Step into a leadership role where your actions directly support safe, high quality care in a complex and ever changing correctional health environment. As an Assistant Health Care Manager, you'll work collaboratively with the Health Care Manager to coordinate key clinic functions, support primary care and psychiatry services, oversee nursing staff and ensure the timely ordering of medical supplies and medications. You'll play a hands on role in operationalizing and advancing the electronic medical record system, liaising with Infection Prevention and Control partners, and supporting occupational health initiatives—requiring adaptability, sound judgment, and strong clinical awareness as you help address the unique physical and mental health needs of patients in an institutional setting.
This role is well suited to a people centred leader who leads through influence, service, and trust. You'll inspire and empower staff, support recruitment and retention efforts, and foster a respectful, inclusive workplace grounded in collaboration and psychological safety. With a growth mindset and a commitment to excellence, you'll balance accountability with empathy, bringing strong organizational and analytical skills to guide decision making and day to day operations. For leaders who value mentorship, continuous learning, and the opportunity to shape team culture during a period of meaningful change, this role offers a rewarding next step with real impact—for patients, staff, and the broader health care system.
Leadership That Makes a DifferenceAt 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
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:
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Lead and coordinate daily clinical operations by supporting nursing and non regulated staff, organizing primary care and psychiatry clinics, and ensuring health services are delivered safely and efficiently within a secure correctional environment.
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Provide people centred leadership and mentorship by coaching, supporting, and empowering staff to excel, fostering collaboration, psychological safety, and a respectful, inclusive workplace culture.
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Support staffing, recruitment, and workplace administration by assisting with scheduling, attendance support, training needs, performance conversations, and contributing to recruitment and retention efforts in alignment with collective agreements and ministry expectations.
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Promote quality, safety, and professional standards by assisting with monitoring service delivery, gathering statistical and operational data, and ensuring compliance with legislation, policies, IPAC standards, and professional practice requirements.
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Coordinate resources and interdisciplinary partnerships by working with physicians, pharmacy services, external providers, and the broader interprofessional team to ensure operational and patient care requirements are met.
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Support safe systems and continuous improvement initiatives by assisting with medical supply and medication management, contributing to EMR implementation and updates, participating in occupational health initiatives, and supporting problem solving and risk management activities.
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 TeamThe
Sarnia Jail is a key provincial correctional facility in Southwestern Ontario, serving an important role in housing adults on remand and those serving short custodial sentences. As a smaller, aging facility, the jail operates in a demanding environment where fluctuating populations, limited physical space, and operational pressures require strong leadership, adaptability, and collaboration. Staff at the Sarnia Jail are known for their professionalism and commitment to maintaining safety, dignity, and effective offender management despite these challenges. For leaders seeking an opportunity to contribute to meaningful public safety outcomes while supporting staff through complexity and change, the Sarnia Jail offers a rewarding and impactful environment.
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
• You are currently registered as a Registered Nurse in good standing with the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Leadership and Management Skills
• Provide day to day operational leadership to ensure effective delivery of nursing and medical services.
• Mentor and support staff by fostering confidence, professional growth, and an inclusive team environment.
• Manage HR functions including performance reviews, attendance support, and identifying training needs.
• Lead change and continuous improvement by modeling OPS values and advancing quality focused initiatives.
Nursing Knowledge and Expertise
• Apply broad clinical knowledge suited to correctional nursing, where diverse health needs arise daily.
• Ensure adherence to professional standards including CNO practice guidelines and relevant legislation.
• Support safe clinical decision making through assessment, triage, and oversight of nursing services.
• Promote quality patient care by monitoring trends, identifying risks, and guiding evidence based practices.
Technical Knowledge
• Use Microsoft 365 applications confidently including Teams, Outlook, and basic Excel for daily operations.
• Maintain secure documentation systems including electronic health records and medication management tools.
• Understand health related legislation and policy frameworks that inform correctional health operations.
• Apply organizational and administrative systems to manage resources, scheduling, and reporting.
Communication Skills
• Communicate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate care and resolve issues collaboratively.
• Provide clear direction and coaching to staff to ensure expectations, priorities, and standards are understood.
• Liaise professionally with external partners including community providers, legal representatives, and oversight bodies.
• Prepare and share accurate reports and documentation to support operational decision making and accountability.
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.
Take a few minutes to explore these resources. They're designed to set you up for success.
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: