Associate Superintendent - WSP

About the Department

Associate Superintendent - WSP

Exempt Band 3

Location: Washington State Penitentiary | Walla Walla, WA

Salary: $131,076 Annually

The Department of Corrections is seeking highly motivated and qualified individual as an Associate Superintendent at Washington State Penitentiary (WSP)

The Associate Superintendent will serve as one of the executive level staff for a correctional facility housing and managing adult incarcerated individuals across minimum to medium custody levels. This role is responsible for setting the strategic direction of the institution while ensuring safe, secure, and effective daily operations.

The candidate of choice will provide overall leadership, planning, and vision in alignment with the agency’s mission to improve public safety. The position directs all institutional operations, including fiscal management, classification, plant maintenance, safety and sanitation, educational and vocational programming, work programs, and security and custody functions. This leader ensures operational excellence while fostering an environment that supports accountability, rehabilitation, and positive outcomes.

Success in this role requires strong collaboration and partnership. The Associate Superintendent works closely with other agency divisions operating within the facility, including Health Services, Administrative Operations, Incarcerated Individual Change, Community Corrections, and Correctional Industries, to ensure seamless integration of services and programs. Through thoughtful leadership and cross-functional coordination, this position ensures that the institution operates cohesively and effectively in support of both public safety and individual transformation.

If you are ready to lead with integrity, inspire high-performing teams, and shape the future of corrections through strategic and principled leadership, we invite you to bring your expertise to this critical role.

A completed application packet will include:

Position Duties

Under the direction of the Superintendent, the Associate Superintendent of WSP/ East Complex, working independently with the other facility Associate Superintendents, is directly responsible and accountable for the overall administrative, budget control, leadership and management of multiple, diverse areas within the facility to include: All Minimum Security living unit operation, Resolutions, Records, Hearings, Securus, Recreation Chemical Dependency Liaison, Community Programs, Mailroom, Property, Visting Program, off-site crews, and EC Shift Office. Ensures compliance with the Department Directives, mission, values, and key goals.

As one of the three Associate Superintendents this position may have delegated authority for most of the decisions needed to manage facility operations within their area of responsibility which may include various areas of the contractors, and other related agencies. May serve as the Superintendent during the Superintendent's absence on a rotational basis with other Facility Duty Officers.  

The Associate Superintendent manages and directs all the on-site and off-site operations ensuring business is conducted consistently with established safety and security instructions. Requiring sound correctional knowledge, skills and abilities of advanced level management work, the Associate Superintendent's scope of authority and impact encompasses the entire facility with significant impact both within and outside state government.

This Position serves as a key member of the Superintendent's Executive Leadership Team, serves as a Superintendent designee during appointing authority absence. The incumbent’s focus will be on strategic local and department decisions. Develops biennial budget decision packages while managing and controlling large portions of allotted facility budget. Develop, implement and monitor policies, local operational memorandums and procedures that provide operational and security direction for staff and offenders Ensure compliance with department directives, mission, values, and key goals.

At the direction of the Superintendent, the Associate Superintendent will be responsible for any combination of the following areas: a variety of direct incarcerated services, including coordination of physical plant maintenance/construction; inmate work/ training and activity programs; volunteer programs; religious; records; classification; individual management; operation of the general population; emergency response coordination; security and safety operations of the institution; coordinating the delivery of the support services; staff training an safety program.

Responsible for establishing, maintaining, and enhancing relationships and partnerships within the community including local city and state agencies, law enforcement, Senator and State Representative and other influencing individuals and organizations. Decisions made by this position involve daily routine operations of the facility and decisions made in emergent situations, which could have a significant legal, fiscal and liability impact to the entire Department and State.

Associate Superintendents are accountable to:

• Act as the Superintendent's designee during appointing authority absences
• Plan, lead, organize, and control the daily work performed by the organization
• Administer, monitor and oversee operations, safety, security, and emergency response activities in a correctional facility
• Ensure clean and safe facility operations
• Support effective communications throughout the organization
• Provide and manage 2-way communication between all levels of staff and offenders
• Balance the facility mission and objectives within budgeted resources
• Maintain the highest standards of personal/ professional and ethical conduct and support the state's goals for a diverse workforce
• Provide a working environment free from discrimination and harassment that promotes diversity
• Develop operational goals and working objectives and ensure those objectives are reached
• Strengthen public confidence in the integrity of facility staff be demonstrating and setting the tone for the spirit and the letter of the law
• Promote an environment of public trust free from fraud, abuse of authority, and misuse of public property
• Respect and protect privileged information accessible through the course of official duties
• Ensure that no offender or group of offenders is given control or authority over the other offenders with the exception of active sanctions within the context of a Therapeutic Community
• Develop and direct implantation plans to respond to sudden shifts in custody and security requirements that require significant changes in policies, procedures, and staff training.
• Monitor application of federal and state laws, administration of rules, regulations, and orders of other procedures comply with the CBA
• Develop the Emergency Response Plan and mange staff training and drills to ensure institutional readiness to respond to a wide variety of emergencies
• Facilitate and encourage public information and education activities by conducting tours, speaking to community groups, and by providing written information concerning operations
• Encourage community agencies that the facility has contact with to participate in policy development, coordinated planning, and interagency consultation

Duty Officer:

• Serves in the capacity of capacity and makes decisions for incidents that occur at the facility level, on a rotational basis. Determines how, in an emergency, incident, or significant event, the facility's operations are managed, authorizes activities and provides direction to all facilities and community corrections offices outside of normal business hours
• Open and assumes command of the Facility Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the event of a major emergency or disaster. Serve as an Incident Commander during emergencies, with responsibilities to manage the facilities response and recovery from critical incidents and significant events. Determines allocation of resources and personnel, management of the incident.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent;

Five (5) or more years of broad based, progressive managerial or administrative (operational) experience (Managerial and/ or operational experience level is defined as the CMP, Captain, CUS or equivalent level), which includes supervisory experience in a multi-level custody, adult corrections environment and experience in at least five (5) of the following areas:

• Emergency Management (Incident Command System) and contingency planning.
• Security Management
• Prisons programs
• Sustainability, evidence-based programs
• Correctional practice
• Theory and law.
• Budget administration and development.
• Offender classification processes and policy.
• Labor relations.
• Public relation methods and application; and/ or training and staff development.
• Experience working with unions.

