Departmental Specialist 13 (AI Specialist)
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Departmental Specialist 13 (AI Specialist)
Salary
$31.99 - $47.75 Hourly
Location
Lansing, MI
Job Type
Permanent Full Time
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
4702-26-4129-AR
Department
Corrections - Central Office
Opening Date
10/27/2025
Closing Date
11/10/2025 11:59 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit
NON-EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTED EMPLOYEE (NERE)
Description
Benefits
Questions
Job Description
The Michigan Department of Corrections is proud to be a Michigan Veteran's Affairs Agency (MVAA) Gold Level Veteran Friendly Employer.
MDOC is proud to employ nearly 1,500 veterans and actively serving military members across the department. The Department has many benefits and services available to support our military and veteran employees, spouses, and families. Learn more about what makes MDOC a Gold-Level Veteran Friendly Employer here (https://www.michigan.gov/corrections/for-employees/military-and-veterans) .
The Artificial Intelligence Specialist - is the single point of contact for the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for all responsibilities related to Artificial Intelligence (AI). This position will develop an Artificial Intelligence strategy for the department. It will also establish necessary policies and procedures related to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Large Language Model (LLM)'s and related data integrations. Departmental Specialist position is dedicated to the oversight of Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives within the department. This position will serve as the department's subject matter expert on AI applications, ensuring that all AI-related projects are implemented ethically, securely, and in compliance with state and federal regulations, lead the development and execution of the department's strategy for the adoption and integration of AI/Large Language Models. Lead projects to implement AI/LLM solutions including but not limited to data preparation & preprocessing, fine tuning and model training, model monitoring and evaluations for improvement, and prompt design, optimization, and chaining. This position will be responsible for leading the agency's efforts in exploring and implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Model (LLM) technologies to enhance operational efficiency, improve decision-making, and streamline various business processes.
The position will work closely with stakeholders across all MDOC Administrations (i.e., Field Operations, Corrections Facility, Budget and Operations, and Executive) to identify potential use cases, develop and implement LLM-powered solutions, and provide first-tier user support. This role requires a strong understanding of artificial intelligence, natural language processing, project management skills, and the ability to translate technical concepts into practical business solutions.
View the job specification here (https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/JOBSPECS/D/DepartmentalSpecialist.pdf) .
View the position description here (https://MCSC.state.mi.us/AgencyPDFs/Position%20Description%20-%204129.pdf) .
Required Education and Experience
Education
Possession of a bachelor's degree in any major.
Experience
Four years of professional experience, including two years equivalent to the experienced (P11) level or one year equivalent to the advanced (12) level.
Alternate Education and Experience
Alternative experience qualifications of nonprofessional experience, previously identified by the appointing authority and approved by Civil Service, will be accepted as a substitute for the required classified, professional experience for the classification. The nonprofessional experience must be related to departmental programs and services that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Individuals appointed must possess the department-specific alternative experience for positions within that agency only.
Additional Requirements and Information
Work Location: This position is located in Lansing, Michiganand will require reporting in person for the first two weeks. After the initial training period, a hybrid work schedule may be approved that will allow work to be performed remotely up to 50% of the time with the other 50% of the work being performed in-person in Lansing.
Your application for any position does not guarantee that you will be contacted by the Department for further consideration. Only those applicants interviewed may be notified of the results.
New hires to the MDOC along with previous MDOC employees that are returning after being away from the department for more than two years will complete Non-Custody New Employee Training (NCNET) either 40 hours or 80 hours of initial in-person training based on their level of offender contact and job classification. All new employees will complete additional online training to successfully complete their non-custody new employee training.
Employment in the state classified service demands a high degree of loyalty and imposes high ethical standards on employees to ensure the integrity of state government and maintain effective services. All employees must meet these ethical standards, and all appointing authorities are obligated to enforce these ethical standards.
As part of this effort all employees are required to report any possible conflict of interest, please review the information and be prepared to respond to questions related to the information in your application. Ethical Standards and Conduct ( Note: you do not need to fill out the form)
Certain positions may require a criminal history background check. To review the conditions of State of Michigan Employment, please clickhere (https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/state-employment/general/conditions-of-som-employment) .
The Department of Corrections may screen out job applicants who have been convicted of a felony in accordance with Public Act 191 of 2017. Applicants who have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony are ineligible for employment with the Department of Corrections until satisfactory completion of any sentence imposed, including parole or probation.
All required documents must be attached and submitted at the time of application for further consideration.Applications must be submitted through NEOGOV to be considered.
