Personnel Specialist

Job Description and Duties

Enjoy the flexibility of a  hybrid telework schedule while being based near historic Folsom—close to restaurants, shops, scenic walking trails, and with  free parking !
Please note:  this position is not located within a prison facility.

Position may be eligible for the Recruitment and Retention (R&R) differential, which varies from $2,400 to $4,800 annually based on qualifying factors. 

W e are excited to announce that effective January 1, 2026 the California Prison Industry Authority (CALPIA) has been renamed the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA).

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is required when applying for this position.The SOQ must conform to the instructions below or your application may be disqualified.

Join a mission-driven team dedicated to reducing recidivism, improving prison safety, and enhancing public safety by providing meaningful work and training opportunities to incarcerated individuals.

As a full-time state employee, you’ll receive:

• At least 156 hours of paid leave in your first year
• 11 paid holidays
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family
• CalPERS retirement benefits

Start your CAREER with purpose – make a difference while enjoying great benefits and a work-life balance! 

The Personnel Specialist (PS) is responsible for interpreting and applying personnel related laws, rules, regulations, policies, and Memorandum of Understanding provisions pertaining to a variety of personnel transactions. The PS is responsible for processing appointments, separations, payroll, and benefits for California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA) employees and related personnel transactions functions. The PS will share responsibility for personnel/payroll transactions duties for a roster of approximately 275 employees and provided occasional assistance to institution personnel offices with regard to CALCTRA field employees. All duties require effective communication and excellent customer service with internal staff, employees, and control agencies. May require travel to the institutions, as necessary.

Zoom Link: Meeting ID: 781 163 9893 

Passcode: CALCTRA

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment. We do not accept STEM-OPT.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Special Requirements

Upon a conditional job offer, the selected candidate will be required to clear live scan, a tuberculous (TB) test, and physical (if applicable).

This position is subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing pursuant to 2 CCR § 599.960.

Employment information on the STD 678 MUST be complete with hours worked, dates, duties and responsibilities, and contact names and phone numbers of supervisors. Failure to submit a completed STD 678 may result in you being screened out. Only the most qualified candidates will be invited to an interview. Please indicate the classification, Job Control Number (JC) and position number in the 'EXAMINATION(S) OR JOB TITLE(S) FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING' section of your application, failure to provide this information may result in elimination from the hiring process. Resumes are welcome but do not take place of the STD 678. Incomplete applications received may not be considered. 

Statewide Recruiting has a hot off the press new resource for you: State Application Checklist

This resource was created to help job seekers understand how to write a strong state application and address some of the frequently asked questions about state applications. We hope you find it useful, and we think it pairs pretty nicely with the SOQ checklist

Employees new to CALPIA will be required to attend New Employee Orientation (NEO) prior to starting work within an institution or Central Office. NEO is 4.5 days (36 hours) and will be conducted at the Green Valley Training Center in Folsom, CA. New employees traveling 50 miles or more from their home address or headquarters location to attend NEO will receive a travel advance sufficient for meals, incidentals, and travel accommodations for the duration of NEO. Any questions or concerns regarding NEO training can be addressed during the interview process.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Desirable Qualifications are not required but are listed to demonstrate what experience/education would make the selected candidate most successful in this position. If you have this education/experience, you are encouraged to include this information in your application.

• Experience in applying and interpreting State and Federal Laws, rules, policies, and procedures.
• Experience working under pressure and able to perform multiple tasks with precision.
• Experience prioritizing assignments to meet demands.
• Self-motivated to ensure payroll and personnel transactions are completed accurately and timely.
• Experience using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Experience using modern office equipment; computer, calculator, calendar, and scheduling appointments.
• Experience in Human Resources; processing payroll and benefits.
• Experience in Customer Service.

Benefits

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Statement of Qualifications

In addition to your state application, you  must submit a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) and it  must  conform to the instructions below. Information contained in the SOQ must be personal experience, substantiated by the work experience included in your application. Applications submitted without a SOQ or a SOQ that does not conform to the instructions below  may be disqualified . Failure to follow these instructions may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be submitted on a separate PDF, no more than one page, single spaced.

After reviewing the duty statement and desirable qualifications, describe why are you the best candidate for this position? 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in developing written responses: however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Minimum Qualifications (MQs) are required to be verified by the Human Resource Unit, per CCR 249.4 - Verification of Minimum Qualifications Prior to Appointment . If it has been determined an applicant has misrepresented their education and/or employment history, it may be cause for disqualification, and may result in removal from an employment list - CCR  172. General Qualifications.   Applicants shall provide relevant and accurate information on all application documents to avoid disqualification California Code, GOV 18935 .

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is optional. It may be included, but is not required.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  Please see Statement of Qualifications Instructions Below

• Other -

  If you are basing your eligibility on education, provide your unofficial transcripts. If you are using foreign transcripts, you must provide a transcript evaluation. The transcript evaluation must state the number of units to which the foreign course work is equal. If you are not basing your eligibility on education, do not provide your unofficial transcripts. Select Choose/Upload for the required document. Then select Bypass File.