CORRECTIONAL UNIT SUPERVISOR

Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • High school diploma or GED with 7 years of corrections experience, or
  • 2 years of college plus 5 years of corrections experience, or
  • Bachelor's degree with 3 years of corrections experience, plus 2 years of supervisory experience.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead calmly under stress and in crises.
  • Strong skills in writing, data analysis, conflict resolution, and prioritization.

Responsibilities

  • Supervise staff and incarcerated individuals in a living unit.
  • Manage security procedures and emergency preparedness.
  • Oversee classification and programming of incarcerated individuals.
  • Ensure compliance with sanitation and safety standards.
  • Monitor documentation of classification actions and incidents.
  • Conduct investigations regarding behavior and security issues.
  • Provide staff development, coaching, and performance assessments.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health insurance options.
  • Retirement savings plan with agency contribution.
  • Paid time off and holidays.
  • Professional development opportunities.
  • Employee assistance programs.
Full Job Description
Salary: $117,540.00 Annually
Location : Mason County - Shelton, WA
Job Type: Agency Internal - Permanent
Job Number:
Department: Dept. of Corrections
Division: Prisons - WCC
Opening Date: 08/12/2026
Closing Date: 8/19/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
Washington Corrections Center (WCC), Mason County - Shelton, WA

Dept. of Corrections, Prisons

Correctional Unit Supervisor (CUS)

DOC - Internal Only - Permanent

The Department of Corrections is seeking a highly motivated and qualified individual for a Correctional Unit Supervisor (CUS) at Washington Corrections Center (WCC) in Shelton, Washington.

Washington Corrections Center is located 35 miles northwest of Olympia, the state capital. WCC is predominantly a Reception and Diagnostic Center, a close, medium-and long-term minimum custody facility. The facility has a primary responsibility to process, test, and classify all adult male incarcerated individuals sentenced to prison in Washington State. The facility has seven living units, compromised of 5 close custody reception units, and 3 medium and long-term minimum units. WCC houses approximately 1,800 incarcerated individuals. There are approximately 500 incarcerated individuals screened and processed each month. WCC also serves as a major transportation hub responsible for the transfer of incarcerated individuals to and from facilities throughout the state.

The Department of Corrections (DOC), Prisons Division, in collaboration with its criminal justice partners, contributes to staff and community safety and holds incarcerated individuals accountable in administering criminal sanctions and effective reentry programs. The Correctional Unit Supervisor works collaboratively with the Correctional Program Manager (CPM) to develop an effective custody and classification program that is cost effective, productive, and safe.

The classification system is designed to promote incarcerated individuals' participation in work, education, treatment, incarcerated change, and vocational programming in a manner that results in graduated release through a systematic decrease in supervision and corresponding increase in incarcerated individuals' responsibility and reentry into the community. This position is critical in maintaining core correctional operations by ensuring living units operates safely and in ensuring classification staff prepare incarcerated individuals for reentry into the community through classification, assessment, program referral and release planning. This position works in collaboration with community corrections, courts, and local law enforcement agencies to ensure that incarcerated individuals under DOC supervision adhere to appropriate evidence-based programming through incarcerated individuals' accountability, so that reentry back into the community is productive and safe.

For additional information about our agency, please visit
Complete your application online at:
  • A completed application packet will include:
    • A cover letter outlining how you meet the qualifications for this position,
    • A detailed chronological resume,
    • At least (3) three professional references

- A professional reference is identified 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.
Note: Incomplete application packages may disqualify an applicant from the application process.
We are looking for evidence in your application materials that you have the experience, skills, and abilities indicated in this job posting. Qualified applicants whose responses most closely match the requirements of this position may be invited to interview. Carefully review your application before submitting. All information may be verified, and documentation may be required. The initial screening will be solely based on the contents and completeness of the application materials submitted.