Interested applicants who are attaching transcripts must attach a copy of your official college transcripts indicating the specific @type of degree earned and the conferred/graduation date. (Un-official or web-based transcripts will not be accepted.) More information regarding what constitutes an official transcript can be found here (https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/neogov/OfficialTranscript.pdf?rev=b0798c88b0704c4c8feaf3e3e9d1bf80) . If you have questions or need assistance uploading and/or attaching your documents, please call the Office of Career Services toll free at 1-800-788-1766.
Special Requirements, Licenses, and Certifications
Equivalent combinations of nonprofessional experience, identified by the appointing authority and approved by Civil Service that are represented by subclass codes, will be accepted for classified, professional experience equivalent to the P11-level and above. The nonprofessional experience must be related to departmental programs and services that provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
Certain positions may be assigned subclass codes and individuals appointed must possess the required specialized experience.
View the entire job specification at:
https://www.michigan.gov/mdcs/-/media/Project/Websites/mdcs/JOBSPECS/D/DepartmentalSpecialist.pdf
Accommodations
If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the application or selection processes, please contact theADA coordinator (https://www.michigan.gov/ose/-/media/Project/Websites/ose/Contact/RACs.pdf) for the agency that posted this position vacancy.
State employment also offers rewarding careers where you can help Michiganders enjoy better lives. Many State of Michigan jobs offer alternate work schedules and remote-work options that can help give the flexibility you need. The State of Michigan has been recognized as a leading U.S. employer by new graduates from 2021-2023 and a best large U.S. and state employer. Recognized on the international stage for fostering positive employee engagement, the State of Michigan is a past recipient of a North America Government Agency Employees Engagement Award.
More details on benefits for our new hires are below:
Rewarding Work:State of Michigan jobs allow you to serve Michiganders in many different ways depending on your interests and skills. Help preserve and protect our environment and the public health; enforce state laws and regulations; advocate for children, families, and victims of discrimination; support our state's military and veterans; rebuild our state's infrastructure; or support other state agencies through our fiscal, IT, and HR systems.
Insurance Benefits:The State of Michigan offers health, mental health, dental, and vision insurance to eligible career employees, their spouses, and their children. The state also covers a life-insurance benefit of two times employees' annual salary (up to $200,000). The state also offers long-term-disability insurance that can provide continuing benefits if an injury or illness prevents employees from working. More information is available at www.mi.gov/employeebenefits.
Retirement Programs:The State of Michigan offers 401(k) and 457 plans for new hires to save for retirement. The state will automatically contribute an amount equal to 4% of your pay to a 401(k) account. The state will also match up to 5% of your pay if you contribute to your 401(k) account. Your contributions vest immediately, and the state's contributions fully vest after just 4 years. More information is available athttp://www.mi.gov/orsstatedc.
Vacation and Sick Leave:Eligible full-time employees receive between15 and 35 personal daysand 13 sick daysper year that may be rolled over to the following year if not used. Eligible employees also receive an additional day each year for community service or school functions.
Paid Parental Leave:Eligible employees can take 12 weeks of paid leaveimmediately after a birth or adoption to allow needed time together at home with a new child.
Paid Holidays:Eligible employees receive 13 or 14 paid holidays each year including New Year's Eve and Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Friday, Christmas Eve and Day.
Bonus Programs:Eligible employees with five years of service also receive annual longevity bonuses that grow as seniority increases. Some positions also may qualify for recruitment, retention, and performance bonuses or other special pay premiums.
Military Pay Differential:Employees in the guard or reserves may also qualify for supplemental pay benefits if miliary pay during qualifying duty is less than normal state pay. Prior military service may also allow seniority credits to accelerate eligibility for longevity bonuses and additional personal leave accrual.
Tax-Advantaged Programs:In addition to 401(k) and 457 retirement accounts, the state also offers flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), and qualified transportation fringe benefit (QTFB) programs that can help you save money by reducing your taxable income.
Student Loan Forgiveness:Working for the State of Michigan may allow you to participate in programs that forgive the balance of qualifying student loans. Please view Student Loan Information (https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation) to help determine if you could qualify is available from the U.S. Department of Education.
Tuition Reduction:Some colleges and universities offer savings to eligible employees and family members to further their education while working for the State of Michigan.
Professional Development: To help develop your career, programs are available to apply for reimbursement of up to $2,000 a year for education and training for college course credits and non-degree programs.
Alternative and Remote Work Schedules:Depending on the nature of their duties, many state jobs offer flexible work schedules and remote or hybrid telecommuting options that can help obtain the work-life balance that you seek.
