Warden

The Warden is responsible for overseeing and managing the daily operations of the Chester County Prison, Central Booking function, and the Correctional Center, ensuring the safety, security, and well-being of staff, detainees, inmates, and the public. This position requires strong leadership skills, excellent communication, and the ability to make critical decisions in high-pressure situations. The successful candidate will bring strategic leadership, operational expertise, and a commitment to rehabilitation and community safety.

A criminal background check is required.

• Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the correctional system, aligning with the goals of the Prison Board of Inspectors, the County, and society.
• Provide guidance and direction to direct and indirect reports to ensure the overall success of the correctional programs.

• Operational Oversight

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of correctional facilities, ensuring compliance with policies, regulations, and industry best practices.

• Security Oversight

• Develop, implement, and enforce security protocols to safeguard the facility, its inmates and detainees, and staff.
• Conduct regular inspections of the premises to identify and address potential security risks.
• Collaborate with security personnel to develop and maintain effective security measures.

• Inmate and Detainee Welfare

• Monitor the well-being of inmates and detainees, addressing their concerns and maintaining open lines of communication.
• Collaborate with support staff to provide necessary services and resources for inmates and detainees.

• Care, Rehabilitation, and Reentry Programs

• Oversee the development and implementation of rehabilitation and reentry programs to facilitate successful inmate transitions back into society.
• Collaborate with community organizations to support reintegration efforts.
• Oversee care and educational/program providers delivering services to inmates within the facilities.

• Staff Management, Development, and Training

• Supervise and lead a team of security personnel, ensuring proper training and adherence to established protocols.
• Foster a positive, collaborative, and inclusive work environment, promoting employee morale and well-being.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback.
• Develop and implement training programs for correctional staff, focusing on professional development, safety, and rehabilitation principles.

• Emergency Response

• Develop and implement emergency response plans to address various situations, including natural disasters, medical emergencies, and security breaches.
• Coordinate with relevant authorities and agencies during emergency situations.

• Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Stay informed about changes in legislation and best practices and adjust procedures accordingly.

• Administrative Duties

• Manage administrative tasks, including budgeting, scheduling, and record-keeping.
• Prepare regular reports for the Board and higher management on facility operations, incidents, and improvements.
• Coordinate, cooperate, and collaborate with County Departments, including but not limited to, County Administration, DCIS, Emergency Services, Facilities, Finance (including Risk Management), Health, Procurement, and Solicitor.

• Community Relations

• Establish and maintain effective partnerships with residents, host municipality officials, surrounding municipalities, community organizations, and emergency services providers.
• Regularly attend municipal meetings and other community events.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years of job-related experience. 
• Working knowledge of Pennsylvania Title 37 (state regulations for county correctional institutions). 
• Working knowledge of American Correctional Association Standards for adult correctional facilities. 
• Basic understanding of PA crimes code and vehicle law. 
• Excellent interpersonal skills. 
• Strong organizational and time management skills. 
• Intermediate skill to use a personal computer and various software packages. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• General understanding of Human Resource guidelines. 
• Strong leadership skills. 
• Ability to handle and resolve recurring problems. 
• Strong professional ethics. 
• Ability to maintain confidential information and handle confidential matters. 
• Strong working knowledge of budgets, spreadsheets, and interpreting audits. 
• Ability to remain focused on daily operations. 
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgement. 
• Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. 
• Treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position. 
• Ability to make firm, unbiased decisions. 
• Ability to interface effectively with all levels of county management. 
• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. 
• A valid driver’s license is required. 

 
 
Preferred Skills, Knowledge & Experience:

• Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration or an MBA from an accredited college or university. 
• Ten years of correctional/law enforcement administration experience. 
• Advanced correctional/law enforcement training. 
• Correctional Cadre Development. 
• Correctional Supervisor’s training. 
• Department of Justice Warden’s training. 
• Ability to work on conceptual design and policy development. 
• General understanding of fiscal planning. 
• General knowledge and understanding of County of Chester policies and procedures. 

 

Relevant background checks, clearances, physicals, drug tests, and any other assessments or evaluations will be conducted after an offer of employment is given per County policy.

Computer Skills:
To perform this job successfully, an individual should have:

• Intermediate Excel skills
• Intermediate Word skills
• Intermediate PowerPoint skills
• Intermediate Outlook skills (Email and Calendar)
• Intermediate Internet skills

 
Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. Occasionally, you will need to stand, walk, work with machinery, drive a vehicle, and deal with an uncommon level of noise. On rare occasions, you will need to reach above shoulder height, work with arms above shoulders, and lift items.
 
The special vision requirements listed for this position are: 

• Distance and close vision for surveillance, reading and writing. 
• Peripheral vision needed for meetings with high-risk offenders. 
• Depth perception for surveillance and inspections. 

 
Work Environment:
 
The noise level in the work environment varies by location. 

• This position is a high stress environment. 
• Requires working with a confined, high-risk population. 
• There will be exposure to loud noise. 

 
Other:
 

• This is a high-profile position subject to public and political scrutiny. 
• Ability to work extended hours as necessary 
• This position requires professionalism. 
• Confidentiality is crucial to this position.