Overview
Sergeant Jobs in Toronto, Canada at Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario
Position: Staff Sergeant
Toronto South Detention Centre 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 Corporals and Correctional Officers, and making sure the institution stays safe, secure, and functional 24/7. This is a hands‑on 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.
About the job
Leadership at Toronto South Detention Centre 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 Ontario’s largest detention centres. 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…
Title: Sergeant
Company: Ontario Public Service Leadership | Leadership dans la fonction publique de l’Ontario
Location: Toronto, Canada
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