Certified Substance Abuse Counselor

Introduction The Department of Corrections is focused on public safety through the custody and supervision of those in our care. Corrections employees have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of others through careers in a variety of fields. Using evidence‑based approaches, employees implement lasting change with a positive impact for the people of Wisconsin. Recruiting Locations Black River Correctional Center (Black River Falls, Jackson County) Columbia Correctional Institution (Portage, Columbia County) Chippewa Valley Correctional Treatment Facility (Chippewa Falls, WI) Drug Abuse Correctional Center (Winnebago, Winnebago County) Flambeau Correctional Center (Hawkins, Sawyer County) Jackson Correctional Institution (Black River Falls, Jackson County) Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution (Plymouth, Sheboygan County) Milwaukee Secure Detention Facility (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center (Milwaukee, Milwaukee County) New Lisbon Correctional Institution (New Lisbon, Juneau County) Oakhill Correctional Institution (Oregon, Dane County) Oshkosh Correctional Institution (Oshkosh, Winnebago County) Prairie du Chien Correctional Institution (Prairie du Chien, Crawford County) Racine Correctional Institution (Sturtevant, Racine County) Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility (Racine, Racine County) Redgranite Correctional Institution (Redgranite, Waushara County) Robert E. Ellsworth Correctional Center (Union Grove, Racine County) St. Croix Correctional Center (New Richmond, St. Croix County) Taycheedah Correctional Institution (Fond du Lac, Fond du Lac County) Wisconsin Secure Program Facility (Boscobel, Grant County) Copper Lake School (Irma, WI) Position Summary This position formulates and implements individual and group interventions in the areas of reintegration planning and substance abuse treatment. The specialist will conduct evaluations using evidence‑based evaluation rating tools, will implement case and treatment plans and will delivery evidence‑based substance abuse programming. The specialist will develop and implement therapeutic and behavioral interventions to improve a Persons in our Care's success in completing program requirements. Salary Information This position is in pay schedule and range 12-64 with a starting pay of $29.94/hour - $35.03/hour . This position may receive a $1.00 to $2.00 per hour add‑on pay based on the type of SAC credential possessed at the time of hire. Employees at Green Bay Correctional Institution are eligible for a $5/hour add‑on for all hours worked. Candidates who apply to Columbia Correctional Institution, Racine Correctional Institution and Racine Youthful Offender Correctional Facility with no prior permanent employment with the State of Wisconsin in the past 5 years may be eligible to accept a sign‑on bonus of $3,000 ( $1500 on first paycheck, $1500 after earning permanent status (usually 1 year)). (UW System employment isn’t disqualifying.) To receive the bonus, a candidate must sign an agreement indicating they will remain in that position for a year. If the candidate leaves their position prior to completing the one year, they may be required to reimburse the initial payment. Benefits Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year. Insurance: Excellent and affordable health, dental, vision, and life insurance. An exceptional pension plan including a lifetime retirement payment. An optional tax‑advantaged 457 retirement savings plan. The Well Wisconsin Program helps participants set health and well‑being goals, track progress, stay motivated, and earn incentives. Our Employee Assistance Program offers employees and their immediate family a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall well‑being. DOC is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Please click here for a summary of State of Wisconsin employment benefits or click here to explore employment benefits on the website. To help you understand what your benefit package would be worth, please see the Total Rewards Calculator here. Job Details Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the U.S., a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the U.S. without DOC sponsorship) at the time of application. The Department of Corrections may conduct pre‑employment drug screens. Any applicant who is offered employment in a position which requires a pre‑employment drug screen must pass the screen as a contingency of employment. The Department of Corrections will conduct criminal background checks on applicants prior to selection. Upon hire, all new DOC employees are subject to fingerprinting. For more in‑depth information on employment with the State of Wisconsin, please see the State Employee Handbook. Qualifications Applicants Must Possess a Current Substance Abuse Counselor Credential Issued By The Wisconsin Department Of Safety And Professional Services In The Form Of a Substance Abuse Counselor In‑Training certificate (SAC‑IT) (130) Substance Abuse Counselor certificate (SAC) (131) or a Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor certificate (CSAC) (132) An Applicant May Also Apply To Be Considered If You have applied for a SAC‑IT credential with DSPS Your application status on the DSPS site shows all criteria met or your only unmet criteria is the Employment Verification Form. You submit your PAR # to confirm your application status. Anyone hired with a pending SAC‑IT application must obtain the SAC‑IT credential during the first 12 months of employment. How To Apply The initial screening prior to interview is based on a review of your license(s)/credential(s). You will affirm your possession of the required credential and enter your credential number/PAR# into a text box. To apply: Click on “Apply for Job” to start the application process. Follow the steps outlined in the application process to submit your application. Submitted information will be evaluated and qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. You will be asked about your Substance Abuse Counselor credential in the application process, and there will be a field for you to enter your credential number. Please enter it as it appears on the DSPS website as this is how we will verify your credential. If your credential is listed under a former name, please include the former name. If you are in the process of applying, please enter your PAR # instead. If your application does not have all criteria listed as met except Employment Verification, please wait to apply. Permanent classified employees who are eligible for consideration as a transfer or voluntary demotion must complete the application process in order to be considered. Current State of Wisconsin employees: If you arrived at this posting through the Wisc.Jobs site, you will need to go to your Employee Self Services portal and apply through the “Careers” tile on the front page. Questions Questions can be directed to Jordan Hampton, HR Specialist‑ Senior, at View email address on click.appcast.io Equal Opportunity The State of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and affirmative action employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Please find more on the Department of Corrections’ equity and inclusion initiative. If you are interested in a particular facility, make sure you confirm which city the facility is located in when you make your location selections. Deadline to Apply Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the deadline date: Wednesday September 16, 2026 . At that time, we anticipate creating a new job opening to continue recruiting for this classification, and individuals will need to reapply to be considered. Applications are processed every other week, usually on Thursdays . After your application is processed, you will receive an eligibility designation. The register created from this announcement will be used to fill vacancies, statewide, as they occur for up to 6 months. In the application process, please check only the locations for which you are truly interested. #J-18808-Ljbffr