Master craftsperson / technician in various trades in the prison workshop service at Gelsenkirchen Prison (m/f/d)

Employer: Justizvollzugsanstalt Gelsenkirchen
Work location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Employment: Full-time with part-time options
Pay information supplied by the source: A 7
Application deadline: 2026-12-31

Job description

I. Job designation

You will be a member of the prison workshop service at Gelsenkirchen Prison. We are seeking master craftspeople or technicians with vocational and occupational teaching aptitude under the Trainer Aptitude Regulation in various specialisms, particularly:

Electrical engineering

Plumbing, heating and air conditioning technology

Woodworking (e.g. master joiners, master cabinetmakers)

Textile cleaning

Floristry

Building cleaning

You will initially be employed as an employee covered by the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the German States (TV-L NRW). In addition, provided that the requirements under civil service career law are met, there is the possibility of subsequent appointment as a civil servant subject to revocation in the prison workshop service career at prisons in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. This requires completion of a two-year training programme.

II. Salary/remuneration

The initial employment relationship is governed by the provisions of the Collective Agreement for the Public Service of the German States (TV-L NRW). The pay grade is determined according to qualifications under the TV-L NRW pay schedule. In this case, the classification is in pay group 7 or 8 TV-L, with weekly working hours of 39 hours and 50 minutes. In the event of subsequent appointment as a civil servant subject to revocation in the prison workshop service career at prisons in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, remuneration will be in accordance with salary grade A 7 LBesO A NRW.

III. Description of the authority

Gelsenkirchen Prison has 437 places for male prisoners and 118 places for female prisoners in closed custody. A further 62 female prisoners can be accommodated in open custody.

Its specific responsibilities are as follows:

Men – closed custody –

Prison sentences (standard custody from 9 up to and including 36 months)

Prison sentences of more than 36 months up to and including 48 months

Prison sentences of more than 36 months under special provisions (placement procedure)

Military detention

Women – closed custody –

Prison sentences

Pre-trial detention for adults

Extradition and transit detention for adults, civil detention

Women – open custody –

Imprisonment in lieu of an unpaid fine

Prison sentences for convicted persons who are at liberty

Prison sentences under special provisions (progression)

Gelsenkirchen Prison has approximately 380 work placements in various prison workshops for prisoners.

Further information about the authority or the area of work can be found at

https://www.jva-gelsenkirchen.nrw.de/

https://www.justiz-karriere.nrw/berufe/justizvollzug/beamter-im-werkdienst

Duties

As a member of the prison workshop service, you will manage work operations within the prison. Your main duties include:

Instructing, supervising and training prisoners in the workplace

Teaching practical vocational skills

Carrying out maintenance and repair work on machinery, equipment and technical systems

Organising and managing operational processes with regard to economic efficiency

Ensuring occupational safety and workplace hygiene

Contributing to prisoners' rehabilitation through structured work opportunities

Organising and monitoring work processes with regard to security and order

Checking materials, tools and work processes

Keeping records of the delivery, storage and utilisation of products

Recording prisoners' wages

Interdisciplinary cooperation with specialist services (including psychology, medicine, education and chaplaincy)

Performing duties involving the exercise of public authority within the prison system

Providing cover in other areas of the prison workshop service

Requirements profile

I. Professional competence

Intermediate secondary school leaving qualification, or lower secondary school leaving qualification and completed vocational training, or completed training under a public-law training arrangement

Passed master craftsperson examination in the required specialism (alternatively: passed final examination as a state-certified technician, including vocational and occupational teaching aptitude under the Trainer Aptitude Regulation)

At least 18 years old at the time of recruitment and generally not yet 40 years old at the time of appointment as a civil servant subject to revocation; for persons with severe disabilities or equivalent disability status (Section 2(3) of Book IX of the Social Code), generally not yet 45 years old

German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or a citizen of another Member State of the European Union

Commitment to and support for the free democratic basic order within the meaning of the Basic Law

Suitability in terms of character, mental capacity, physical condition and health for the career

Fitness for service as assessed by an official medical officer

Up-to-date and sound IT skills (particularly MS Office)

II. Personal requirements / social skills

Willingness to contribute to the objectives of imprisonment under the North Rhine-Westphalia Prison Act

Ability to deal with prisoners, including in difficult situations

Organisational skills and an independent approach to work

Ability to work in a team, flexibility and resilience

Commitment and, in particular, understanding when dealing with incarcerated persons – social understanding

Service-oriented approach both towards other areas of the prison and towards individuals and organisations outside the prison.

Above-average sense of duty, strong commitment to work and good mental and physical resilience under work pressure

Willingness to participate in further training and professional development

Physical fitness

III. What we offer...

Entry under TV-L (pay group 7)

Provided that the requirements under civil service career law are met, the possibility of appointment as a civil servant subject to revocation  (including 2 years of training)

No shift work, rotating shifts, public holiday or weekend duties

Predictable working hours

Secure employment in the public service

Meaningful work with social relevance

Extensive opportunities for further training and professional development

 Application documents

Your detailed application must include:

Cover letter

CV in tabular format

Birth certificate and, if applicable, marriage certificate

School leaving certificate

Qualification certificate

Master craftsperson or journeyman certificate, if applicable

Employment references for previous employment

Notes

The State of North Rhine-Westphalia promotes the professional development of women. Applications from women are therefore expressly encouraged. Where qualifications are equal, they will receive preferential consideration in accordance with the State Equal Opportunities Act.

It is important to us that our workforce reflects the diversity of our society. We therefore expressly welcome applications from people regardless of age, ethnic origin, nationality, gender, gender identity and sexual orientation, religion, beliefs or social background.

Furthermore, the State of North Rhine-Westphalia is particularly committed to equal treatment of employees with and without severe disabilities and therefore expressly welcomes applications from people with disabilities. Where suitability is equal, applications from people with severe disabilities and people with equivalent disability status will receive preferential consideration, subject to statutory provisions.

We look forward to receiving your detailed and complete application (including copies of qualification certificates and, where applicable, assessments or employment references). Please send it by post by 31 December 2026 to:

The Director of Gelsenkirchen Prison
Aldenhofstr. 99-101
45883 Gelsenkirchen

or preferably by email (in a single PDF file, maximum file size 5 MB) to:

bewerbung@jva-gelsenkirchen.nrw.de

For questions about the application process or the duties, please contact Mr Hockelmann (Head of Administration) on 0209/4021–110, Mr Tribukeit (Head of the Vocational Education Department) on 0209/4021-200, Mr Kuczera (Head of the Prison Workshop Service) on 0209/4021-210 or Mr Zollhofer (Head of Training) on 0209/4021-117.

Please do not submit original documents or use application folders, as the documents will not be returned and will be destroyed after the procedure has concluded, with due regard to data protection. Any travel expenses incurred will not be reimbursed by Gelsenkirchen Prison.

Data protection

By submitting your application, you consent to the temporary storage and processing of the personal data required for the selection procedure. The data will not be shared with third parties. Once the procedure has concluded, the data and application documents will be deleted or destroyed in accordance with statutory provisions.

This consent may be withdrawn at any time. In that case, your application can no longer be considered in the ongoing selection and recruitment procedure.