Director of Prison Operations

Agency: Department of Corrections - Prison Operations
Location: Pierre or Sioux Falls
Salary: $99,305.28 to $134,000.00 annually, depending on experience

About the role

The Director of Prison Operations provides executive leadership, strategic planning, and oversight for the Department's Prison Operations Division. This role involves developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based best practices for managing correctional facilities to ensure safety and security for the public, staff, and the inmate population. The Director oversees the staff training department, offender services, security technology, and correctional emergency management.

Responsibilities include ensuring compliance with all applicable laws, legal actions, and orders, which requires strong inter-agency working relationships with state agencies, federal, state, county, and local law enforcement authorities. The position also involves fulfilling requirements of legal actions and life safety, and progressively collaborating with internal and external constituents, legislative officials, governmental and non-governmental agencies. This position reports directly to the Deputy Secretary of Corrections.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic planning for the Prison Operations Division.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based best practices for managing correctional facilities.
• Oversee staff training, offender services, security technology, and correctional emergency management.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable laws, legal actions, and orders.
• Build and maintain strong inter-agency relationships with law enforcement and governmental agencies.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including legislative officials and non-governmental agencies.
• Develop and implement correctional policies and procedures.
• Manage large-scale budgets and multidisciplinary teams.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice or a related field.
• Significant leadership experience in a warden, deputy director, or director position leading a correctional system or facility.
• Experience managing large-scale budgets and multidisciplinary teams using evidence-based best practices for the safe and secure management of adult inmates.
• Experience developing and implementing correctional policies and procedures.

Skills

• Knowledge of correctional rehabilitation, offender reentry, staff training, and evidence-based correctional practices.
• Knowledge of policy and procedure evaluation, strategic planning, performance management, and data analysis.
• Ability to develop and implement complex statewide initiatives.
• Ability to establish collaborative partnerships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to implement and improve operations through effective leadership and the use of performance measures.

Additional Requirements

• This position is exempt from the Civil Service Act.
• Successful applicant(s) will be required to undergo a background investigation. An arrest/conviction record will not necessarily bar employment.
• Offers of employment are conditional upon successful completion of a drug screening.
• The State of South Dakota does not sponsor work visas for new or existing employees.
• All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete an Employment Eligibility Verification, Form I-9.
• Must attach a resume to be considered.

Benefits

• $0 premium employee health insurance option.
• Eleven paid holidays.
• Generous vacation and sick leave accrual.
• Dental, vision, and other insurance options.
• Retirement benefits (Class A retirement under SDRS).

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours weekly.