Lieutenant Colonel

About the role

The Jail Lieutenant Colonel is second in command and assists the Jail Superintendent in the overall management and daily operations of the detention facility. This role provides leadership, supervision, and administrative oversight to ensure safety, security, staff development, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

Responsibilities

• Aid in planning, directing, and evaluating all operational functions of the jail, including security, inmate services, medical operations, transportation, and facility maintenance.
• Provide leadership and supervision to division commanders, supervisors, and staff; ensure adherence to policies, procedures, and performance standards.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, training, and professional development for correctional personnel.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulatory requirements, accreditation standards, and departmental policies.
• Participate in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, emergency plans, and operational initiatives.
• Assist with budget preparation, monitoring expenditures, and evaluating resource needs.
• Review incident reports, grievances, investigations, and disciplinary actions; ensure appropriate follow up and corrective measures.
• Cook up coordination with external agencies, including courts, law enforcement partners, medical providers, and community organizations.
• Support efforts to enhance inmate programs, reentry services, and overall facility effectiveness.
• Represent the department at meetings, inspections, and audits.
• Serve as Acting Superintendent when needed and perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of modern correctional principles, concepts, trends, practices and techniques.
Ability to apply advanced correctional principles, practices, methods and techniques.
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze difficult problems or situations requiring tact, diplomacy, understanding, fairness and good judgment.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious relationships with all staff members, department directors, shift commanders, governmental officials and community leaders.
Ability to discipline and counsel subordinate personnel in accordance with Standard Operational procedures, utilizing skills in difficult counseling and conflict resolution.
Oversee the delivery of programs and services within a correctional environment.
Comprehensive understanding of jail standards, correctional best practices, inmate classification, PREA requirements, and emergency operations.
Strong leadership, communication, and decision making skills.
Ability to manage staff performance, resolve conflicts, and maintain professionalism in high stress environments.
Ability to pass all required background checks, certifications, and training programs.

Qualifications

• Any combination of education, training and/or experience equivalent to a Bachelor’s Degree in criminology, criminal justice, sociology, psychology, or a related field (Master’s Degree Preferred).
• Seven (7) years of progressive professional level experience in corrections, detention administration, probation, pre-trial or law enforcement including supervisory experience.
• Must have command level or senior management experience in business operations, organizational management, and administrative oversight.

Preferences

• Must have experience managing sworn personnel and professional staff.
• Must have intensive experience with incident investigations.
• Must have the ability to build and foster positive community partners/relationships.
• A clear understanding of the Virginia Courts process.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Comprehensive knowledge of modern correctional principles, concepts, trends, practices and techniques.
• Ability to apply advanced correctional principles, practices, methods and techniques.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze difficult problems or situations requiring tact, diplomacy, understanding, fairness and good judgment.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and harmonious relationships with all staff members, department directors, shift commanders, governmental officials and community leaders.
• Ability to discipline and counsel subordinate personnel in accordance with Standard Operational procedures, utilizing skills in difficult counseling and conflict resolution.
• Oversee the delivery of programs and services within a correctional environment.
• Comprehensive understanding of jail standards, correctional best practices, inmate classification, PREA requirements, and emergency operations.
• Strong leadership, communication, and decision making skills.
• Ability to manage staff performance, resolve conflicts, and maintain professionalism in high stress environments.
• Ability to pass all required background checks, certifications, and training programs.