CDOC Addiction Specialist II Salary $5,665.00 - $7,930.00 Monthly
Location: Statewide, CO
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: CAA Statewide D&A 02.2026
Department: Department of Corrections
Division: Clinical and Correctional Services
Opening Date: February 26, 2026
Closing Date: May 26, 2026 4:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Determined by Position
FLSA Status: Exempt; position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Department Contact Information
Kaylie Purcell kaylie.purcell@state.co.us or 719-714-5230
Type of Announcement
A residency waiver has been granted for this announcement. Applications will be considered from residents and non-residents of Colorado.
Primary Physical Work Address
Current Vacancies: Canon City, Buena Vista and Limon, however, we are accepting applications for all locations.
The eligibility list created from this posting will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the state (Crowley, Buena Vista, Canon City, Delta, Denver, Limon, Pueblo, Rifle, Sterling, and Trinidad).
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.
Description
Benefits
Questions
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. However, applicants must meet the minimum qualifications listed in this job announcement.
This posting may be used to fill future vacancies at these locations.
If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference and build 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 rewarding, meaningful career, state employment offers:
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; State of Colorado Benefits Paid life insurance; Short and long-term disability coverage; 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick time; Employee wellness programs; Tuition Reimbursement; Loan Repayment and Forgiveness Programs; Training opportunities and more.
For Questions Regarding This Job Announcement
Please reach out to Kaylie Purcell at kaylie.purcell@state.co.us or 719-714-5230.
Description of Job
CURRENT VACANCIES: Buena Vista, Canon City and Limon; however, we are accepting applications for all locations.
The eligibility list created from this posting will be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout the state.
State correctional facilities are located in Crowley, Buena Vista, Canon City, Delta, Denver, Limon, Pueblo, Rifle, Sterling and Trinidad.
This position provides substance use disorder services to the inmate population, to include formal and informal behavioral health evaluations, diagnostic assessments, and clinical interventions.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Serves as consultant for unit staff regarding assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning; Monitors inmate treatment and documentation to assure compliance with standards and to assure continuity of care; Assures accurate Information System behavioral health needs levels, and provides group, brief, and individual treatment; Provides clinical direction to non-clinical staff in behavioral health care and treatment of inmates; Assures continuity of care for inmates by making appropriate referral and providing necessary information and documentation for receiving units, facilities, or agencies; Provides crisis intervention in conjunction with clinical standards regarding mental health professional privilege level; Documents both handwritten and electronically in an accurate and timely manner to provide comprehensive inmate behavioral health records; Communicates directly with inmates regarding their behavioral health care such as consequences of maladaptive behavior and desired and undesirable effects of prescribed behavioral health medication; Listens to inmate concerns and provides counseling and direction; Communicates to advise, counsel, inform and/or guide staff within the clinical unit, the facility, clinical and administrative supervisors and outside agencies to ensure continuity and direction of behavioral health care; Communicates and responds to complaints, problems, transfers, classifications, and inmate behavioral management issues; Responsible for maintaining standards of the program or work unit through compliance with all applicable professional, departmental, organizational and unit standards; Promotes and is accountable for the safety and security of the clinical and correctional environment through conscientious observations, and sensitive item contraband control.
You are encouraged to print a copy of this announcement for your records
Minimum Qualifications
Education/Licensure/Certification/Experience:
Applicant must possess a current, valid certification from the State of Colorado as:
A Certified Addiction Specialist (CAS) OR an Addiction Counselor Candidate (AC-C) OR A Licensed Addiction Counselor (LAC)
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.
Required Competencies
Ability to provide direct behavioral health care to inmates; Ability to provide comprehensive clinical documentation; Ability to work independently; Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across facility programs and with external stakeholders; Excellent verbal and written communication skills; Must maintain certification/licensure as an addiction counselor; Ability to work with a diverse population of inmates; Strong organizing, planning and prioritizing skills; Keen ability to multi-task and demonstrate flexibility; Ability to provide addiction counseling as part of a multi-disciplinary team; Ability to be creative when implementing therapeutic interventions; 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.
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.
Preferred Qualifications
Experience providing addiction treatment to an incarcerated population; Experience providing addiction treatment to a diverse population; Experience working with highly resistive clients; Experience administering multidimensional substance use assessments; Experience providing addiction counseling in an inpatient and outpatient setting.
ONLY APPLICANTS WHO MEET THE MINIMUM AND SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS SHALL BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Assessment Process:
Your application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum Qualifications (MQs). 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 promotion 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 other relevant documentation regarding your qualifications, upload and attach copies to your application.
If an unofficial copy of transcripts is being submitted at the time of application, transcripts from colleges or universities outside the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and must be included as part of your application materials. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report may prevent your application from moving forward in the selection process.
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. In order to process a background investigation, your application must include at least 10 years of the most current work experience unless experience related to the job for which you are applying is later than 10 years. Failure