Staff Sergeant

Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario; Fort Frances; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Northern Attraction Incentive Program

Job summary

Fort Frances Jail in Northwestern Ontario seeks an experienced Staff Sergeant to lead a custodial team on a 24/7 operation. You will supervise Sergeants and Correctional Officers, model integrity, and make fair, timely decisions to maintain safety and security on the floor.

This frontline essential role is onsite, with shift work including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays. You will shape culture, uphold standards, and coordinate with internal and external partners to ensure orderly

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in high accountability environments.
• Ability to make timely decisions under pressure and maintain safety.
• Experience in investigations and handling sensitive issues within a custodial setting.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, guidance and direction to staff in a unionized correctional environment.
• Manage overall programs of the institution to ensure public safety and the care, custody and control of inmates.
• Coordinate the review, formulation and implementation of institutional standing orders and local operating policies and procedures and ensure compliance with policies and legislation.
• Assume overall responsibility for the administration and operations of the institution in the absence of senior administrators.
• Manage internal and stakeholder relationships with a high level of political acuity.
• Conduct thorough investigations into sensitive and contentious issues and determine resolutions.
• Be a quick thinker with the ability to manage crisis situations and instill confidence in staff.
• Bring an innovative mindset to incorporate new tools, technology and practices to achieve results.
• Represent the Ministry and the Institution by providing testimony at court and tribunal proceedings as required.

Skills

Leadership

Decision making under pressure

Crisis management

Job description

Fort Frances Jail is looking for experienced leaders who can manage complex operations when it matters most. As a Staff Sergeant, you are responsible for the day-to-day operation of a correctional institution, supervising Sergeants and Correctional Officers, and ensuring the institution remains safe, secure, and operational at all times. This is a hands-on leadership role with significant accountability, requiring sound judgment, strong operational leadership, and the ability to respond effectively to dynamic situations in a custodial environment.

You will be expected to make timely decisions under pressure, manage incidents and emergencies, lead reviews and investigations into critical events or conduct issues, and address situations that require senior level judgment and authority. You'll oversee staffing and deployment, step in during high risk or escalated situations, support staff through challenging circumstances, and hold individuals accountable when standards are not met. During after hours, nights, weekends, and statutory holidays, you may be the senior leader on site.

This role requires strong leadership experience, sound judgment, resilience, and the ability to remain calm in demanding and unpredictable environments. Leaders from other operational, enforcement, regulatory, emergency management, military, or similarly high accountability settings bring valuable, transferable skills to this work. The environment is fast paced and high stress, but you will have real authority, real responsibility, and a direct impact on staff safety, organizational order, and public safety.

If you're ready to step up and lead from the front, this role is for you.

As this is a frontline essential position, your physical presence at the institution is crucial to this role and this position will be fully onsite. Shift work will include evenings, nights, weekends, and statutory holidays in a 24/7 operational environment.

Northern Attraction Incentive Program (NAIP)

This position qualifies for the Northern Attraction Incentive Program (NAIP). NAIP is a pilot recruitment program that offers financial incentives to new hires in specific positions in designated institutions and probation and parole offices in Northern Ontario. This includes both external candidates to the Ontario Public Service and existing employees who agree to work for a term of three years.

All applicants will receive more information on the program once the job advertisement closes. If you would like this information prior to applying, you may contact: [e-mail].

Leadership That Makes a Difference

At its core, leadership in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is about creating positive change for people and communities across Ontario. We're looking for leaders who are authentic, accountable, and courageous. People who bring others together, ask bold questions, and lead with purpose.

About the job

Leadership at Fort Frances Jail is about setting clear standards and supporting staff in a challenging environment. It means being present on the floor, acting with integrity, and making fair, consistent decisions — especially when situations are complex or high-pressure. Your leadership shows in how you handle issues, support your team, and maintain professionalism in a custody setting.

