Address: 701 East Jefferson Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034

Salary: $162,000 

Grade: E4

Closing Date: 12/12/2024

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry (ADCRR) is currently recruiting a dynamic correctional professional to fulfill the leadership role of the agency’s Assistant Director of Prison Operations. This executive-level position is tasked with helping transform the department’s culture and leading the security operations components of the agency in a modernized direction, with a focus on effective communication strategies, best security practices, and improved correctional outcomes. An effective Assistant Director will help shape new policies and procedures related to the daily operations of the state’s prisons and lead the sound implementation and training of these new practices. Daily management includes oversight of nine state prison complexes' security and operations functions, guidance and accountability for six privately contracted prisons, security operations, incident management, and performance measurement related to prison operations. The incumbent is also responsible for the safety practices of over 8,600 employees and the safety and security of more than 35,000 adult male and female offenders, including juveniles adjudicated as adults. The offenders are housed in the state's nine Prison Complexes and six contracted institutions throughout Arizona. We seek a results-driven professional with a keen focus on our responsibility to the State of Arizona to ensure safer communities through effective corrections, with outcomes demonstrating this.

The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation & Reentry has embarked on a vision of REIMAGINING CORRECTIONS through four overarching and mission-centered goals:
- Build a Meaningful Organizational Culture and Promote the Development of Team
- Create and Implement Optimal Population Management and Progression Strategies
- Deploy Quality Delivery of Services and Continuity of Care in Complexes and Communities
- Achieve Modernization & Sustainability of Practices & Resources
Your primary responsibilities will include:
- Attends meetings with the Director, Deputy Directors, Members of the Executive Staff, and Wardens to discuss and render decisions on correctional issues
- Engages with frontline staff regularly to listen and learn about their perspectives on the operations of ADCRR’s prisons
- Tours ADCRR prison complexes and contract facilities to ensure sound policy and practice implementation and overall adherence to best practices
- Directs and facilitates committees and workgroups related to the security staff, operations and policies, and innovative ideas for consideration,
- Attends and/or represents the department at public speaking engagements on relevant issues
- Supervises an immediate staff of direct reports, establishes expectations, makes assignments, provides direction, coaches, and monitors progress, and evaluates performance
- Develops and implements policies and procedures specific to the adult institutions and contract facilities in compliance with ADCRR and Arizona State Laws
- Provides responsible safety, security, and protection to the public, employees, and offender population housed in ADCRR institutions
- Travels/Drives on State business
- Performs other duties appropriate to the assignment

Knowledge of:

- ADCRR policies, procedures, and standards
- Modern use of force protocols, review practices, and accountability measures
- Theory concepts and practices of correctional care, custody control, and treatment of adult offenders
- Comprehensive security practices and security service programs
- Prison staffing structures
- Budget preparation and process
- Criminal Justice system
- Classification of adult offenders
- Correctional philosophy and organizational development
- Federal and state laws, rules, regulations, and policies impacting the department
- Facilitation, mediation, and problem-solving techniques
- Administrative office practices and procedures
- Human Resources management and practices
- Lean methodologies
- Computers and software

Skill in:

- Management, supervision, and leadership
- Verbal and written communication
- Interpersonal relationships with internal and external individuals, including excellent judgment when communicating with elected officials, governmental officials, and representatives of the media and stakeholders
- Conducting, compiling, analyzing, and extracting research and presenting information in support of project objectives
- Correctional philosophy and organizational development
- Developing and implementing strategic plans
- Professional development of staff and subordinates

Ability to:

- Exercise administrative supervision over professional staff and evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness
- Develop and give presentations
- Manage complex projects, prioritize tasks
- Analyze complex problems/issues and solve multi-dimensional problems under high pressures and short timelines
- Interpret and analyze state and federal laws
- Exercise sound judgment

- Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice/Corrections, Public Administration, Business Administration, or Sociology/Social Science;
- Progressively responsible experience with ADCRR or other correctional agencies in which the position held was Administrative or Business related

In an effort to maintain a safe environment, all employees are required to take a Tuberculosis (TB) test during their New Employee Orientation and every year thereafter.

Employment is contingent on the selected applicant passing a background investigation and a drug test*.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job, then the following requirements apply. Any employee operating a motor vehicle on State business must possess and retain a current, valid, class-appropriate driver’s license, complete all required training, and successfully pass all necessary driver’s license record checks. The license must be current, unexpired, and neither revoked nor suspended. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver’s license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records, and must complete all required driver training. An employee who operates a personally owned vehicle on state business shall maintain the statutorily required liability insurance (see Arizona Administrative Code (A.A.C.) R2-10-207.11).

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

We offer an excellent and affordable comprehensive benefits package to meet the needs of our employees:
- Vacation and sick days with 10 paid holidays per year
- Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program).
- Robust and affordable insurance plan to include medical, dental, life, short-term and long-term disability options
- Exceptional retirement program
- Optional employee benefits such as deferred compensation plans, credit union membership, and a wellness program
- An incentivized commuter club and public transportation subsidy program

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

Positions in this classification participate in the Correctional Officer Retirement Plan (CORP).

Current ADCRR Employees: Consult with your respective Human Resources Liaison if you are in a different retirement plan than the one indicated above.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by calling (602) 255-2430. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation.