Assistant Commissioner, Tribunal and Dispute Resolution - Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

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.

The Role

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.

The Ideal Candidate

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.
• As an asset, has the ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in French.

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.

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 by January 3, 2025