The salary for this position is classified at the M10 level - $92,920 - $135,056 Annually.The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) is an independent office of the Ontario Legislature and provides oversight of Ontario's access and privacy laws including 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 (PHIPA), and Part X of the Children, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) (collectively, the “Acts”). These laws 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. They also provide the public with a right of access to government-held information and access to their own personal information while ensuring that any personal information held by public institutions, health care providers and child and family service providers remains private and secure.
As part of its mandate, the IPC contains an administrative tribunal within its Tribunal and Dispute Resolution Division (TDRD). Among its important functions, TDRD:
• Resolves access to information appeals and complaints when government, health care practitioners and the child welfare sector refuse to grant requests for access or correction;
• Investigates privacy complaints with respect to personal and/or personal health information held by government institutions, health information custodians and the child welfare sector; and
• Educates the public about Ontario's access and privacy laws and current issues affecting access and privacy.
The TDRD's Mediation Department is comprised of Mediators who are dedicated to upholding the access and privacy rights of the people of Ontario. The IPC has a robust mediation stage of the appeal process, where approximately 85% of all types of access appeal files are either resolved in full or in part, and about 35% are directed to another stage in Tribunal.
The TDRD seeks a results-oriented individual to provide leadership to Mediators within the Mediation Department.
About the job
Under the general direction of the Director of Mediation, you will lead, guide and direct Mediators with caseload management, interpretation of governing legislation and regulations, the principles of administrative law, internal policies and procedures, and processing of files during the Mediation stage of appeal and complaint processes under the Acts.
You will report to and be accountable to the Director of Mediation for the day-to-day operation of your team of Mediators
Using judgment and discretion, you will:
• Provide guidance on case management and process issues, including troubleshooting individual appeals and complaints, and meeting regularly with Mediators.
• Review files streamed to Mediation, assign cases in consultation with other Mediation Managers, and ensure equitable distribution of work;
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, training, ongoing supervision and continuous professional development of the Mediation team;
• Ensure high quality work standards, and the efficient, effective and timely processing of appeals and complaint files;
• Identify appropriate mediation strategies to individual files based on experience and expertise;
• Interpret and apply relevant legislation, regulations, policies and procedures;
• Identify trends and escalate high-profile or controversial matters to the Director of Mediation;
• Contribute to project work, including institution relations initiatives;
• Identify opportunities to enhance workflows, templates, and internal tools, and contribute to the development and revision of operational policies, procedures, and standards.
• Lead and supervise a team of Mediators, including setting performance standards, conducting performance appraisals, and implement corrective actions when required
What you bring to the team
Knowledge and Skills:
• Strong organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Well developed interpersonal, leadership and oral communications skills.
• Advanced expertise in mediation, negotiation, and dispute resolution techniques and strategies, with the ability to apply knowledge to the circumstances of individual files.
• Expert understanding of the provisions of the Acts, and an up-to-date knowledge of the IPC's jurisprudence to provide advice and direction to Mediators.
• Strong understanding of administrative law principles and practices.
• Proven negotiation and mediation skills, and a strong resolution-oriented approach to conflict situations.
• Advanced research, analytical, information-seeking, and problem-solving skills, combined with effective use of technology to generate reports, support documentation needs, and maintain timely caseload management.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently in a fast-paced, case-driven environment with competing timelines and priorities.
Education and Experience:
• Post-secondary education in law, public administration, privacy, information management, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in privacy, access to information, dispute resolution, processing cases in a tribunal and/or a related field.
• Experience resolving access and privacy complaints through formal and/or informal approaches.
Asset Qualifications:
• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., ADRIO, ADRIC, CIPP)
• Law degree/legal training
• French language proficiency
What's in it for you?
• A modern organization with a flexible hybrid work model with in-office attendance at a minimum of 5-10 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.
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!
How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility
The IPC is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and promoting a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
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.
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.
Traditional schooling is only one of many paths to knowledge and experience. If you're interested and feel you're a good fit for the role, apply.
We also believe in the importance of providing services to Ontarians in both official languages and encourage interested bilingual candidates to apply to our opportunities.