Automotive Trainer

Automotive Trainer

The Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) is creating a safer Montana through Accountability, Rehabilitation and Empowerment. If you want to work making positive changes in your community, the Montana Department of Corrections is the place for you! The Education Department provides essential academic and vocational programs designed to equip incarcerated individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to lead fulfilling lives after incarceration.

Our education staff members support personal growth and prepare students for meaningful opportunities after release, providing basic literacy education, high school equivalency completion, and career-focused training. Join a team dedicated to unlocking potential and creating pathways for brighter futures! The Automotive Trainer plays a vital role in the Vocational Education Program within the Education Department at Montana State Prison, a multi-classification institution for adult males.

In this position, you will deliver hands-on and classroom instruction that prepares participants for entry-level employment in automotive technology. Training covers engines, power trains, electrical systems, electronics, brakes, suspension, heating and air conditioning, tool usage, and shop safety. Using current NATEF standards, you will develop curriculum, demonstrations, and task-based exercises while maintaining accurate records, supervising shop activity, and ensuring adherence to institutional policies.

Your instruction also supports the Automotive Excellence Student Certification program and provides consistent staffing for the Motor Vehicle Maintenance (MVM) Shop. In addition to teaching, you will manage classroom and lab environments, present learning materials with basic computer tools, and offer short clinics to support workforce productivity. You will also recruit and screen prospective students, collaborate with institutional staff, guide participants in their personal and professional development, complete monthly progress evaluations, and maintain strong supervisory awareness through movement control, tool and key control, and consistent accountability.

This role offers a meaningful opportunity to influence skill growth, encourage positive development, and prepare individuals for success beyond the facility.

The knowledge, skills and abilities for this position are typically acquired through a combination of education and experience equivalent to:
Bachelor's degree in education, organizational development, or related field Two years of experience in training, teaching, or related field Alternative combinations of education and experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Your service is rewarded with competitive compensation and generous State of Montana Benefits. State of Montana employment may qualify for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.