The Province of Ontario is seeking a values-driven executive leader with a people-first approach to champion a workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, anti-racist, and client service focused.
As the Assistant Deputy Attorney General (ADAG) of the Civil Law Division, the ADAG is responsible for the provision of legal services to the Government of Ontario through central and seconded legal branches across the Ontario Public Service. We are seeking a senior leader with strong interpersonal skills who can showcase creativity, collaboration, and transformative skills to lead a large, complex division in an evidence and outcome-based working environment to deliver a full and exciting mandate. Your intellectual curiosity and breadth of legal knowledge will serve you well as you provide expert legal and strategic advice to the senior leadership of government on emerging and complex legal issues to enable the government to deliver on its mandate.
The ADAG is responsible for championing the division and ministry vision, affirming, and modelling the OPS vision and values, setting and adhering to ethical standards, leading through change, promoting innovation and creativity, and cultivating learning and growth.
Your InfluenceThe ADAG oversees and manages legal services provided to government including ministries and agencies, boards, and commissions. Legal services include expert legal advice in all areas relevant to provincial government including legislative drafting, transactional work and legal representation before courts and tribunals as well as some provincial prosecutions. Specifically, the ADAG is responsible for the provision of superior, strategic, and timely legal advice to the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, and government. To support the division in meeting these goals, the ADAG promotes a collaborative, inclusive and respectful workplace and provides direction in legal planning; technology; communications; strategic, operational, financial and resource planning and service delivery evaluation
An effective leader in the Ontario Public Service (OPS) is responsible, innovative, and collaborative. A responsible leader is someone who demonstrates authenticity, accountability, and courage in how they interact with others. An individual who models ethical behavior, and who is honest and capable of making difficult choices. An innovative leader is someone who is creative and leads with common purpose, embraces positive disruption, and has a future mindset. An individual who inspires others, values continuous learning, and encourages development and integration. A collaborative leader focuses on helping others to grow and work together towards common goals, drives people-centered outcomes, and promotes an environment of inclusivity. A leader who consistently works to confront bias and systemic barriers while understanding the importance of creating a more inclusive, diverse, and accessible workplace.
OPS commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility and anti-racismThe OPS is an innovative, responsive, and accountable public service that works hard to be diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable. Diversifying leadership teams is a top OPS priority with the goal to achieve parity with the Ontario labour force by 2025 for the most underrepresented groups (Indigenous, racialized and persons with disabilities) in leadership positions.
You are invited to complete the
voluntary survey and contribute to building a more diverse, anti-racist, inclusive and accessible OPS.
The OPS invites all interested individuals to apply and encourages applications from Indigenous and racialized individuals and persons with disabilities.
Visit the
OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the
OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion.
The OPS offers employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's
Human Rights Code. Refer to the application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.
What can I expect to do in this role?
As the ADAG, Civil Law Division you will be responsible for leading a professional team that:
• Drives initiatives and ensures the highest quality of legal services across government.
• Provides strategic leadership and executive direction for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a strategic framework to facilitate divisional policies, programs, and services.
• Provides regular and strategic advice to the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General and other senior leaders in government including Cabinet on issues related to legal risks associated with operational, policy and strategic decisions facing government as well as civil and constitutional litigation of interest to the government.
• Manages the daily operations of the division, including issues and change management, and long-term operational planning for the division and the Ministry.
• Communicates the strategic direction of the Ministry and its alignment with broader government direction and modernization to staff, clients, and the private sector bar.
• Ensures best business practices within the division and in its relationships.
How do I qualify?
Executive Leadership
• You have demonstrated executive leadership in a large and complex organization of diverse professional/technical staff and have delivered on challenging initiatives that resulted and positive and meaningful change.
• You demonstrate a high level of political acuity, professional judgment, and interpersonal skills.
• You think critically and creatively to conceptualize new models of delivery and ensure ongoing effectiveness.
• You are an inclusive leader who affirms, promotes, and demonstrates a commitment to diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, mental health, and accessibility.
• You promote a culture of fairness that values people and their contributions.
Knowledge
• You have an advanced understanding of public and private law related to provincial government, including the parliamentary process, inquiries, legislative drafting, administrative law and civil and constitutional litigation.
• You have exceptional knowledge, background and experience that enables you to understand legal, business, and strategic analysis and related solutions.
• You can interpret concepts and principles to make informed decisions and can communicate these effectively to decision-makers and stakeholders.
• You provide results-driven direction and superior change management to optimize the delivery of legal services through human resource, financial and strategic planning, as well as driving innovative and technological solutions.
Relationship Management and Communication
• You have proven success in building and managing high performance teams.
• You can provide strategic advice and expertise to the Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General and other senior government leaders on emerging and contentious issues and implications.
• You have employed interest-based approaches to achieve successful outcomes with internal and external partners having competing interests.
• You have proven political acuity and ability to manage public and politically contentious issues.
Mandatory: Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
