Warden - Northampton County Jail

About the role

The Warden position is responsible for the administration, operation, and maintenance of the Northampton County penal facility. This role involves supervising and coordinating assigned internal prison activities, services, programs, and facilities, as well as managing subordinate staff. The position oversees Corrections operations, maintenance, and social service functions.

Supervision

This position reports directly to the Director of Corrections and is responsible for supervising all lower classifications in the Department of Corrections.

Responsibilities

• Formulates and executes plans for the effective utilization of available funds, personnel, equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Provides information and recommendations for prison goals, programs, policies, and operations.
• Develops procedures for the implementation of recommendations.
• Confers with lower-level supervisors about specific requirements, needs, and objectives.
• Identifies budget, staffing, material, and other needs for new or revised programs, operations, and systems.
• Develops justifications, statistics, and other information for use in submissions to other offices.
• Prepares program descriptions and plans, technical reports, and projections for use in discussion and/or adoption of programs.
• Assigns and reviews work through lower-level supervisory and working-level personnel.
• Advises and assists with technical and administrative program and facility plans, progress, and problems affecting the institution.
• Reviews work programs, plans, technical reports, and administrative information submitted by subordinate supervisors.
• Drafts overall work programs and budgets from provided information.
• Reviews and analyzes proposed and enacted ordinances, regulations, legal decisions, and other issues to identify impact and recommend responses.
• Coordinates responses to litigation, conferring with County and other legal and judicial personnel.
• Plans and administers effective utilization of the physical, financial, and personnel resources of the facility.
• Administers all elements of personnel function in accordance with County personnel system and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements.
• Directs and controls development and subsequent administration of the budget.
• Conducts meetings with management and line staff.
• Inspects departments and operations.
• Reviews reports of operations and their outcomes to maintain control over the operation of the facility.
• Identifies sources, negotiates, and administers service agreements and contracts for the operation of the facility and its programs.
• Ensures development, maintenance, and reporting of inmate care, employment, rehabilitation programs, financial, and other statistical and evaluative records.
• Identifies, recommends, and helps develop treatment and rehabilitation services within the prison.
• Confers with officials and representatives from County and other offices and agencies regarding prison activities.
• Provides information and assistance with various situations and problems within the facility.
• Recommends actions, policies, and procedures affecting prison issues.
• Works with higher management levels to coordinate prison activities with those of County and other offices.
• Attends administrative, legislative, and other decision-making sessions to provide information on topics under consideration.
• May attend civic organization, professional, and other meetings to represent the Department of Corrections Administration.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Completion of a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice, Social Services, Public Administration, or a closely related field. Full-time, progressive professional work experience in Corrections or institutional management may be substituted for the education requirement.
• At least twelve (12) years of full-time professional work experience in Corrections, institutional management, criminal justice, or public administration, including at least ten (10) years in the Corrections field and six (6) years in a full-time supervisory position.

Background Investigation

• As a post-offer, prerequisite for appointment, the appointee must pass a criminal history check.
• Employee will be required to submit to a Criminal Background Check and Child Abuse Clearance at least every three (3) years per the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA).

Psychological Examination

• As a post-offer, prerequisite for appointment, the appointee must pass a psychological exam.

Urine Drug Screen

• As a post-offer, prerequisite for appointment, the appointee must pass a urine drug screen.

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of public administration principles and practices commonly employed in the operation, management, and control of a public institution.
• Thorough knowledge of Corrections goals, objectives, methods, and techniques applicable to the management of prison facilities and programs.
• Knowledge of modern prison rehabilitation methods and treatment programs, including education, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, personal adjustment training, job training, and community employment.
• Knowledge of functions, organizations, rules, and requirements of the criminal justice system at all levels, and their effects on prison operations.
• Knowledge of supervisory principles and practices.
• Ability to organize, direct, and coordinate the activities of a staff of professional and technical personnel engaged in diverse security and program functions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with officials, representatives of other agencies, prisoners, associates, and the public.
• Ability to express ideas and communicate County policy on technical and administrative subjects, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to perform the duties of this position.

Tools and Equipment

• Telephone, cell phone, personal computer, calculator, radio, copy machine, fax machine.
• Weapons as required, side handle baton, handcuffs, pager, and first-aid equipment.

Physical Demands

This section outlines the physical requirements necessary to perform the duties of the position (specific details not provided in the original posting).