Entry Level State Government Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $5,962.00 - $9,541.00 Monthly
Location : Sterling, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: SCF #30581 Welding June 2026
Department: Department of Corrections
Division: Prison Operations
Opening Date: 04/27/2026
Closing Date: 6/9/2026 4:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
Primary Physical Work Address: Sterling Correctional Facility: 12101 CO-61, Sterling, Colo 80751
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt; position is eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information: Kayla Bartlett: kayla.bartlett@state.co.us
Type of Announcement: A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
How To Apply: Please submit an online application for this position at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/colorado. Reach out to the Department Contact to apply using a paper application, including any supplemental questions. Failure to submit a complete and timely application may result in the rejection of your application. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that application materials are received by the appropriate Human Resources office before the closing date and time listed.
Department Information
Who May Apply:A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Job Location:Sterling, CO
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and builds greater public confidence in good government, consider joining the dedicated people of the State of Colorado. Our professionals strive to support state government and the citizens of Colorado. Customer service is a key component for every position in state government as is the focus on ideas and ways to redesign the delivery of services in making state government more effective and efficient.
In addition to a great agency and rewarding, meaningful work, we offer:

• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the state system;
• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401K and 457 plans. Member Contribution Rates. Correctional Officers I-IV qualify as "Safety Officers" and are eligible for increased PERA benefits;
• Medical and dental health plans;
• Short and long term disability coverage;
• Paid life insurance;
• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave;
• Wellness program, tuition reimbursement, training opportunities and more.
• Visit State of Colorado Employee Benefits. for more information.

This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at this location.
Description of Job
This position provides entry-level marketable job skills to inmate students by delivering career and technical welding educational instruction and assessment within an adult educational correctional system/facility. Instruction is in accordance with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) and/or the Colorado State Licensing Board (if applicable).
Job Duties Include:

• Teachers and mentors inmate students individually or in large and small group classrooms promoting occupational, academic and transitional performance skills;
• Determines educational needs of inmate students to develop short and long term goals;
• Plans course content and develops methods of instruction;
• Develops and implements competency-based teaching aids such as instructional software, multimedia visual aids, or study materials;
• Provides hands-on training to teach and demonstrate skills, techniques, methods and procedures;
• Lectures on welding theories, concepts, principles, and terminology;
• Selects and administers appropriate oral, written and/or performance assessments to inmate students in order to measures progress, course completion requirements, and to evaluate training/testing effectiveness;
• Ensures security, supervision and monitoring of inmate students, the storage and inventory of tools, equipment, keys and hazardous material in accordance with CDOC regulations;
• Ensures tools and equipment are in proper working condition;
• Prepares reports and maintains records such as inmate student grades, attendance rosters, and training activity details;
• Observes and evaluates inmate students' work to determine progress, provide feedback, and make suggestions for improvement;
• Documents inmate vocational achievements, competencies and contact hours towards completion of certification requirements;
• Justifies accuracy and usage of budget requests;
• Participates in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field, and integrates relevant information into training programs;
• Commitment to teamwork and collaboration with fellow teachers in a cooperative effort to promote mutual and continued guidance and improvements;
• Actively contributes to the *safety and security of the facility through effective inmate management and promoting conflict resolution and solutions;
• Encourages and promotes critical thinking, self discipline and self motivation for the inmates student population in order to provide the skills necessary to reintegrate into society;
• Other duties as assigned.

