Correctional Program Officer and Indigenous Correctional Program Officer

About the position

Duties
Correctional Program Officers (CPOs) and Indigenous Correctional Program Officers (ICPOs) deliver correctional programs that help offenders address the factors contributing to their criminal behaviour and develop the skills needed for safe reintegration into the community. They motivate participants, reinforce prosocial behaviour, and support offenders in meeting the objectives of their correctional or Healing Plans.

As members of the Case Management Team, CPOs/ICPOs assess program needs, evaluate progress, prepare reports, and share relevant information to support case management and decision-making. They facilitate group and individual sessions, review offender assignments, and ensure program delivery aligns with national standards and quality requirements.ICPOs deliver Indigenous correctional programs grounded in Indigenous worldviews, teachings, cultural practices, and ceremony. They work closely with Elders and Spiritual Advisors, integrate cultural knowledge into interventions, and consider Indigenous Social History when assessing needs and progress. ICPOs may also deliver mainstream correctional programs when required.Both roles collaborate with Parole Officers, Psychologists, Elders, Security, and other CSC staff to ensure coordinated interventions that support risk reduction and public safety. They manage group dynamics, respond to challenging behaviours, and contribute to a supportive learning environment.

Work environment
About Us

The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is the federal government agency responsible for administering sentences of a term of two years or more, as imposed by the courts. CSC is responsible for managing institutions of various security levels and supervising offenders under conditional release in the community. Our MissionThe Correctional Service of Canada (CSC), as part of the criminal justice system and respecting the rule of law, contributes to public safety by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to become law-abiding citizens, while exercising reasonable, safe, secure and humane control.

Intent of the process
CSC may advertise Correctional Program Officer and Indigenous Correctional Program Officer processes for multiple regions across Canada and may add other locations and processes.

Those who apply on multiple 2026 processes with CSC may be assessed only once, and the results may be applied to all processes.Once a candidate has been assessed in a given poster/process, their result stands for that process without candidates being re-assessed. However, unsuccessful candidates that applied on other posters/processes may be assessed in another process after a defined waiting period.

Important messages
When you apply to this selection process, you are not applying for a specific job, but to an inventory for future vacancies. As positions become available, applicants who meet the qualifications may be contacted for further assessment.
Applicants are encouraged to APPLY NOW, as applications will be screened and assessed on a periodic basis for appointment consideration.

Candidates must clearly demonstrate in their responses that they meet the essential education and experience qualifications. It is NOT sufficient to only state that the qualifications are met or to provide a listing of current or past responsibilities. Rather you must clearly demonstrate HOW, WHEN, and WHERE the qualification was met through substantiation by examples. Information on your described skills, experience, etc. provided in the screening questions should be supported by your resume. Failure to provide sufficient information will result in the candidate being screened out and rejected from the process.Management has opted to use screening and text questions and answers, accompanied by the resume, as the evaluation method for the screening stage of this selection process. Failure to provide this information in the requested fields may result in your application being rejected. For appointment processes where the area of selection was limited to Indigenous peoples or to members of designated employment equity groups that included Indigenous peoples, the Indigenous candidates proposed for appointment or appointed must complete and sign the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form as a condition of appointment prior to or at the same time as the offer of appointment, even if they have already self-declared as an EE member when applying. Candidates must meet all of the essential qualifications noted in the Statement of Merit Criteria to be appointed to a position. A candidate may be appointed to a position even though they do not meet any or all of the asset qualifications. However, meeting these criteria is desirable and may be a deciding factor in choosing the person to be appointed. For this selection process, it is our intention to communicate with candidates via email for screening and assessment purposes. This will include communication of results and invitations to assessments. To that end, candidates must ensure a valid email address is included in their application. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that this address is functional and that it accepts messages from unknown users (some email systems block these types of email) and frequently check their inbox and JUNK/SPAM folders. It is also the candidate’s responsibility to ensure accurate information is provided and updated as required.

Conditions of employment

Enhanced Reliability status

Operational Requirements

Willingness and ability to travel occasionally.
Willingness to work variable hours depending on locations.

You need (essential for the job)

Your application must clearly explain how you meet the following

EDUCATION:

A secondary diploma (high school from a recognized secondary institution) or an acceptable combination of education, training and/or experience.

