2026-09-15 Firearms Officer (Bilingual)

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Licensing Unit is seeking a qualified individual to process firearms licence applications and provide licensing support to the public and to agencies. The role involves detailed screenings, data review, and eligibility decisions to protect public safety.

You will handle interviews, safety inquiries and provide expert guidance on the Firearms Act, while supporting investigations and court processes. Fluency in French at an advanced level is required.

Qualifications

• Ability to pass an OPP background/security investigation.
• Advanced French language required at a high level.

Responsibilities

• Process firearms licence applications, transfers and authorizations.
• Conduct detailed screenings and eligibility decisions to protect public safety.
• Act as a primary point of contact for the public, law enforcement, and partners.

Skills

Advanced French language

Clear communication

Data entry / records management

Tools

CFIS

RMS

CPIC

Cognos

MS Word/Excel/Outlook

Job description

Apply By:Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Competition Status: Application Screening

Approximately 165 individuals applied for this opportunity.

We are screening ALL applications received on or before the closing date and rating them against the qualifications outlined in the job ad. Applicants whose resume and cover letter best demonstrate how they meet the qualifications to do the job will be invited to continue in the hiring process.

To learn about our recruitment process, visit our Hiring Process .

The Ministry of the Solicitor General, Ontario Provincial Police, and the Chief Firearms Office are seeking a qualified individual to join our Licensing Unit. In this exciting, rewarding and challenging opportunity, you will be responsible for processing firearms licence applications and providing firearms licensing support and related services to the public and to Municipal, Provincial and Federal Agencies.

Please note: The successful candidate will be expected to work out of the Ottawa or Sudbury work location, five (5) days a week.

About Us:

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is one of North America's largest deployed police services with more than 6,400 uniformed officers, 2,900 civilian employees and 530 Auxiliary officers. We provide essential services that ensure the safety and security of the people of the Province of Ontario. The OPP is a division of the Ministry of the Solicitor General, the largest operational ministry in the province with a presence in every community across Ontario. We are the largest police service in Ontario and the second largest in Canada.

The mandate of the Chief Firearms Office (CFO) is to protect public safety through the administration of the licensing provisions of the Firearms Act and Regulations. The Chief Firearms Officer for the Province of Ontario is delegated authority under the Act by the Minister of the Solicitor General, and is responsible for the administration and delivery of these key components of the Firearms Act.

The OPP Values promote always doing the right things for the right reasons, by:

• Serving with PRIDE, PROFESSIONALISM and HONOUR.
• Interacting with RESPECT, COMPASSION and FAIRNESS.
• Leading with INTEGRITY, HONESTY and COURAGE.

About the job

Do you have the ability to deliver high-volume operational and administrative support in a dynamic environment, managing confidential information across multiple systems, responding to inquiries, and promoting firearms licensing through public outreach and education?

In this exciting position you will process and assess firearms licence applications, transfers, and authorizations, by conducting detailed screenings, database reviews, and eligibility decisions to protect public safety. Additionally, you will act as a critical point of contact for the public, law enforcement, and justice partners, conducting interviews, responding to safety concerns, providing expert guidance on the Firearms Act, and supporting investigations and court processes.

Mandatory requirements

• Ability to pass an OPP background/ security investigation.
• Oral and written French Language skills at the advanced level

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of federal and provincial FOI requirements to ensure appropriate information sharing, along with strong understanding of the firearms licensing program to clearly explain eligibility and accurately direct inquiries.
• Proficiency with office and operational systems (e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, CFIS, RMS, CPIC, Cognos) to accurately process applications, manage data entry, track application status, generate reports, and maintain organized records, along with effective use of standard office equipment.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• You possess strong written, oral, listening, and interpersonal communication skills to prepare correspondence, respond to inquiries, provide clear and accurate information on the firearms licensing program, and collaborate effectively with internal teams and external partners.
• You are experienced in demonstrating tact, sensitivity, and professionalism when dealing with distressed, emotional, or irate individuals, and when communicating with ex-spouses, police services, and courts regarding licence-related matters.

Problem Solving Skills

• You possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess applicant eligibility, identify appropriate information sources and systems, conduct searches, verify documentation accuracy, and compile information for operational and court purposes.
• You possess effective decision-making and troubleshooting abilities to manage inquiries, resolve application or report discrepancies, address routine equipment or system issues, and determine when matters require escalation to supervisors or external agencies.

Judgement and Discretion

• You have the ability to apply established firearms-licensing procedures and FOI guidelines to evaluate applications, make approval/refusal/referral decisions within authority, exercise discretion in information sharing, and elevate non-standard matters appropriately.
• You are able to manage and prioritize a high-volume, fast-paced workload by planning daily tasks, responding to changing demands, resolving client issues, and maintaining accuracy under frequent interruptions and competing priorities.
• You are proficient at communicating professionally and effectively in all interactions, preparing and editing documents and presentations, and exercising tact, diplomacy, and sound judgment when dealing with applicants, ex-spouses, law enforcement, and courts.

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

Tuesday, September 15, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.