Vocational Instructor

Job Description and Duties

Patton State Hospital, Human Resources is accepting applications for at least one (1) Permanent, Full-Time appointment to the Vocational Instructor (Landscape Gardening-Safety) position. The Vocational Instructor is under the direction of the Program Assistant, Education of Enhancement Services. The position being filled is subject to budgetary and operational approval.

Under direction, the Vocational Instructor provides group and individual vocational instruction and treatment to forensic patients. Duties include facilitating vocational education topics (e.g., job seeking skills, small business operations), developing training and placement plans, mentoring patients through the rehabilitation process, and supporting employment readiness and independent living skills.

The incumbent must possess the ability to perform the duties of a journey-level professional in their field of specialty. Instructors are expected to provide leadership and motivation to forensic patients; teach and supervise assigned individuals; work effectively with multidisciplinary teams; read and interpret drawings and sketches; estimate and order supplies; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; maintain fair and firm discipline; and maintain records and prepare reports. The incumbent ensures compliance with hospital safety and security procedures and collaborates with the vocational team to maintain a safe and therapeutic environment.

The ideal candidate demonstrates professionalism, sound judgment, and effective communication skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications such as Outlook, Word, and Excel are required.

Credential: Possession of a valid California teaching credential which authorizes the holder to teach, on a full-time basis, a vocational course in the appropriate subject specialty or Industrial Arts subspecialty. Applicants who do not possess this credential may take the examination, but must meet the requirements and have an application on file with the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the appropriate credential before an appointment can be made and must secure the credential within 120 working days after appointment. After issuance, the credential must be maintained by completion of any required examinations of course work.

The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired

In order to gain list eligibility and be appointed to the Vocational Instructor (Landscape Gardening-Safety) classification, please follow the link below to the exam bulletin. Failure to take the exam will result in your application not moving forward in our process. Please follow the directions carefully:

Applicants that meet the recruitment criteria should submit an application to Human Resources - Employment Unit no later than Friday, August 28, 2026.

All applicants may be pre-screened for breadth and depth of experience. Only the most qualified applicants may be interviewed based on screening criteria. For this reason, it is especially important that applicants take special care in thoroughly and accurately completing the application.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

Patton is a forensic psychiatric hospital and was established in 1890 and opened in 1893. DSH-Patton provides treatment to forensically and civilly committed patients within a secure treatment area. The hospital does not accept voluntary admissions.

Special Requirements

• The position(s) require(s) a Drug Screening be passed prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) a Background Investigation be cleared prior to being hired.
• The position(s) require(s) Medical Clearance prior to being hired.

Unless there is a specific request to be notified via USPS mail, our main contact will be via email. Email correspondence regarding this job posting will primarily come from View email address on us.fitly.work . It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their email inbox, including junk/spam emails for any correspondence regarding their application status. In addition, applicants are encouraged to keep their CalCareers profile updated with a current telephone number, mailing address, and email.

For experience/education to qualify during the application screening process, and to ensure that minimum qualifications can be determined, applicants should include all employment history on the Examination/ Employment Application (STD. 678) including detailed job descriptions, hours worked per week , and start/end dates (MM/DD/YYY). Application packages without this information will experience delayed processing times and your eligibility for this position may be impacted.

A completed STD. 678 and any other relevant documents (e.g., unofficial transcript, copy of degree, resume, etc.) should be submitted electronically via your CalCareers account. Please reference Job Control #528751 and indicate the basis of your eligibility in the Examination(s) or Job Title(s) section. SROA and surplus candidates should submit a copy of their letter with their application. Please remove any confidential information (i.e., social security number, date of birth) from your documents prior to submission.

Complete Application Packages (including your STD. 678 and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareers account at . Submitting an electronic application through your CalCareers account is strongly recommended since electronic applications will be received/processed faster than other methods of filing. Please submit only one application. Applicants will be disqualified from the interview process if the STD Form 678 is incomplete. That includes job titles, job duties, work address, time worked at that position, supervisor name, and supervisor phone number.

***Click on the link to complete the Department of State Hospitals Recruitment Survey: 

Benefits

Please review the that may also be found on the California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) website. You will find information on the benefits afforded by membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), benefits and protections provided to public employees by the State Civil Service Act, and salary ranges and a summary of the Vocational Instructor (Landscape Gardening-Safety) classification. 

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 -

  
  The Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must be typed, single spaced, no more than one page, and in 12-point Arial font. Include your first and last name, position title, and “Statement of Qualifications”. Restate and number each question in the order listed. Resumes, applications, or other materials will not substitute for the SOQ. Please address the following questions:

  1. Provide a brief statement about your education, relevant training, and further describe your experience and knowledge in finding, evaluating, and referencing information. As well as your ability to prepare comprehensive reports and present ideas clearly and concisely in written and oral form.
  2. Describe your experience prioritizing multiple high-level assignments and provide an example of how you were able to complete the assignments with conflicting deadlines.
  3. Describe your experience in presenting information to a large audience and provide examples of the information you presented.