Description

Job Description

As a detention officer in one of our 6 establishments in the canton, you will work in a demanding yet meaningful and active environment, with a strong team spirit. Your role contributes to the implementation of the two missions assigned to the penitentiary service: ensuring the supervision and monitoring of detainees and promoting their reintegration, while always acting in accordance with our values, namely "Loyalty, Solidarity, Credibility".

Through your commitment, you help protect the population. You will develop your skills notably through on-the-job training to obtain the federal diploma of detention officer.

Responsibilities

  • Monitoring detainees both day and night

  • Accompanying detainees in their daily activities

  • Listening, supporting, and providing information to detainees

  • Securing premises and individuals

  • Enforcing discipline, regulations, and hygiene standards while ensuring respect for human dignity

For more information, please consult the job description by clicking here or contact our recruitment department at 021 338 44 17

Qualifications

  • Be at least 24 years old

  • Hold a minimum 3-year Federal VET Diploma or equivalent qualification
  • Federal diploma of detention officer or commitment to obtain it through on-the-job training

  • Proficiency with common computer tools
  • Fluency in French, both spoken and written. Knowledge of foreign languages is an asset

  • Comfortable with human contact, empathy, communication and negotiation skills

  • Good mental and physical aptitude to adapt to irregular hours and manage sometimes difficult situations or conflicts while maintaining appropriate professional distance

  • Ability to manage stress. Observation, analytical and synthesis skills.

Our employment conditions require you to be Swiss or hold a C permit, free of bankruptcy proceedings, and have a clean criminal record. There is a right to consult the criminal record in accordance with the Federal Law on the Criminal Record by the hiring authority for this position.

Fixed-term contract of 12 months, renewable or possibility of permanent employment upon successful completion of internal training.

Recruitment process:

Please carefully prepare your application including all documents:

  • Cover letter
  • CV with photo
  • Copy of diploma(s)
  • Work certificates
  • Criminal record form to download here

After an initial selection based on applications, shortlisted candidates will be invited to a recruitment day. The next date is Saturday 29 August 2026.

You will find all details of our recruitment process as well as upcoming dates for our information and recruitment sessions here

WHO ARE WE?

The Penitentiary Service consists of many professions that are meaningful for public service. We ensure the care of persons placed under the authority of criminal justice, whether before or after sentencing.
Our mission is twofold: to protect the population and to support the reintegration of individuals into society. The SPEN manages and supervises the Sentence Enforcement Office and 6 penitentiary establishments under its authority.
Want to know more? Watch here the presentations of our professions:

Why join the State of Vaud?

The State of Vaud offers a wide variety of jobs and opportunities for advancement. Working conditions are guided by themes of equality, inclusion, sustainability, and professional ethics in an environment conducive to work-life balance.

To learn more about our benefits, visit our Employer State page.

  • Publication date22/06/2026 07:53
  • LocationsOrbe, Jura-Nord Vaudois, SwitzerlandLonay, Morges, SwitzerlandLausanne, SwitzerlandPalezieux, Lavaux-Oron, Switzerland
  • Apply by27/07/2026 21:55
  • Start dateTo be agreed
  • Salary grade8
  • Contract typeFixed-term public law contract
  • Work rate80-100%
  • AddressPenitentiary Service
    HR Unit
    Chemin de l'Islettaz
    Building A
    1305 Penthalaz
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