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.

Matching openings right now

Showing 126–148 of 148 postings

Other areas in Ottawa

All postings in Ottawa

148 security jobs in Ottawa, September 24, 2026