BERLIN — Androscoggin Valley officials are urging the region's young residents to consider a career with the federal Bureau of Prisons, specifically at the new Federal Correctional Institute Berlin.

The Berlin Federal Prison Now Hiring! Job Fair will be held July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the New Hampshire Employment Security office, 151 Pleasant St. The fair is being held to assist those interested in applying for jobs that need to be filled at the medium-security prison as it ramps up for opening.

“These are great-paying jobs with outstanding benefits and a 20-year law-enforcement pension,” said Mark Belanger, director of the Berlin NH Works office.

“We are holding this job fair after hours, because we are hoping job seekers from all over the state will see these jobs as worth relocating for,” he said. “With current real estate prices and housing availability, these jobs have the potential to give people a great way of life in the beautiful North Country of New Hampshire.”

Belanger said this will be the first job fair attended by prison officials who have hiring authority. Though no direct hiring will be done at the fair, those interested in prison positions can talk directly to the people who will conduct the job interviews.

The application is paperless, and starts at www.usajobs.com, where openings will be listed. Among the openings listed on the BOP's section at the site is one for cook foreman in Berlin, with a salary between $25.13 and $29.30 an hour.

Correctional officers start at GL-05 on the pay scale. According to the 2010 salary table, that basic pay is $38,619, not including night differential pay, Sunday premium pay, holiday pay or overtime pay.

Applicants must be hired before their 37th birthday, so that they will be fully vested when they reach the mandatory retirement age of 57.

That age limit is waived for several job categories, most of which are in the medical field. Applicants also need to submit to a background investigation and must be a U.S. citizen.

The Northern New Hampshire Talent Team has conducted workshops throughout the North Country to help potential applicants through the process. The team, made up of local professionals and others who work to make sure the region benefits from the prison, meets regularly.

Belanger advised applicants to make sure, when applying online, to first pull up the job descriptions and circle key words. He said when putting together a resume and describing skills and experience, it is important to use those words so that the computer program screening applicants will pass it on to the next step.

He said officials hope the fair will draw potential applicants from throughout northern New England.

The prison is not yet open, but is in the process of activation. Many administrative employees are already working at the prison, which is expected to have a “soft” opening, as inmates are transferred in.

When fully staffed and occupied, the prison will house 1,280 inmates.

syoungknox@newstote.com