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Apply By: Monday, August 10, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Manager, Biology Section

Job ID:

246827

Posting status:

Open

Organization:

Ministry of the Solicitor General

Division:

Public Safety Division/Centre of Forensic Sciences

City:

Sault Ste Marie

Position(s) language:

English

Job term:

1 Permanent

Job code:

M1010A - Scientific Services07

Salary:

$97,623.00 - $141,892.00 Per year

Lead Forensic Biology for Ontario's Justice System

Join the Centre of Forensic Sciences (CFS) Biology Section and help shape the delivery of forensic biology services across Ontario's justice system. As Manager, Biology Section, you will lead a team of scientific and technical professionals, fostering collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement while supporting the delivery of high-quality forensic services.

We are seeking a progressive, people-focused leader with technical aptitude, strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and a mature understanding of forensic biology. You have the ability to bring together people with diverse roles, experiences and perspectives, support positive change, and lead in a manner that is both highly supportive and accountable. In this role, your leadership will help strengthen scientific excellence, support the development of a high-performing team, and contribute to work that has a meaningful impact on public safety and the administration of justice across Ontario.

The Ontario Public Service: Strengthening Ontario, together.

A career in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is driven by purpose. We're building a stronger Ontario by delivering programs and services that make a real difference in people's lives. If you share this ambition, you'll find a workplace that reflects the diversity of the people we serve and empowers you to lead with confidence.

Why Your Leadership Belongs Here

• Purpose that drives you: Lead work that matters. Your leadership will shape policies, programs, and services that improve lives across the province—every day.
  
• A culture that supports you: Thrive in a flexible, inclusive, and respectful workplace that values your well-being and empowers you to bring your whole self to work.
  
• A career that grows with you: Explore leadership opportunities across ministries and sectors. With access to mentorship, learning, and mobility, your career can evolve here.
  
• Recognition that reflects your impact: We value the difference you make. You'll receive competitive pay, a defined-benefit pension, and benefits that support your well-being—plus meaningful recognition for your contributions.

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:

• Manage a team of scientific and technical staff.
  
• Co-ordinate the completion of casework including case assignment, providing expert advice and direction, and ensuring continuity of evidence and coordination of the unit's work.
  
• Monitor laboratory practices to ensure staff compliance with accreditation standards and safety procedures.
  
• Identify needs, and conduct/promote educational training and developmental programs for staff.
  
• Participate in research and personal developmental activities/programs.
  
• Establish and oversee a regular program for the preventative maintenance of scientific equipment.
  
• Conduct casework and testify in court on reports and analyses conducted within the Biology Section.

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.

Please note:This position is based in Sault Ste. Marie and requires on-site work five days per week.

Meet Your New Team

The Centre of Forensic Sciences provides forensic testing services for criminal and non-criminal investigations in the province of Ontario. It operates independently of, but in partnership with, police, prosecutors and other stakeholders to produce objective, unbiased test results and opinions of importance to the justice system.

Reporting to the Senior Manager of the Biology Section and while overseeing biology operations and staff in Sault Ste Marie, you will work closely within a broader management team and alongside a number of other managers who are responsible for forensic biology services across the province.

This position involves exposure to accounts and physical evidence of violent crimes and may not be suitable for all people.

Want to learn more about the role?

Join us for an information session on Tuesday, August 4 at 12:00pm-12:30pm, where you will have a chance to find out more about the job, the team and the Branch.
Be sure you add this event to your calendar, so you don't miss out!

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Join on a video conferencing device
Tenant key: teams@msteams.ontario.ca
Video ID: 119 361 716 9
More info

What you bring to the team

Leadership and People Management

• Leadership Experience: You bring established experience leading people and teams, with clear accountability for results, team development, and performance. You lead by setting direction, coaching others, and building a culture of trust, inclusion, and high performance.
  
• Lead Through Change: You have leadership experience and the ability to inspire, engage, motivate, develop and mentor staff to deliver results during ongoing change and transformation.
  
• Inclusive Leadership: You are a collaborative leader and have incorporated the principles of inclusion and diversity across all elements of your management style.
  
• Strategic Judgement and Continuous Improvement: You demonstrate sound judgement, political acuity, and organizational awareness in managing issues and driving a culture of continuous improvement, creativity and excellence.

Technical Expertise and Specialized Knowledge

• Forensic Science Expertise: You have advanced knowledge/education in Forensic Chemistry, Biology, or Toxicology and/or extensive forensic science experience.
  
• Quality Assurance and Accreditation: You have knowledge of international standards of accreditation, procedures used in other forensic science laboratories, and quality assurance programs.
  
• Forensic Biology Leadership: You have knowledge of forensic biology to conduct, oversee, assign and monitor the work of the team.
  
• Emerging Technologies and Methodologies: You have knowledge of technologies and methodologies, both current and emerging, that impact forensic science.
  
• Program Management and Research: You have experience in program management to plan, implement and evaluate programs of scientific investigation and research.

Analytical Skills

• Casework, Research and Scientific Review: You can evaluate casework and research projects. You can review scientific reports and discuss cases with clients.
  
• Advisory and Educational Support: You can assist court officials, investigative and medical personnel in developing a knowledgeable awareness of forensic science methodologies and procedures.

Communication and Relationship Management Skills

• Stakeholder Collaboration and Advice: You have strong communication skills to provide guidance and advice and liaise with a variety of people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines.
  
• Written Communication: You have strong written communication skills to prepare recommendations, reports, procedures, responses and program-related materials.
  
• Technical Communication and Training: You can effectively communicate complex technical information, provide clear instructions, and deliver lectures and training courses to diverse audiences.
  
• Expert Testimony: You have the ability and confidence to provide expert testimony in court.

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, increasing your chances of being shortlisted.

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:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

Additional information:

Apply by:

Monday, August 10, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Position details:

• 1 English Permanent, 70 Foster Dr, Sault Ste Marie, North Region, Criminal Record Check

Compensation group:

Management Compensation Plan

Work hours:

Schedule 6

Category:

Management and General

Posted on:

Monday, July 27, 2026

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-SL-246827/26

How to apply:

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.

Strengthening Ontario, together