting in-person and virtual meetings with students and service providers to facilitate IEP goal development, service delivery, and plan evaluation.
• Administer, score, and interpret social work assessments; provide short-term counseling and consultation services; and monitor student progress to drive informed, timely educational decisions.
• Serve as an integral member of the IEP team, this position utilizes professional knowledge and theory to develop and draft IEPs, including specific learning goals, objectives, and outcomes.
• The role requires analyzing multiple data sources to inform sound instructional decisions and actively collaborating with colleagues within professional learning communities.
• Assist non-staffed students on a case-by-case basis upon formal requests processed through the Prison Programs Special Education Unit.
• Provide short-term counseling to the student and consult with the classroom teacher to recommend ways to improve learning opportunities for students.
• Perform other duties assigned to support Special Education and Prison Programs operations to include assisting with annual Colorado Department of Education student counts, entering data into the Frontline system, and assisting the Child Find Coordinator and YOS education.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS PROCESS.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicant must possess a valid, active license from the State of Colorado as a
  • Licensed Professional Counselor,
  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker,
  • Licensed Psychologist or
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.

- - AND - -

• Applicant must have two (2) years of licensed or license candidacy experience, with current valid licensure from the State of Colorado to include Licensed Social Worker (LSW), Licensed Professional Counselor Candidate (LPCC), Licensed Clinical Social Worker Candidate (SWC) or Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Candidate, and experience must be with the mental health and/or sex offender population.

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.

Required Competencies:

• Advanced knowledge and a thorough understanding of Mental Health standards and guidelines;
• Ability to continuously expand knowledge base through continuing education of innovative clinical techniques and research;
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external agencies;
• Strong leadership and analytical skills;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• 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;
• Ability to provide direct patient care to offenders;
• Must maintain required licensure.

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Supervisory experience over professional, behavioral health staff. Supervisory experience includes making decisions that affect the pay, status and tenure of subordinate employees;
2. Clinical supervision and/or instruction over employees and/or interns to include guiding diagnostic assessments, review of treatment plans and measurement of treatment goals;
3. Experience providing mental health treatment and discharge planning with the severely mentally ill and developmentally disabled population;
4. Experience which includes leadership and oversight of a mental health program;
5. Extensive licensed experience providing mental health treatment;
6. Experience working as a School Social Worker in public education;
7. Colorado Department of Education School Social Worker licensure.

ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS BY THE CLOSING DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

For information regarding this job announcement, contact Stacey Hibpshman at or 719-723-3973.
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, eSkills 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 promotion 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.
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.

• Must be 21 years of age;
• Possess a valid driver's license; Drivers must maintain a valid, non-restricted Colorado driver license, obey traffic laws, and be able to safely operate a motor vehicle. State drivers are expected to maintain a safe driving record consistent with Colorado Division of Human Resources Universal Policy Driving Standards. Eligibility to drive a State-owned vehicle, includes holding a valid Colorado driver's license within 30 days of employment or residency change and meeting specific driving record criteria. Serious traffic violations, including DUIs or reckless driving, can disqualify drivers for up to seven years. All State Vehicles are monitored by telematics for safe operation and employees have no reasonable expectation of privacy while using an agency State Fleet vehicle.
• Possess a high school diploma or GED;
• Have NO felony convictions, to include any actions defined in 5 U.S.C. 301; U.S.C. 509, 510; 42 U.S.C. 15601-15609. The CDOC shall not hire nor promote anyone who may have contact with an offender who has engaged in sexual abuse which includes acts, activity, and sexual behavior, in a prison or other institution as defined in 42 U.S.C. 1997; or has been convicted of engaging or attempting to engage in sexual activity in the community facilitated by force, overt or implied threats of force or coercion, or if the victim did not consent or was unable to consent or refuse, or has been civilly or administratively adjudicated to have engaged in the activity described in the above paragraph. The agency shall consider any incidents of sexual harassment in determining whether to hire anyone who may have contact with offenders or residents.
• Applicants must be legally eligible to work in the United States to be appointed to this position. CDOC uses e-Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. CDOC does not sponsor non-residents of the United States.
• Successfully pass all modules of the 6 week Colorado Department of Corrections Basic Training, to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams in Defensive Tactics;
• Possess the physical ability to successfully complete