Privacy Specialist

Halifax Regional Municipality; Halifax; Hybrid; CAD 72,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organization in Halifax is seeking a Privacy Specialist to oversee the Privacy Impact Assessment process, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. The ideal candidate will have excellent communication skills and advanced knowledge of privacy principles. This permanent, full-time role offers a competitive salary range based on relevant experience and qualifications, with possibilities for flexible and hybrid working hours.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in research and analysis.
• Ability to derive compliance from legislation.
• Demonstrated planning and organizational abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs).
• Conduct privacy analysis and audits for compliance.
• Monitor privacy-related legislation and trends.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Presentation and persuasion skills

Advanced knowledge of privacy principles

Excellent interpersonal and mediation skills

Time management skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant field

Privacy professional designation (or willingness to pursue)

Job description

10421BR

Privacy Specialist

Job Posting

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is inviting applications for the permanent, full time position of Privacy Specialist in theAccess, Privacy, and Corporate Information Management division.

Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) is committed to reflecting the community it serves and recognizing Diversity and Inclusion as one of the Municipality’s core values. We have an Employment Equity Policy and we welcome applications from African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Women in occupations or positions where they are underrepresented in the workforce, Indigenous / Aboriginal People, Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ Persons. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify on their electronic application.

Reporting to the Chief Privacy Officer & Manager of Access, Privacy and Corporate Information Management, and as a key player on the Access & Privacy team, the Privacy Specialist will provide specialized and operational support to the Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) process. The Privacy Specialist will work with municipal employees across all business units in the development of PIA’s as directed by the Privacy Program Lead and the Manager, Access, Privacy & Corporate Information Management and Chief Privacy Officer. The Privacy Specialist will also provide advice, research and analysis on privacy issues facing the municipality. The Privacy Specialist will play a pivotal role in the maturity of the municipality’s current privacy program.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Leads the collaborative and consultative development process associated with conducting PIA’s.
• Under the direction of the Privacy Program Lead, works with the PIA team which will consist of municipal staff from several business units and often external consultants.
• Authors, reviews and recommends PIA’s for approval to the Manager, Access, Privacy & Corporate Information Management and Chief Privacy Officer, and the applicable Business Unit Executive Director.
• Conduct PIA’s on strategic initiatives by assessing compliance with Part XX of the Municipal Government Act (MGA), the Personal Information International Disclosure Protection Act (PIIDPA), the municipality’s Privacy Policy, the broader general privacy principles of the Canadian Standards Association of Fair Information Practices and other applicable legislations.
• Ensures that PIA’s are fully completed, signed and in coordination with the Privacy Program Lead and the Manager, Access, Privacy & Corporate Information Management and Chief Privacy Officer to ensures that the implementation of risk mitigations is complete.
• Conducts privacy analysis and audits to provide evidence of compliance with privacy principles and to identify privacy risks.
• In conjunction with the Privacy Program Lead, develops privacy risk mitigation strategies and plans for initiatives outside of the formal PIA process.
• Under the direction of the Privacy Program Lead, conducts internal privacy audits to ensure compliance with legislation.
• Identifies and assesses privacy risks and provides advisory and consultative support to business units.
• Proactively monitors the legislative, regulatory and best practice development and emerging trends associated with privacy that may impact the municipality.
• Ensures that privacy is included by design in any corporate or business unit initiative by working with other critical stakeholders or project planning teams.
• Works with other members of the Access & Privacy Team to develop and refine existing privacy practices and processes.
• May perform other related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS :

Education and Experience :

A Bachelor’s Degree in Information Management, Records Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, IT or related discipline.

4 years of experience in conducting research, analysis and / or utilizing risk assessment tools, methodologies, policies and procedures.

Privacy professional designation such as CIPP / C or CIPP / IT or CIPP / M or willingness to work towards designation.

Technical / Job Specific Knowledge and Abilities :

Excellent communication skills with various stakeholders : technical audiences, corporate audiences and those who are not privacy experts.

Presentation and persuasion skills to provide / convey / advocate to senior staff.

Advanced knowledge of privacy principles and current privacy trends.

Excellent interpersonal and mediation skills, with an ability to achieve consensus as well as communicate to challenge the status quo.

Work independently and as a member of a team and appreciate and respect the need for differing views and opinions.

Consultation and negotiating skills used to gain support for privacy initiatives.

Excellent time management skills.

Demonstrated planning and organizational skills.

Well developed research and analytical skills.

Ability to acquire and apply relevant legislation, regulations and directives to ensure proposed initiatives conform to legislation.

An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. Applicants relying on education and experience equivalencies must clearly demonstrate such equivalencies in their application.

Security Clearance Requirements : Applicants may be required to complete an employment security screening check.

Please note - Testing may be conducted as a component of the selection process to assess technical and job specific knowledge. Candidates, who are selected for testing, may be tested in a group setting, scheduled at the employer’s discretion.

COMPETENCIES : Analytical Thinking; Communication; Customer Service; Managing Change; Organization & Planning; Organizational Awareness; Risk Management; Teamwork and Cooperation; Value and Ethics; Valuing Diversity

WORK STATUS : Permanent, Full-Time

HOURS OF WORK : Monday-Friday, 8 : 30am-4 : 30pm, 35 hours per week.Flex options to work outside of these hours and hybrid may be available.

SALARY : Non-Union Level 6, $$72,370 - $93,650. Salary will be determined based on relevant experience and qualifications related to the specified pay band and job. Placement above the midpoint of the pay band is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the minimum qualifications, such as those with exceptional experience, specialized skills, or demonstrated achievements relevant to the role. This ensures fair and consistent compensation practices across the organization.

WORK LOCATION : 7th Floor, Duke Tower, 5251 Duke St., Halifax

CLOSING DATE : Applications will be received up to 11 : 59 pm on Tuesday, August 26, 2025.