Operations Manager

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Northwestern Ontario; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Defined-benefit pension

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The Ontario Public Service is seeking an Operations Manager for the Criminal Law Division in Thunder Bay. You will lead a team of eight staff in a high‑volume frontline office supporting prosecutions and public safety, guiding HR, finance, procurement, facilities and contracts with integrity.

You will drive divisional initiatives, business continuity, and performance measurement, aligning activities with organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Experience leading operations in a high-volume government office.
• Proven ability to manage HR, finance, procurement, facilities and contracts.
• Strong interpersonal leadership with integrity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Report to the Crown Attorney and provide leadership in daily operations.
• Oversee office operations, track the status of business responsibilities.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, financial, collective agreements, and ministry policy.
• Manage financial forecasts and expenditures related to the operational budget.
• Develop and implement operational plans to improve productivity and accountability.
• Lead customer service delivery and participate in regional and corporate committees.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Relationship management

Communication

Analytical thinking

Strategic thinking

Budget management

Project management

Policy implementation

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

Financial forecasting

Procurement & contracts

Facilities management

Job description

Criminal Law Division / Thunder Bay Crown Attorney's Office

Are you a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for operational excellence in a high stakes environment?

The Operations Manager role within the Criminal Law Division offers a unique opportunity to lead and strengthen a frontline office that directly supports public safety and successful prosecutions. Managing a team of eight staff, including newly hired employees, you will guide operations in a fast paced, high volume setting, including the Thunder Bay office, which carries an exceptionally heavy workload. You will oversee core operational functions such as human resources, finance, procurement, facilities, and contracts, while ensuring continuity of services amid competing demands and evolving priorities.

As a trusted leader and key member of the management team, you will bring a communicative, empowering, and people centred approach to supporting and developing staff. You will lead with openness and integrity, remain attuned to individual needs, and stay actively engaged in day to day operations while advancing divisional initiatives, business continuity planning, and performance measurement. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to contribute directly to community safety, the administration of justice and the effectiveness of criminal prosecutions—making a tangible difference in the communities the team serves.

Your leadership. Our purpose. A stronger Ontario.

At the Ontario Public Service (OPS), we're building a province where everyone can thrive—and we need strong, values-driven leaders to help make that vision a reality.

If you're seeking a leadership role where your work has purpose, your growth is supported, and your impact is recognized, you're in the right place.

Leadership that makes a difference: We're proud to serve Ontarians through work that is people-centered, purpose-driven, and grounded in integrity. As a leader in the OPS, you'll help shape a culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion.

How we support and recognize your leadership:

• We support your purpose: Lead work that directly serves Ontarians - shaping programs, policies, and services that make a real difference in people's lives.
  
• We invest in your growth: Access mentorship, leadership development, and cross-ministry mobility to grow your career and expand your impact.
  
• We create space for you to thrive: Work in inclusive, accessible, and respectful environments where you can bring your full self to work—and help others do the same.
  
• We recognize your impact: Receive competitive compensation, a defined-benefit pension, and comprehensive benefits - plus meaningful recognition for the difference you make.

About the job

We believe great leadership starts with high standards and strong support. In the OPS, that means showing up with authenticity, acting with integrity, and having the courage to do what's right, even when it's hard.

As a leader, you'll shape a team culture that sparks innovation, supports collaboration, and champions inclusion. You'll help build a workplace that is diverse, anti-racist, and accessible, where everyone feels safe, respected, and able to thrive.

You won't be doing it alone. We invest in our leaders through mentorship, learning opportunities, and cross-ministry networks that help you grow your impact and connect with peers across the organization.

Leadership is about impact, and in this role, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful one. You will:

• Report to the Crown Attorney.
• Provide leadership and direction in the delivery of daily program and service operations.
• Oversee the daily functioning of the office by tracking and monitoring the status of the business responsibilities.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory, legal, financial, collective agreements, and ministry policy commitments.
• Manage and monitor financial forecasts and expenditures related to the operational budget.
• Develop and implement operational plans to ensure that administrative productivity and accountability are consistent with ministry and divisional objectives.
• Implement new and revised policies and programs for staff.
• Provide leadership in customer service delivery by developing and managing innovative approaches.
• Participate as a management representative in regional and corporate committees.

Your ability to align your team's efforts with broader organizational goals will be key to your success, and to the success of the people we serve.

Meet Your New Team

The Criminal Law Division provides legal representation for the Crown in all criminal matters in Ontario. It is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases before all courts in the province and handling all criminal appeals in the Ontario Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. The division supervises and coordinates the Crown Attorneys in the 49 judicial districts and the Crown Counsel in the Crown Law Office - Criminal.

The Criminal Law Division is a large geographically dispersed operation with approximately 2200 staff who help protect community and personal safety through prosecution of offences across the province. The division's vision is to be the foremost prosecution service in Canada, and this vision is supported through the divisional mission, values, and key strategies.

Criminal Law Division's Mandate and Core Services

What you bring to the team

Leadership and Change Management Skills

• You are a collaborative leader and have incorporated the principles of inclusion and diversity across all elements of your management style.
  
• You have proven experience in developing sound and innovative programs and in issues management.
  
• You have experience motivating and inspiring staff to achieve results in a rapidly changing environment.
  
• You have excellent management and leadership skills to manage staff, set work priorities and standards, evaluate performance, identify, and recommend staffing needs, conduct recruitment activities, manage staff training, address employee, labour relations and employee matters.
  
• You have demonstrated the leadership behaviors, attributes, and mindsets to lead the OPS into the future.

Technical Knowledge and Experience

• You have knowledge of relevant legislation, rules, case law, policies, and procedures of the Criminal Justice system to plan and deliver operational and administrative services.
  
• You have demonstrated experience and knowledge of financial and administrative procedures to develop, manage and control allocated financial resources.
  
• You have experience in project management principles and methodologies to manage the delivery of program plans, initiatives, and goals.

Relationship Management and Communication Skills

• You have experience collaborating, building, and maintaining effective and lasting relationships with clients and, stakeholders and partners to gather input, build consensus and deliver on priorities.
  
• You can effectively manage expectations and anticipate and resolve major obstacles and conflicts.
  
• You have experience managing sensitive and contentious issues.
  
• You have excellent judgement and political acuity to deal with highly visible, complex, and politically sensitive issues.
  
• You communicate information with clarity and enthusiasm resulting in a shared understanding and commitment by internal and external stakeholders.
  
• You have demonstrated superior written, oral, and interpersonal skills and can influence and negotiate with partners and stakeholders to find collaborative solutions to complex issues.

Analytical and Strategic Thinking Skills

• You have experience defining problems, developing, and implementing solutions as well as formulating realistic recommendations for effective delivery of a broad range of services and implementation of initiatives.
  
• You have excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills along with a strong sense of political acuity to deal with a variety of sensitive issues.
  
• You have experience exercising sound judgement to manage support staff, prepare and control budget, manage resource and technology plans in a fast-changing environment.

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!

Think this role could be right for you?

We're here to support you every step of the way. These short videos can help you feel confident and prepared:

• Navigating Our Hiring Process (2 min) – Get a clear overview of each stage in our structured hiring process so you know what to expect and how to prepare.
• Application Preparation Tips (4 min) – Learn how to showcase your leadership experience in ways that align with how we evaluate applications during the screening stage, increasing your chances of being shortlisted.

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

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.