This job posting is only for candidates that are NOT current employees of Sandoval County. If you are a current employee, you must apply using the Workday Jobs Hub which can be found in the navigation menu on the left side of the screen when you log into Workday.

Department:

Detention

Pay:

$21.65-$21.65

Close Date:

09-04-2026

Job Description:

GENERAL PURPOSE:  Under minimal supervision, maintains the safety and sanitation functions for the Sandoval County Detention Center; ensures pods or housing areas have supplies; conducts inspections of facility; maintains fire safety inspections; and detention officer duties as assigned or directed. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma/GED Certificate from an accredited institution and two years of demonstrated detention/corrections or law enforcement experience that provides the individual with a broad knowledge of various posts and assignments within a detention facility.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Valid New Mexico driver’s license or ability to obtain a valid New Mexico driver’s license within 30 days of hire.
• Detention/Corrections Certification from a recognized correctional or detention institution / program.

Within one (1) year of hire must obtain the following certifications:

• CPR/First Aid/AED.
• Mental Health First Aid.
• Detention/Corrections Certification in the State of New Mexico.
• Firearms Certification (handgun and shotgun) within 30 days of hire.
• NFPA 101 training on fire safety codes.
• OSHA 10 and OSHA 30 certifications.

Other Requirements:

• Must be 21 years of age.
• Ability to maintain a valid New Mexico driver’s license.

• Must pass a background investigation to include criminal history, employment references, credit history, verification of US citizenship, and pre-employment interview in accordance with Federal Performance-Based Detention Standards (FPBDS) A.9.3.a through e; and Sandoval County Detention Center Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Part 1/C108, Chapter: Personnel, Subject: Employment Process / Background Investigations, PROCEDURES Pre-Employment, 2. Through 6.

• Must pass a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening (FPBDS A.9.3.f) and Sandoval County Detention Center Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Part 1/C108, Chapter: Personnel, Subject: Employment Process / Background Investigations, PROCEDURES Pre-Employment, 7.

• Pre-employment physical (FPBDS A.9.4 and 4-ALDF-7B-04).

This position is subject to random alcohol and drug testing in accordance with Sandoval County Personnel Rules and Regulations Article XIII Drug and Alcohol Policy and Testing- Drug Free Workplace; and Sandoval County Detention Center Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Part 1/C108, Chapter: Personnel, Subject: Employment Process / Background Investigations, PROCEDURES Post-Employment,1.

This position is subject to bi-annual background checks in accordance with Sandoval County Detention Center Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) Part 1/C108, Chapter: Personnel, Subject: Employment Process / Background Investigations, PROCEDURES, Post-Employment, 4.; and FPBDS A.9.6 (periodic).

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:

Position reports to the Deputy Director, Detention Center Operations and does not exercise supervision over lower level staff.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Maintains safety and sanitation throughout the facility.
• Responsible for ensuring that all pods or housing areas have supplies dispersed appropriately.
• Completes purchase orders for fire, safety and sanitation supplies needed.
• Works with detainees’ porters in and out of the facility to maintain vegetation and cleanliness of the grounds along with inside the facility.
• Conducts comprehensive daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual inspections of facility and equipment as required; maintains reports and documentation; forwards findings to PREA/Compliance as necessary.
• Conducts environmental condition testing to ensure detainees housed in the facility are living within acceptable ranges of air flow, water/unit temperature, noise and lighting per the New Mexico Counties Accreditation standards.
• Participates in detainee searches including living quarters and other areas of the facility for unsanitary conditions, contraband, fire hazards, and any evidence of infractions of rules to include, but not limited to, weapons or drugs.
• Updates and maintains monthly fire safety inspections; performs monthly fire drills and annual mock emergency drills; conductions monthly fire extinguisher inspections.
• Controls facility caustics and chemicals.
• Conducts annual hazard assessment of facility; ensures any safety and security violations are reported.
• Works collaboratively with outside vendors and inspectors; assists with escorts and security oversight as required.
• Maintains accurate inventories of facility equipment, chemicals, uniforms, hygiene items and paper goods; ensures items are properly stored and distributed.
• May be required to settle disputes between detainees and enforce discipline.
• Attends meetings and job-related training as necessary.
• Performs the essential duties of a Detention Officer as assigned or directed, including but not limited to; back-up calls, cell searches or other duties as needed.
• Performs all other job-related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge of:

