Ottawa/Gatineau Jobs

Security jobs in Ottawa

The capital holds an unusual density of government buildings, embassies, museums and sensitive sites. The result is a security market that is larger than in comparable cities, and more regulated.

The licence comes first

In Ontario, working as a security guard requires a licence issued under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act. It involves approved training, an exam and a criminal record check. No serious employer will hire you without one.

The licence is personal and follows you between employers. Get it before you apply rather than after: most postings here treat it as an entry condition, not something to sort out on the job.

A private licence and a federal clearance are not the same

The provincial licence lets you do the work. A federal security clearance gives you access to a place or to information. A post inside a federal building often needs both, and the clearance is obtained through the employer after a conditional offer.

Reliability status takes weeks; secret clearance takes months. A posting that promises an immediate start while requiring secret clearance is worth a direct question to the recruiter.

Hours and conditions

A good share of these roles are nights, weekends or rotating shifts. Fixed daytime shifts exist mainly in office-hours buildings, and they go quickly.

Bilingualism is a real advantage at public-facing sites, particularly the national museums and the parliamentary precinct.

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