Desired Qualifications 

Satisfactory completion of two (2) years of college (60 semester or 90 quarter credits) from a college or university whose accreditation is recognized by the council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or the US Department of Education or foreign equivalent;

Three (3) or more years of broad based, progressive managerial or administrative (operational) experience (Managerial and/ or operational experience level is defined as the CMP, Captain, CUS or equivalent level), which includes supervisory experience in a multi-level custody, adult corrections environment and experience in at least five (5) of the following areas:

• Emergency Management (Incident Command System) and contingency planning.
• Security Management
• Prisons programs
• Sustainability, evidence-based programs
• Correctional practice
• Theory and law.
• Budget administration and development.
• Offender classification processes and policy.
• Labor relations.
• Public relation methods and application; and/ or training and staff development.
• Experience working with unions.

One (1) years of experience in Unit Team Management (the Unit Team is a multi-3 important disciplinary group of staff that manages the security, classification and programs of all offenders assigned to an offender living unit. The Unit Team is typically composed of a CUS, Correctional Sergeant, Classification Counselors, a support staff and Correctional Officers. Through the effective use of the unit team of the providing for a safe and effective unit operation).

• Effective project management skills and Quality Improvement Analysis (critical thinking).
• Organization and time management skills
• Conflict resolutions skills and abilities
• Working knowledge of policies, procedures, CBA's, WAC's and RCW's
• Ability to be calm and thoughtful in emergent situations
• Working knowledge of LEAN practices and how to apply them in a large-scale organization to improve business practices
• Experience in budget administration and development
• Experience working with minimum security camp offenders to include off-site work crews
• Professional experience in working with mentally ill offenders

Other Qualifications

Vision: Working together for safer communities.

Mission: Improving public safety by positively changing lives.

Our Commitment: To operate a safe and humane corrections system and partner with others to transform lives for a better Washington.

Our Core Values:

DOC is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, honorably discharged veteran, veteran status, genetic information, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• This recruitment may be utilized to fill more than one position. 
• Please include a minimum of three (3) professional references with your application. A professional reference is defined as an individual who has been paid to supervise your work and can attest to your work performance, technical skills, and job competencies. If you do not have any or sufficient professional references, please include non-related professionals, such as educators or other professional associates.
  **Please note:  Phone number AND email address are required for all professional references.
• A background check including criminal record history will be conducted prior to a new hire.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.
• Employees may work directly with or near incarcerated individuals in a potentially hazardous setting. Please consider this when deciding whether to apply. 
• We are committed to maintaining a drug and alcohol-free work environment, and our employees are expected to comply with all state and federal laws. A pre-employment drug test may be administered as part of the selection process, and applicants who test positive for any controlled substances, will be disqualified from consideration. 
• Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) is an aerosol pepper spray made available as a means of self-defense and/or de-escalation. Applicants with sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position. 
• Animal care projects are a common component of most Washington State prisons, including dog and cat programs. Applicants with animal sensitivities or allergies are encouraged to ask about the level of exposure they could expect in this position.
• Tuberculosis (TB) is a priority health issue for DOC employees. The successful candidate may be required to provide valid proof of a baseline TB skin test within 60 days from the date of hire.  When positive tests result, further information, testing and treatment will also be required. Employment is not contingent upon test results.
• Foreign equivalent degrees awarded outside the United States must have a credential evaluation report attached to your application. You may request the required evaluation/documentation from www.wes.org and www.aice-eval.org. Until this documentation is provided, you will not be selected to move forward in the hiring process.
• DOC complies with the employment eligibility verification requirements for the federal employment eligibility verification form I-9. The selected candidate must be able to provide proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States consistent with the requirements of that form. https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents
• DOC does not use E-Verify; therefore, we are not eligible to extend STEM-Optional Practice Training (OPT). For information, please visit www.uscis.gov.

Telework Details
   This is an onsite position and not allocated for telework.

What We Offer: 

As an employee of the Department of Corrections, your work-life integration is a priority. Washington State employees are offered one of the most inclusive and competitive benefits packages in the nation. Besides comprehensive family insurance for medical, dental, and vision, these perks also may include:

• Remote/telework/flexible schedules (depending on position)
• Up to 25 paid vacation days a year
• 8 hours of paid sick leave per month
• 12 paid holidays a year
• Generous retirement plan
• Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Care Assistance
• Deferred Compensation and so much more!

PERS: State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

For questions about this recruitment, or to request reasonable accommodation in the application process, please email [email protected] or call us at 509-526-6323. For TTY service, please call the Washington Relay Service at 7-1-1 or 1-800-833-6388.

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note:  If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits. 

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS).  New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs.  For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP).  This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays 
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday. 

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave 
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave. 

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.  

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave 
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 01-07-2026

Supplemental Questions

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Agency Information

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