Learn more about degree equivalency.

EXPERIENCE:

Experience motivating and counselling persons in individual or group settings aimed at changing human behaviourExperience preparing reports

Applied / assessed at a later date

COMPETENCIES:

Thinking things through
Sensitivity to working with Indigenous Peoples, equity-seeking groups such as women, individuals who are gender-diverse, persons with disabilities, persons of African descent, as well as individuals from various ethnocultural groups and socioeconomic backgrounds
Effective communication skills
Demonstrating integrity and respect
Working effectively with others
Showing initiative and being action oriented

ABILITIES:

Ability to plan, organize and facilitate interventions
Ability to manage, support and motivate individuals
Ability to analyze the impact of the interventions
Ability to apply a women’s centered approach*
Ability to work effectively with Elders and Spiritual Advisors***This criteria applies to positions working with offenders in women’s institutions, women’s healing lodges, women’s supervision units in the community and women’s healing lodges or units for women offenders.**This criteria applies to ICPO positions only.

Language requirements (essential for the job)

Applied / assessed at a later date

Various language requirements - English essential
Bilingual Imperative BBB/BBB

Learn more about language requirements.

You may need (asset qualifications)

May be applied / assessed at a later date

EDUCATION:

Graduation with a diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field that focuses on understanding and assessing human behaviour
Graduation with a diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field that focuses on Indigenous studies
Graduation with a diploma or degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in a field that focuses on Women’s Studies.

Learn more about degree equivalency.

CERTIFICATION:

Certification in a specific Correctional Service of Canada program
Certification in a program designed for changing human behaviour

EXPERIENCE:

Experience working with gender diverse people
Experience with the case management process
Experience in the delivery of structured programs to individuals with integration or behavioural problems
Experience assessing human behaviour in the context of program delivery
Experience preparing and delivering training or presentations
Experience interacting with and assisting people with unique and challenging needs
Experience working in a correctional environment
Experience offering services or programs to people in conflict with the law
Experience working with individuals associated with security threat groups, such as street or prison gangs, organized crime, or other groups involved in criminal behaviour
Experience working with an Elder/Spiritual Advisor
Experience in the delivery of structured programs to Indigenous people
Experience applying traditional Indigenous cultural and spiritual teachings and values within individual and/or group setting
Experience working with Indigenous people, communities, or organizations
Experience offering services or programs to women

KNOWLEDGE:

Knowledge of Indigenous offender needs and resources pertinent to Indigenous Peoples
Knowledge of Indigenous social history and its impact on their criminal path

ABILITIES:

Ability to speak in a language other than English/French

ORGANIZATIONAL NEEDS

To support employment equity objectives, diversity and inclusion and/or to meet business objectives, selection may be limited to a member of an equity-seeking group.

Our commitment

We're committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process. If you need to be accommodated during any phase of the evaluation process, please contact the hiring organization below to request specialized accommodation. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential.

Learn more about assessment accommodation.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

The Public Service of Canada is committed to building a skilled and diverse workforce that reflects the population it serves. We promote employment equity and encourage you to self-declare if you belong to one of the designated employment equity groups when you apply.

Learn more about diversity and inclusion in the public service.

Selection may be limited to members of the following employment equity groups: Indigenous (Aboriginal) peoples, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, and women.

Learn more about employment equity.

Preference

Preference will be given to veterans first, followed by Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with the exception of jobs located in Nunavut or Yukon. For positions located in Nunavut, qualified Inuit enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement will be appointed first. For positions located in Yukon, qualified Yukon First Nations will be appointed first, followed by qualified Indigenous persons.

Learn more about preference to veterans.

How to apply

Learn more about applying for Government of Canada jobs.

Information you must provide

• Your résumé

We'd like to thank all those who apply. However, only the people selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Additional links

Professional careers at Correctional Service Canada
Indigenous specific jobs at Correctional Service Canada
Video: Detailed guide on navigating the application process step by step.
Institutional Profiles of the Pacific Region

Hiring organization contact

Name: Front-Line Planning and Recruitment Team
Email address: [email protected]

Apply