As a leader, you shape the culture of the institution. You set expectations for respectful conduct, inclusion, and accountability, and you address issues directly when they arise. You help create a workplace where staff feel supported, treated fairly, and able to do their jobs safely, while ensuring operational and security standards are always maintained.

You won't be expected to do this alone. The OPS provides leadership training, mentorship, and access to networks across Corrections to support your development. This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact — on staff morale, institutional safety, and the effective operation of the institution. You will:

• Provide leadership, guidance and direction to staff in a correctional unionized environment.
• Manage overall programs of the institution to ensure public safety and the care, custody and control of inmates.
• Coordinate the review, formulation and implementation of institutional standing orders and local operating policies and procedures and ensure compliance with policies and legislation.
• Assume overall responsibility for the administration and operations of the institution in the absence of senior administrators.
• Manage internal and stakeholder relationships with a high level of political acuity.
• Conduct thorough investigations into a range of sensitive and contentious issues, determining resolutions and maintaining internal accountability.
• Be a quick thinker with the ability to manage crisis situations, instilling the confidence in staff to do the same.
• Bring an innovative mindset to your work, enabling you to incorporate new tools, technology and practices to achieve results.
• Represent the Ministry and the Institution by appearing and providing accurate testimony at various levels of court and tribunal proceedings as required.

Meet Your New Team

Located in Fort Frances, Northwestern Ontario, approximately 350 kilometres west of Thunder Bay and more than 1,500 kilometres from Toronto, Fort Frances Jail serves a unique and important role within Ontario's correctional system. Situated on the Canada-U.S. border and surrounded by vast forests, lakes, and remote communities, the facility supports the safe and secure custody of individuals while contributing to public safety across a large geographic region. This opportunity is ideal for those seeking a true Northern Ontario lifestyle, where community connections are strong, commutes are short, and world-class outdoor recreation is right outside your door. Nestled along the shores of beautiful Rainy Lake, Fort Frances offers exceptional fishing, boating, hiking, and year-round outdoor activities, making it an attractive destination for candidates looking to combine meaningful public service work with an unmatched quality of life in Northwestern Ontario.

What you bring to the team

Mandatory

• First Aid, CPR, and Use of Force (defensive tactics and chemical munitions) is required (training provided in accordance to provincial standards).

Leadership and Supervisory Skills

• You can lead and support staff in a unionized correctional setting, providing clear direction, coaching, and follow up while ensuring compliance with policies, legislation, and correctional standards.
• You can manage institutional resources, including budgets, staffing, and equipment, and make decisions that balance operational needs with fiscal responsibility.
• You understand HR policies and collective agreements and can recruit, onboard, train, and manage staff, including addressing complex employee relations matters.
• You demonstrate integrity and consistency in decision making, even in difficult or high pressure situations.

Technical Knowledge

• You bring a strong understanding of how complex operations are managed in secure or high consequence environments, prioritizing and maintaining safety, security, services, program delivery, and day-to day administrative and institutional operations
• You bring experience operating within a secure or high consequence environment where accountability, consistency and structured oversight are critical,
• An understanding of how legal obligations policies and procedures, safety equipment, technology, relationship custody, and supervision models work together to manage, mitigate risk and maintain order.
• You can clearly communicate, interpret and apply legislation, policies and procedures to ensure staff fully understand their legal obligations, employer expectations and any changes that may impact the daily operations.

Communication and Relationship Management Skills

• You can communicate effectively with front line staff, management, regional offices, and external partners, ensuring information is clear, timely, and appropriate.
• You can prepare clear and accurate documentation, including reports, investigation findings, operational plans, and procedural materials.
• You can build and maintain effective working relationships with police, courts, and community partners to support institutional operations.

Analytical and Investigative Skills

• You remain calm and decisive when dealing with incidents, emergencies, and sensitive situations.
• You can conduct and review local investigations and fact findings, assess risk, and ensure accountability is maintained.
• You are able to manage competing priorities, workload pressures, and operational stress in a 24/7 correctional environment.

Apply By

Monday, November 2, 2026 11:59 pm EST