Great Lakes and Great Times:Michigan boasts four Great Lakes, 11,000 inland lakes, 36,000 miles of rivers and streams, 20 million acres of forests, 100 state and national parks and recreation areas, 1,300 miles of bike trails, 6,500 miles of snowmobile trails, the second-most ski areas in the nation, 650 public golf courses, 600 campgrounds, and an international dark-sky park-just for starters. Our cities offer concerts and cultural events, storied sports teams, education hubs, vibrant downtowns, one-of-a-kind craft beverages, and renowned restaurants for every appetite. From urban centers to beach towns to the great outdoors, the opportunities are endless. With your state salary and benefits and Michigan's affordable cost of living, you can explore all that Michigan has to offer.
Updated: 2/28/24
01
DEPSPL - Do you possess at least a bachelor's degree or higher in any major; OR at least one year of professional experience in the state of Michigan classified service? If so, please attach a copy of your official transcripts.
Yes
No
02
DEPSPL - Do you possess at least four years of professional experience?
Yes
No
03
How many years of experience do you have collaborating with business units to understand their operational challenges and identify potential use cases for LLM applications?
None
Less than 1 year
1-2 years
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
5 or more years
04
If you indicated you have experience to the above question, please describe your experience.
05
How many years of experience do you have in assessing contracted vendors utilizing AI are in compliance with external guidelines and internal policies / procedures?
None
Less than 1 year
1-2 years
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
5 years or more
06
If you indicated you have experience to the above question, please describe your experience
07
How many years of experience do you have in implementing an LLM and the related steps to ensure accuracy, reliability, and security?
None
Less than 1 year
1-2 years
2-3 years
3-4 years
4-5 years
5 or more years
08
If you indicated you have experience to the above question, please describe your experience.
09
Describe your understanding of Large Language Models, their capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations.
10
*CORR1 - Are you a participant in the Return to Work program? This program is for employees that were displaced from their regular jobs due to work injuries which do not allow them to perform their normal work duties.
Yes
No
11
*CORR2 - Are you related to or acquainted with anyone who is currently incarcerated in a State prison, tether program, on parole or felony probation status? (NOTE: an affirmative response to this question will NOT automatically result in you being screened out for consideration)
Yes
No
12
*CORR3 - If yes, indicate name(s), and incarceration/supervision location of prisoner, parolee, or probationer. What is your relationship to the person(s)? If no, enter N/A
13
*CORR4 - I understand and agree that the Department of Corrections will complete a thorough investigation of my ENTIRE CRIMINAL HISTORY and may verify all data given in the criminal history check. Any material misrepresentation or deliberate omission of a fact in their application may be justification for refusal of, or if employed, termination from employment.
Yes
No
14
*CORR5 - I understand that if selected for an interview, I will be scheduled electronically through NEOGOV. I have provided a valid e-mail and understand it is my responsibility to monitor said e-mail account for interview opportunities. I also acknowledge that correspondence received through NEOGOV may be sent to a junk mail (including state of Michigan junk mail) or spam account and I will monitor those accounts accordingly.
Yes
No
15
*CORR6 - Are you an active Michigan Department of Corrections employee? ACTIVE: Includes employees on layoff status due to a Reduction in Force whose recall rights have not expired.
Yes
No
16
*CORR8 - Have you participated in an internship with the Michigan Department of Corrections?
Yes
No
17
*CORR9 I confirm that I have reviewed the required information on the Ethical Standards and Conduct via the link provided on the job posting. Based on that review please select the appropriate answer below.
Neither I nor any member of my immediate family (grandparent, parent, parent-in-law, stepparent, sibling, spouse, child or stepchild), have personal or financial interests in a business or entity which is contracted with the State of Michigan. Indicate N/A in the box below if this applies.
I, or a member of my immediate family (grandparent, parent, parent-in-law, stepparent, sibling, spouse, child or stepchild), have personal or financial interests in a business or entity which is contracted with the State of Michigan as summarized below.
18
*CORR10 -If you responded that you or a family member does have a conflict of interest to the question above, please explain in detail below. If you responded neither you nor a family member has a conflict please enter N/A.
19
*CORR11 - Have you ever been employed by the State of Michigan?
Yes
No
20
*CORR12 - IF you answered yes to the question above please identify which department, former name if used and/or ID number if known. If you answered no, please enter N/A.
Required Question
Employer
State of Michigan
Department
Corrections - Central Office
Address
saylork4@michigan.gov
206 E. Michigan Avenue
Lansing, Michigan, 48909
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