Established in 1987, the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) provides oversight of Ontario's access and privacy laws. The Commissioner is an officer of the Legislature who is appointed by, and reports to, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and is independent of the government of the day.
The IPC oversees compliance with legislation that establish the rules for how Ontario's public institutions, health care providers, children's aid societies and other child and family service providers may collect, use, and disclose personal information and how they must keep such information secure. They also provide the public with a right of access to government-held information and access to their own personal information.
The IPC's mandate is to
- resolve access to information appeals.
- investigate privacy complaints.
- provide comment on proposed government legislation and programs
- review privacy policies and information management practices.
- conduct research on access and privacy issues.
- educate the public, media and other stakeholders about Ontario's access and privacy laws and current issues affecting access and privacy.
Salary: $240,228 - $285,805 annually
We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's
Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.
The IPC's vision is to be a modern and effective regulator with real-world impact.
Reporting to the Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner, Tribunal and Dispute Resolution is a member of the executive management team and is responsible for the overall strategic direction and performance of the department that is centred around two key pillars: access and privacy. It receives, screens, mediates, investigates and adjudicates appeals and complaints about access to information and privacy under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA); the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA); Part X of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) and the Anti-Racism Act (General – O. Reg. 267/18).
The Assistant Commissioner ensures that the Tribunal leadership team, and through them approximately ninety-five (95) staff, operate in keeping with the IPC's mandate, vision, mission, goals and corporate values, and it is a critical member of the executive leadership team responsible for advancing the IPC's strategic priorities to meet its evolving mandate in a fast-paced and complex digital environment.
The Assistant Commissioner also provides high-level strategic advice and support to the Commissioner on all matters under the Assistant Commissioner's areas of responsibility and may publicly represent the IPC and the Commissioner at public events, serving as ambassador for the organization and championing Ontarians' access and privacy rights.
Executive Leadership
- Oversee the Tribunal's intake, early resolution, expedited appeals, mediation, investigation and decision-making processes, ensuring timely resolutions, consistent service quality and effective communication of outcomes.
- Provide guidance and leadership on the IPC's strategic planning processes, including recommendations regarding the development and implementation of organizational goals, policies, strategic projects and operational plans.
- Provide strategic advice and direction to Tribunal Directors and managers on cases that are complex or high profile, create new precedents, raise novel considerations of law or policy, or involve matters of significant public interest.
- Regularly brief the Commissioner on cases and issues arising in the Tribunal, which are of high sensitivity and major significance, including matters of significant public interest, or having significant impact on Tribunal jurisprudence or administrative processes.
- Actively participate as a key member of Executive Council and Senior Management Committee to operationalize the IPC mandate, vision, mission and goals, strategically leading the organization through transformative change, demonstrating management excellence, and building resilience and sustainability in a highly complex and rapidly evolving environment.
Litigation Strategy
- Advise on litigation strategy in support of the Tribunal's functions.
- Provide jurisprudential leadership by providing strategic advice and direction to Tribunal Directors and department heads on cases that are complex or high profile, create new precedents, raise novel considerations of law or policy, or involve matters of significant public interest.
- Provide strategic advice and direction to Tribunal Directors on complex and precedent-setting matters.
Operational and Resource Management
- Oversee the strategic recruitment, mentoring, training and evaluation of Tribunal staff to ensure requisite capacity to deal with complex issues and maintain high standards in the performance of the Tribunal's functions.
- Supervise the Tribunal's case processing procedures, implementing service standards and monitoring performance for fairness, efficiency, and quality.
- Oversee responses to inquiries from stakeholders or the public, including inquiries about Tribunal processes and performance metrics, and complaints about the Tribunal or its staff.
- Occasionally assume lead responsibility, personally serving as adjudicator and rendering decisions in significant precedent-setting cases.
Relationship and Partnership Management
- Build effective relationships with senior management within and outside the organization.
- Foster a collaborative work environment where Tribunal staff feel empowered to do their best work, have a sense of achievement and pride for contributing to their organization and rising to emerging challenges.
- Maintain positive and productive relationships with, and proactively reaching out to, the many stakeholders who engage with the Tribunal's processes, including counterparts in other similar organizations with a view to exchanging best practices.
The ideal candidate is an experienced leader with the ability to set and advance strategic direction, work towards achieving a vision, and oversee the implementation of plans and operational strategies to deliver efficient, effective, timely and high-quality services. More specifically, the ideal candidate:
- Has practiced law for at least seven (7) years in a combination of privacy, access to information, public and administrative law, and is a member in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial bar association.
- Has a strong background and experience in adjudication and alternative dispute resolution.
- Has at least five (5) years of experience in a senior management position in a legal, regulatory or adjudicative agency in the federal, provincial or municipal public sector, overseeing legal or dispute resolution teams.
- Has a thorough understanding of the administrative justice system, including the relevant legal principles of procedural fairness.
- Has sound working knowledge of, and practical experience with, Canadian access and privacy laws, policies and legal processes.
- Has a deep understanding, or the ability to acquire such understanding, of the professional, institutional, policy and community context in which the Tribunal operates.
- Is a highly effective communicator, capable of managing up, down and across an organization.
- Has highly effective interpersonal skills to positively influence and communicate with staff, peers, counterparts in other similar organizations, interested parties, and the public.
- Has a documented record of delivering timely results in a multi-project environment, balancing priorities and achieving service standards.
- Has highly effective leadership skills as a strategic and creative thinker, capable of inspiring others and able to foster a collaborative and collegial environment.
- Embraces accountability for delivering high impact results, understanding the importance of trying creative and innovative approaches, leading through change, and making timely, risk-based decisions.
- Demonstrates an acute ability to support professionals through organizational change and service optimization.
- Is comfortable with trying creative and innovative approaches, leading through change and making risk-based decisions.
- Is an excellent speaker, comfortable with representing an organization publicly.
- Demonstrates a commitment to public service, continual service improvement, and the advancement of the public interest.
- Demonstrates a commitment to maintaining fair, accountable and transparent processes that meet high professional standards of ethics and integrity, diversity and inclusion.
- Demonstrates sound management skills and practices, including the ability to manage financial, human and operational resources to deliver concrete results on time and measured against service standards.
- Demonstrates superior analytical, conceptual, problem-solving, decision-making and writing skills.
- Demonstrates superior ability to exercise judgment and discretion.
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Asset Qualifications
- You have the ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in French.
- A modern organization with a flexible hybrid work model with in-office attendance at a minimum of 8-10 days per month.
- Commitment to continuous learning and developmental opportunities for all its employees.
- Work with an innovative and high performing organization committed to creating a positive organizational culture and highly dedicated to its mission of advancing the privacy and access rights of Ontarians.
- A defined benefit pension plan, Comprehensive Health Plan, and Life and Disability Insurance.
- Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits.
The IPC is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promoting a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
We encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Should you require accommodation to participate as a candidate in the hiring process, please communicate your needs to the LHH Knightsbridge project team.
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you are interested in being considered for this exciting and impactful leadership position, please forward your cover letter and resume to Chris Sawyer at chris.sawyer@lhhknightsbridge.com. Should you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please contact a member of the project team:
Laura Machan, Partner
laura.machan@lhhknightsbridge.com
416-640-4303
Chris Sawyer, Senior Consultant
chris.sawyer@lhhknightsbridge.com
416-640-4312
About LHH – www.lhh.com
