AMENDMENTS: additional permanent/temporary positions added, revised information under 'Qualifications' and 'What's In It For You' sections, closing date extended to March 13, 2024. If you wish to apply to the permanent position as well as the temporary, please re-apply . Only your most recent application will be retained.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 (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 and reported breaches 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.
TDRD's Early Resolution Department is comprised of Early Resolution Analysts who are dedicated to upholding the access and privacy rights of the people of Ontario. The IPC has a robust Early Resolution stage, where approximately 60% of all types of cases are either fully resolved or dismissed.
About the job
You will process access and privacy complaints and investigate privacy breaches (including cybersecurity incidents) reported to the IPC by government institutions, heath information custodians and the child welfare sector, by:
- Communicating the workings of relevant acts (Ontario's access and privacy laws), to respondents and complainants, outlining the objectives and procedures of the Early Resolution phase.
- Investigating the circumstances and gathering facts surrounding access and privacy complaints and self-reported breaches.
- Utilizing early resolution strategies, such as alternative dispute resolution methods and fact-finding techniques, to seek resolutions for access and privacy complaints.
- Interpreting a broad range of legislation to analyze and determine their applicability to access and privacy rights under the Acts.
- Conducting research, analyzing past precedents, and where possible, providing parties with advisory opinions on the likely outcome of the access or privacy complaint.
- Acting as a delegated decision maker under the Acts by:
- Dismissing cases that should not proceed further through the Tribunal processes,
- Soliciting written representations from the parties, conducting research, analyzing past precedents, and issuing final written decisions with reasons including certain types of orders.
- on occasion, provide and organize peer training, knowledge transfer, and may be asked to act as a mentor to new analysts.
What you bring to the team
Knowledge:
- Post-secondary education in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Experience processing a caseload in a public sector administrative tribunal and/or health sector regulatory body, and/or similar organization.
- Understanding of administrative law concepts.
- Understanding of the provisions and the operation of FIPPA, MFIPPA, PHIPA, and CYFSA.
Interpersonal and Relationship Management Skills:
- The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of citizens including those individuals who exhibit adverse and/or demanding behavior.
- Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, management and with both internal and external clients.
- Ability to work both independently as well as act as an effective team member.
Analytical, Research and Project Management Experience:
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills, able to manage a large caseload.
- Well-developed analytical/problem solving skills.
- Ability to plan and conduct extensive research and prepare written reports, evaluations and recommendations.
Communication and Presentation Skills:
- Excellent oral communication skills to respond to issues and provide recommendations.
- Strong written communication skills to prepare reports and promote initiatives to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience using standard computer software applications (e.g., word processing, spreadsheet, Microsoft 365) to research and prepare materials.
Preferred Asset Qualifications:
While not a requirement for this role, it will be considered an asset if a candidate has one or more of the following:
• Law degree
• Experience writing orders/decisions in an administrative tribunal setting.
• Plain language writing proficiency
• Ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in French.
• Relevant industry certifications (e.g., CIPP, CIPT, CISSP)
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.
• Defined benefit pension plan (Mandatory for Permanent & Optional for Temporary roles)
• Comprehensive Health Plan, and Life and Disability Insurance (Permanent role)
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefit (Permanent role)
Commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism:
We are 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.
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.
We also believe in the importance of providing services to Ontarians in both official languages and encourage interested bilingual candidates to apply particularly for public facing positions.Notes:
- OPS & IPC Reciprocal Staffing Agreement:
- OPS & IPC Reciprocal Staffing Agreement: The IPC has a Reciprocal Staffing Agreement with the Ontario Public Service (OPS) that enables IPC employees to apply to positions with the OPS.
- Qualified List Information:
- A list of qualified candidates will be established for the Early Resolution Analyst position in the IPC and will be in effect for twelve (12) months from the date the list is created. Qualified candidates on the list may be considered when filling future permanent and/or temporary vacancies in this or similar positions.