*Safety & Security - This position maintains safety and security by training inmates; and occasionally or in an emergent situation performs inmate counts, shakedowns, searches, escorts, movement control, and inmate access to classrooms. Through conscientious observation and adherence to agency Administrative Regulations and the Code of Penal Discipline, this position promotes a safe and secure work environment.
Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights
Ensure that the 'Work Experience" section of the application is complete and contains all relevant work experience related to the position that you are applying for. This information will be used to help determine compensation for the position. "See resume" statements cannot be accepted in lieu of the "work experience" section of the application. Additional work experience will not be accepted after the job announcement close date for compensation purposes. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an Associate's Degree in a welding or related field of study --- AND --- the applicant must have completed 4,000 hours of verified occupational experience in a welding related field within the last seven (7) years as per the requirements of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).
There is no substitution for the completed 4,000 hours as referenced above.
Experience MUST be described in detail on your application to receive credit.
- OR -
SUBSTITUTION #1:
In lieu of an Associate's Degree in a welding industry or related field of study, applicant must possess a current State of Colorado, national, industry, military, or union license/certification as appropriate for the welding industry skill or related trade area --- AND --- the applicant must have completed 4,000 hours of verified occupational experience in a welding related field within the last seven (7) years as per the requirements of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).
There is no substitution for the completed 4,000 hours as referenced above.
Experience MUST be described in detail on your application to receive credit.
- OR -
SUBSTITUTION #2:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in a welding or related field of study --- AND --- the applicant must have completed 2,000 hours of verified occupational experience in a welding related field within the last seven (7) years as per the requirements of the Colorado Community College System (CCCS).
There is no substitution for the completed 2,000 hours as referenced above.
Experience MUST be described in detail on your application to receive credit. Paid and/or unpaid experienceMUST be in the occupational field and does NOT include teaching experience.
Conditions of employment after meeting the minimum qualifications:

• Must possess or obtain a CCCS post-secondary credential in the welding field in compliance with the Colorado Community College System (CCCS) within six (6) months of date of hire.
• Must obtain a Colorado Community College Professional Teacher Credential within three (3) years of date of hire.
• Must maintain a Colorado Community College Initial/Professional Teacher Credential through the duration of employment.

A copy of your college transcripts MUST be attached to this application in order to receive college course work credit. Transcripts must include your name, name of the institution, degree, date conferred, and be in pdf or jpg format.
For more information about CCCS post-secondary credentialing click
If you are substituting with a State of Colorado, national, industry, military, or union license/certification, you MUST attach a copy of your license/certificate.
Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40 hours per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Please be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements.
Former CDOC employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation from CDOC will return at either their previous pay rate, if hired into the same class level, or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher.
Under the Job Application Fairness Act (SB 23-058), applicants may redact information from certifications and transcripts that identify their age, date of birth or dates of attendance from an educational institution.
REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Excellent interpersonal skills;
• Strong self motivation skills;
• Highly effective organizational skills;
• Compelling attention to details;
• Excellent customer service;
• Superb written and oral communications skills;
• Excellent computer skills to include Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel;
• Experience teaching or training in a welding field;
• Experience teaching or training adults;
• Self-control, a strong sense of ability to work in stressful, potentially violent situations;
• Ability to remain alert, emotionally stable, and mentally resilient under pressure and observant throughout their shift;
• Tolerance to stress, confinement, and high-stakes interaction;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language;
• Ability to effectively communicate fluently in English both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to create accessible documents and technical content that follows plain language guidelines with accessibility in mind.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in welding;
• Experience training and mentoring in a welding industry environment;
• Committed to ongoing evaluation and improvements in program;
• Strong connections to the welding industry workforce.

ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS BY THE CLOSING DATE SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Assessment Process: Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQ's). Applicants that meet MQ's will be included in the Comparative Analysis process. Colorado Revised Statutes require that state employees are hired and promoted through a comparative analysis which may include, but is not limited to, a suitability screening, eSkills Assessment, oral assessment, written performance assessment or it may include a review of your application material and your responses to any supplemental questions by a Subject Matter Expert (SME) to assess and rank applicants in order to establish an eligible list for referral to the hiring manager for final consideration.
Be sure the "Work Experience" section of your application is complete and specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, and accomplishments as they relate to the Description of the Job, Minimum Qualifications, Required Competencies and Preferred Qualifications as listed above. Resumes and "see resume" statements will not be accepted in lieu of the "Work Experience" section of the application. Failure to include adequate information or follow instructions by the closing date may result in your application not being accepted and/or may affect your score, rank or inclusion in the final pool of eligible applicants.
Employees who are rehired or reinstated within six months of their separation will return at either their previous pay rate if hired into the same class level or based on their time in the class series, whichever is higher. Those rehired or reinstated after six months' separation will be calculated using the same formula for new hires and promotions.
Please note that while this change in role may constitute a change in title and/or responsibility, salary adjustments are not guaranteed and may be influenced by factors such as internal pay equity, budget constraints, market benchmarks, or the individual's current compensation level. Any changes to compensation will be determined separately and communicated accordingly.
If you have transcripts, a license or...