Correctional Program Director

Executive Service

Closing Date: 03/23/2026

TN Department of Correction

Prison Operations Division

Nashville, TN

Salary: $67,764 to $108,060/Annually

Closing Date: 03/23/2026

Background Check:
This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

The Tennessee Department of Correction operates and oversees 14 adult prisons across the state, housing some 21,000 offenders. In the community, TDOC supervises 79,000 offenders on probation, parole, or community corrections. The department operates 44 probation/parole offices in 13 districts across the state.

The Ideal candidate will possess knowledge of correctional operations, risk management, and correctional standards (such as ACA), along with organizational development, and strong communication and analytical skills. They will be expected to build effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external partners, and be familiar with policy development, compliance reporting, and corrective action planning. This role requires adherence to TDOC safety and security policies and may involve flexible work hours to conduct site visits and meet operational needs.

The Correctional Program Director is an oversight role that serves as jail liaison and primary point-of-contact for County Sheriffs across the state, reviews inmate disciplinary appeals filed by inmates housed in Core Civic facilities, conduct use of force reviews for policy compliance, reviews sentence credit removal sanctions and monitors related facility compliance across the Tennessee Department of Correction. This position supports Prison Operations leadership by monitoring compliance in the stated areas.

This position requires regular interaction with correctional facilities and staff across Tennessee, including travel to institutional locations and may require flexible work hours to conduct site visits and meet operational needs.

• On behalf of the review authority for disciplinary appeals, ensures compliance with applicable policies and regulations.
• Ensure thorough review and comprehensive responses to issues raised in appeals.
• Assist jails with TDOC contract compliance and PREA standards.
• Assist will movement at jails to manage their population.
• Monitor armory/munitions reports to ensure compliance.
• Ensure compliance with ACA accreditation standards and internal departmental policies.
• Provide guidance and technical assistance to correctional staff statewide.
• Prepare, analyze, and present operational and compliance reports to prison operations and leadership.
• Develop, implement, and monitor departmental procedures and policies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and foster relationships with jail staff housing TDOC inmates.
• Conduct facility visits as directed to observe security practices and institutional operations.
• Review incident reports (e.g., use of force, staff assaults) for policy compliance and quality assurance.
• Collaborate with policy and procedure teams to maintain consistency and accuracy in documentation.
• Recommend improvements to processes to enhance operational performance and service delivery.
• Perform other duties as assigned by prison operations leadership.

Must have a bachelor's degree with five (5) years of correctional experience.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee’s Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State’s policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person’s race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.