The Sarnia 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 maximum-security institution, supervising Correctional Officers, and making sure the institution stays safe, secure, and functional 24/7. This is a handson leadership role with real accountability, not a desk job.
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.
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.
Leadership at
Sarnia Jail means setting clear expectations, being visibly present, and supporting staff in a demanding custody environment. It requires sound judgment, consistency, and professionalism—especially when situations are complex, high-pressure, or unpredictable. As a leader, you are relied upon to act decisively, manage issues fairly, and ensure the safe and effective day-to-day operation of the institution.
You play a key role in shaping the workplace culture by promoting respectful conduct, inclusion, and accountability. This includes addressing concerns directly, supporting staff through difficult situations, and reinforcing standards that foster safety, trust, and professionalism. While the work is challenging, you will be supported through OPS leadership development programs, mentorship, and correctional networks. This role offers a meaningful opportunity to positively influence staff wellbeing, institutional safety, and operational effectiveness.
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
Sarnia Jail plays a vital role in supporting public safety and the administration of justice in Lambton County and the surrounding region. As a medium-sized, community-focused correctional facility, Sarnia Jail operates in a dynamic environment that requires strong leadership, adaptability, and collaboration. Working at Sarnia Jail means leading close-knit teams, managing competing operational priorities, and contributing directly to safe, secure, and effective outcomes for staff, inmates, and the community. For leaders seeking meaningful, hands-on work with visible impact, Sarnia Jail offers an opportunity to lead, grow, and make a difference every day.
- First Aid, CPR, and Use of Force (defensive tactics and chemical munitions) is required (training provided in accordance with provincial standards).
- Advanced proficiency in oral and written French, with the ability to communicate effectively in a professional environment.
- You can lead and support staff in a unionized correctional setting, providing clear direction, coaching, and followup 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 decisionmaking, even in difficult or highpressure situations.
- 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.
- You can communicate effectively with frontline 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.
- 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.
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.
Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.
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