• Basic correctional facility operations, rules and regulations pertaining to officers and inmates.
• Methods and techniques used in enforcing discipline over persons under restraint.
• Defense and restraint tactics.
• Standard housekeeping practices.
• Correctional institution and inmate security practices, occupational hazards and standard safety precautions.
• Hand-held environmental testing equipment utilized for air flow, water temperature, environment temperature, noise and lightening.
• Safety data sheets (SDS).
• Gang languages, code writing by inmates, and drug concealment techniques.
• Search, transportation, and restraint procedures.
• Report preparation and record keeping.
• Driver safety, decision making, and prioritizing.
• All applicable traffic laws and regulations.
• Provisions of federal, state, and local legislation pertaining to correctional/detention services; and New Mexico State Statutes, Standards of the American Correctional Association (ACA), and Standards of the American Jail Association (AJA).
• A variety of software packages relevant to the department and assigned work.
• Effective communication principles and practices including oral and written communication.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers, computer applications such as word processing, spreadsheets, and statistical databases.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Principles of business letter writing.

Required Skill in:

• Applying correctional center principles, practices, methods, and techniques.
• Applying safety practices for staff, inmates and visitors.
• Identifying gang languages and gang code writing.
• Operating and driving safely to and from assigned appointments.
• Communicating with individuals in various emotional states, from various backgrounds, and with different educational backgrounds and mental capacities.
• Maintaining a neutral attitude toward all inmates regardless of the reason of their detention.
• Responding to emergencies or stressful situations calmly, quickly and decisively.
• Maintaining accurate and complete records and reports.
• Working with equipment, tools, and materials required in area of assignment.
• Communicating effectively verbally and in writing; and following written and verbal instructions.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public, including meeting and dealing tactfully with the public.
• Utilizing personal computer software programs and other relevant software affecting assigned work.

Physical Demands / Work Environment:  

• Work is performed in a standard office/detention center environment.
• Essential and supplemental functions require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting, walking or standing for prolonged periods of time; stooping, and lifting items of approximately 50 pounds or less.
• Work requires visual and hearing acuity sufficient to perform essential and supplemental duties and to safely interact with inmates.
• Work frequently involves periods of time viewing a computer monitor and operating a keyboard or control panel.
• Work regularly requires speaking, hearing and utilizing a phone, calculator, cell phone, radio, copier or fax machine.
• When performing Detention Officer duties; work requires climbing up and down stairs to cell blocks every thirty (30) minutes to perform welfare checks in the pods; check on inmate safety and look for activities, contraband or situations that could compromise the safety of officers and/or inmates; and/or to respond to emergencies; running a minimum of one half mile to respond to calls for assistance; performing self-defense tactics and inmate take downs, as necessary; utilizing pepper spray, as necessary; evacuating inmates and oneself in an emergency .
• May be exposed to potential physical harm and/or infectious disease when dealing with aggressive or violent inmates, or inmates with medical and mental health issues.
• May handle first aid equipment, an automatic external defibrillator (AED) or oxygen, when necessary.
• Occasionally may be exposed to chemicals used for cleaning.
• Occasionally may be exposed to OC (pepper) spray utilized as a defensive tactic.
• Operates a County vehicle as necessary to attend meetings, training and perform Transport Officer related job duties.
• Shift work. Work is performed on any assigned shift during weekdays, weekends, and holidays.
• Mandatory Overtime work may be required on a frequent basis.