Duties
Duties include but are not limited to:

This position is responsible for supervising incarcerated individuals, staff, and daily operations of an all-male incarcerated individual living unit to include but not limited to:
  • Supervision of staff and incarcerated individuals, inspection and review of all security devices & procedures, emergency response procedures and preparedness, incarcerated individuals' accountability, equipment and training in the unit.
  • Supervises all elements of custody and security that relate to the management of a living unit to include, but not limited to all security devices, security practices, emergency response procedures and preparedness, equipment, and training in the unit.
  • Supervises all elements related to the classification and programming of incarcerated individuals to include but not limited to recommending risk management levels, incarcerated individuals accountability, custody assignment, approving regular reviews, targeting promotions and intakes, requesting classification overrides, ensuring counselor recommendations are consistent with current policy requirements, auditing caseloads to ensure time frames are being met, chairing Multi-Disciplinary Teams, ensuring staff training, and ensuring that Court/Department imposed sanctions are imposed and enforced if approved.
  • Ensures that the living unit sanitation level is consistent with expectations that are mandated by local, State, County, and Federal guideline, and local facility standards.
  • Ensuring that all safety issues associated with the effective operation of the living unit are requested and completed in a timely manner that minimizes the impact of staff work areas and incarcerated living conditions.
  • Ensures that all elements mandated by Department policy directives, RCWs, WACs, and OMs are implemented and enforced.
  • Ensures that proper documentation is completed in the areas of classification actions, incident reports, infraction reports, Performance and Development Plans, monthly performance reports, grievance investigations. Tort claim investigations, administrative segregation investigations, confidential information reports, equipment requests, leave requests and others.
  • Oversee infraction hearings and conduct classification reviews ensuring that all incarcerated individuals due process rights are acknowledged and enforced in an objective and impartial manner.
  • Conduct investigations, as directed, to address security, safety, and staff or incarcerated individuals' behavior issues.
  • Conduct investigations as assigned by the Superintendent or PREA unit.
  • Plan, direct and monitor unit programs.
  • Recognize good performance and appropriate documents in the employee records. Assess staff individually for career development and provide training and/or rotational experiences.
  • Provide coaching and mentoring to staff and lead by example.
  • Monitor work performance; investigate and take appropriate corrective or recommend disciplinary action

Qualifications
Required:

What we need (required qualifications):
  • High school diploma or GED

AND
  • Seven years of juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience.

OR
  • Satisfactory completion of two years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits)

AND
  • Five years' juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience

OR
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)

AND
  • Three years of juvenile or adult corrections experience in treatment, custody or community corrections or professional counseling or casework experience.

AND
  • Two years of experience as a supervisor. (This experience may be gained concurrently with the required experience above)

Demonstrated ability to provide positive leadership in times of stress, conflict, and unforeseen events. Remain calm and rational while handling difficult situation to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening, or other crisis/emergency situations. Expertly intervene in response to threats.

- In addition to at least one of the above, this position requires:

Ability to -
  • Write clearly, factually, and concisely.
  • Analyze and interpret data, weigh the risks, and make decisions or recommendations to address staff and offender needs.
  • Identify and address offender behavior/needs.
  • Organize and prioritize work.
  • Apply conflict resolution skills.

Observation - Observes and strategizes personal action based on environmental conditions and human behavior.

Technology - Learns and utilizes computer-based applications in the performance of job duties.

Stress Tolerance - Remains calm and rational while handling difficult situations to include, but not limited to, volatile, threatening or other crisis/emergency situations. Expertly intervenes in response to threats.

Professional Standards - Knows and applies relevant law, policy, procedure, and practice. Adheres to established productivity standards and timelines. Identifies own training needs and proactively seeks training opportunities.

Adaptability - Incorporates new information into an existing framework of understanding. Accepts change and supports the Agency through changes in law, policy and procedure.

Desired

Working knowledge of DOC Policies, RCWs, WACs, and Operational Memoranda.

Working knowledge of incarcerated individual management and supervision, including behavior management, classification process, sanitation, security, and safety. Understanding of incarcerated individual programs including preparation of incarcerated individuals for transition back into society.

Supplemental Information
Supplemental Information

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