Correctional Trades Leader

About the role

Teaches, mentors, and supervises a crew of up to 10 incarcerated individuals to execute physical facility repairs, custom fabrication, and specialized equipment maintenance while maintaining strict institutional custody, safety, and tool containment.

Responsibilities

• Conducts face-to-face safety briefings and project orientations each morning before deploying the crew.
• Physically demonstrates the correct operation of specialized machinery and tools, including commercial drain jetters, augers and sewer line cameras, metal shears, MIG/TIG welders, oxy-acetylene torches, table saws, CNC plasma cutting tables, and CNC wood carving routers, and digital multi-meters.
• Maintains precise, accountability and state timecards for all assigned inmate workers.
• Enforces strict tool control policies by inventorying every single wrench, socket, blades, drill bit, and driver against a shadow board log at the beginning, and conclusion of every shift and after each job at each location.
• Conducts random and mandatory physical pat-searches of all crew members to prevent the introduction of contraband or the fabrication of weapons from maintenance materials.
• Maintains precise, accountability and state timecards for all assigned inmate workers.
• Executes advanced troubleshooting, custom fabrication, diagnostic testing, and complex repairs on critical, interconnected facility infrastructure, high-end commercial kitchen culinary systems, and perimeter security-related hardware.
• Reviews physical work orders generated by the facility's maintenance management system.
• Inspects malfunctioning machinery, isolates the root cause of failures, and reviews architectural blueprints and electrical schematics to map out custom repair or construction strategies.
• Utilizes welding and metal fabrication equipment to design and build unique, non-existent brackets, gates, or structural fixes to solve facility-specific security and operational challenges.
• Utilizes computer-aided design software to build custom prints and digital toolpath designs for CNC devices.
• Coordinates and carries out advanced preventative maintenance and installation routines, including rebuilding specialized institutional combi-toilets, troubleshooting automated metering devices, repairing fire sprinkler heads, servicing high-end kitchen equipment (such as combi-ovens, commercial bakery ovens, and steam kettles involving Natural Gas, high-voltage electricity, and steam lines), and maintaining electronic/mechanical gates with complex sliding mechanisms.
• Measures, designs, and builds custom parts, signage, and furniture by building digital prints and toolpath designs for the CNC wood carving and plasma cutting table.
• Diagnoses a heating failure on a commercial steam kettle by troubleshooting the natural gas control valve and electrical ignition system, replacing the faulty components, and verifying safe operational pressures.
• Designs, Measures, cuts, and fabricates custom desks, cabinets, and shelving units to maximize space and fit the unique, secure layout requirements of an institutional office space.
• Manages the operational security, hazard containment, and material verification of active job sites and fabrication zones scattered throughout the secure perimeter of the institution.
• Audits active construction, plumbing, or electrical work zones to ensure all hazardous chemicals (such as industrial solvents, welding gases, primers, and paints) are meticulously logged, stored in OSHA-approved flame cabinets, and never left unattended.
• Physically inspects secure access panels, pipe chases, security ceilings, and locked gates before sealing them to verify that no tools or contraband have been hidden behind walls.
• Researches technical parts catalogs and checks local inventory to locate exact replacement components for failing equipment, ensuring all materials meet strict institutional safety and state building code requirements.
• Provides emergency technical support, reviews facility capital project plans, and maintains accurate compliance records.
• Remains on active standby via two-way institutional radio to respond immediately to facility emergencies, such as ruptured water mains, power outages, or perimeter security failures.
• Evaluates proposed architectural blueprints and engineering diagrams for upcoming facility renovations to identify potential security risks or layout conflicts.
• Completes tasks in the maintenance management system to document completed preventative maintenance tasks, and updating equipment service histories.
• Responds to an urgent radio call regarding a jammed main gate sliding mechanism, secures the immediate area, identifies a failed mechanical bearing, and fabricates a temporary replacement using shop machinery to restore perimeter security.

Qualifications

• Four years of full-time work experience in one or more of the recognized building (e.g., carpentry, painting, plumbing/pipefitting, electrical and masonry) and mechanical/repair (e.g., air conditioning/ heating, auto mechanics, upholstery and welding) trades.
• Total of four years of education and/or full-time experience (as described in number one), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university coursework in a recognized building and mechanical trade for each year of the required experience.
• Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes one year of full-time work as a Furniture Upholsterer, Mason, Maintenance Repairer, Carpenter 1 or 2, Painter 1 or 2, Plumber 1 or 2, or Welder.

Skills

• Proficiency in operating a wide range of specialized machinery and tools, including commercial drain jetters, augers and sewer line cameras, metal shears, MIG/TIG welders, oxy-acetylene torches, table saws, CNC plasma cutting tables, and CNC wood carving routers, and digital multi-meters.
• Ability to physically demonstrate the correct operation of specialized machinery and tools.
• Knowledge of welding and metal fabrication techniques.
• Ability to maintain precise, accountability and state timecards for all assigned inmate workers.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to enforce strict tool control policies.
• Ability to conduct random and mandatory physical pat-searches of all crew members.
• Ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex facility infrastructure issues.
• Ability to coordinate and carry out advanced preventative maintenance and installation routines.
• Ability to design and build custom parts, signage, and furniture.
• Ability to research technical parts catalogs and check local inventory.
• Ability to provide emergency technical support.
• Ability to evaluate proposed architectural blueprints and engineering diagrams.
• Ability to complete tasks in the maintenance management system.

Benefits

• Compliance with the State of Iowa’s E-Verify and Right to Work programs.

Pay

• Salary is commensurate with experience.

Schedule

• Hours are typically 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.