Program Officer

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Do you enjoy facilitating group activities, building relationships and looking for ways to bring fresh ideas to the table? If so, then consider this opportunity as a Program Officer at the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre.

The Ontario Public Service is one of the largest employers in the province, with a wide range of exciting career opportunities. We believe in the core values of trust, fairness, diversity, excellence, creativity, collaboration, efficiency and responsiveness.

We offer a comprehensive and competitive compensation package, including:
• A defined benefit pension plan
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits which includes adoptive parents
• Comprehensive Health Plan
• Life and Disability insurance
• Collegial and professional work culture
• Career growth and development opportunities across multiple business areas
• We provide on-the-job training to support your success in the role

Important Information About Worksite Assignment

Thunder Bay's correctional facilities are transitioning to a single campus workplace, the Thunder Bay Correctional Complex (TBCC), in the near future. The Complex will include the following five sites, all forming part of the same workplace:

• Site 1 – 2395 Highway 61 South (currently o/a Thunder Bay Correctional Complex - Central Operations Hub)
• Site 2 – 2351 Highway 61 South (currently o/a Thunder Bay Correctional Centre - Modular Build Facility)
• Site 3 – 2351 Highway 61 South (currently o/a Thunder Bay Correctional Centre - Male Dormitory)
• Site 4 – 2351 Highway 61 South (currently o/a Thunder Bay Correctional Centre - Female Dormitory)
• Site 5 – 285 MacDougall Street (currently o/a Thunder Bay Jail)

Applying for, accepting employment at, or requesting a lateral transfer to the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre, Thunder Bay Jail, or any specific site within the Complex during this transition process does not guarantee initial or ongoing assignment to that particular site.

Successful applicants are expected to be able to work at any of the five TBCC sites listed above and may be reassigned to any of the TBCC sites in the future based on operational requirements.

Applicants should consider this single campus workplace arrangement when submitting their application or expression of interest.

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About the job

• Identify offender rehabilitative needs using client demographics and available community resources
• Develop, deliver, and facilitate core rehabilitative programs to groups of remanded and sentenced offenders
• Organize resources to effectively deliver programs as a facilitator
• Enroll offenders to participate in programs and ensure that resources are in place to deliver the program
• Interview and respond to inmate requests regarding programming
• Perform other duties, as assigned

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What you bring to the team

Specialized Knowledge and Experience

• You have knowledge of and experience in group facilitation
• You are able to effectively facilitate, instruct, and deliver rehabilitative programs to inmates
• You have knowledge of the justice system, court processes and court documentation as well as understanding of offender rehabilitation
• You are able to understand and apply relevant legislation such as the Ministry of Correctional Services Act
• You have knowledge of and experience working with community agencies and resources in order to assist in discharge planning

Communication (Oral and Written) and Interpersonal Skills

• You have motivational interviewing skills to engage inmates who have diverse needs and security requirements
• You can clearly and accurately communicate with inmates as well as work effectively with correctional staff and community contacts

Analytical, Investigative and Evaluative Skills

• You can obtain information, assess suitability of inmates for various rehabilitative programs, and make recommendations based on established criteria
• You have problem-solving and decision-making skills to manage contentious issues or situations
• You have proven ability to prioritize and complete work in timely fashion
• You have organizational skills to coordinate and schedule programs

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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!

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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

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What we offer

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province.

We offer:
• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• a comprehensive compensation and benefits package
• base salary that aligns to market trends with performance-based pay and scheduled salary progression
• tailored work arrangements, including opportunities like flex hours, self-funded leave and more
• a modern, friendly and accessible physical work environment

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Additional information:

Note:

• About security checks:
  A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities.
  If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in.
  Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.
• T-CL-249309/26

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How to apply:

1. You must apply online.
2. Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
3. Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
4. Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
5. OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
6. If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.

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.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.