Senior Counsel

Ontario Ombudsman; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 131,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

A government oversight body in Ontario is seeking a Senior Counsel to lead the legal team and support the Ombudsman's strategic direction. Responsibilities include mentoring staff, managing complex cases, and providing legal advice to enhance service delivery. Candidates must be licensed to practice law in Ontario with significant experience in public or administrative law. This position offers a hybrid work model in Toronto with attractive compensation.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in administrative or public law, with 2 years in a leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative investigations and strategic problem-solving.
• Experience in child protection law, education law, or municipal law would be considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Guide and support legal staff, providing constructive feedback.
• Manage complex cases and provide legal advice to operational units.
• Represent the Office in responding to complaints and litigation.

Skills

Leadership and decision-making capabilities

Exceptional written and oral communication skills

Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Proven ability to work independently

Education

Licence in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario

Job description

Join to apply for the Senior Counsel role at Ontario Ombudsman

Join to apply for the Senior Counsel role at Ontario Ombudsman

Division : Legal Unit

Work Location : 483 Bay St., Toronto (Hybrid work with 2 days in office and 3 days working from home - subject to change)

Job Type & Hours : Permanent Full-time - 36.25 hours per week

Hiring Range : $131,962 - $164,953

Posting Period : Position will be posted until filled

About The Role

The Ombudsman is an independent, non-partisan Officer of the Ontario Legislature, appointed by all parties, whose role is to ensure that the provincial government and public sector serve people in a way that is fair, accountable, transparent and respectful of their rights.

The Office of the Ontario Ombudsman takes complaints about the administrative decisions and actions of more than 1,000 public sector and government bodies in Ontario, as well as French language services and services provided in the child protection sector.

The Legal Unit actively works across all departments of the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office to help improve practices, policies, and legislation within the government and public sector. The work of the Office involves investigating serious and complex cases, preparing investigative reports, negotiating changes to practices, policies and legislation, and providing legal advice and support. Reporting to General Counsel, Senior Counsel is responsible for managing a team and supporting General Counsel to carry out the strategic direction of the legal team through mentoring and leadership. The role also includes responsibilities for leading project work and oversight of the legal student program.

Key Responsibilities Include But Are Not Limited To

Leadership and Mentoring : Guide and support legal staff by fostering professional growth and maintaining a high-performance culture. Set clear expectations and provide constructive feedback to enhance team effectiveness.

Strategic Alignment : Align team activities with the Ombudsman’s strategic plan, ensuring effective use of resources while addressing risks and achieving organizational objectives.

Program Management : Oversee the legal student program, creating robust learning opportunities and fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing to build organizational capacity.

Operational Support : Collaborate with operational teams to address organizational issues, conduct training sessions to enhance organizational knowledge, and ensure operational goals are met.

Case Management : Manage team members’ handling of complex cases and projects involving legal issues. Provide legal and strategic advice and guidance to operational units on complex, technical and sensitive matters. Apply sound judgment and uphold ethical standards, ensuring adherence to principles of fairness and independence. Directly manage a caseload of cases, issues and projects as required.

Complaint Resolution and Investigation : Provide support for the investigation and review of individual complaints and systemic issues, including the production of reports, formulation of recommendations and identification of best practices. Engage with public sector officials to resolve complaints effectively and improve service delivery through consensus-building and the adoption of best practices.

Legal Support and Representation : Provide legal advice and support to corporate units within the office, including in reviewing contracts and service agreements, resolving disputes and advising on matters of legislative compliance. Represent the Office in responding to complaints and litigation.

Qualifications

• A licence in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in administrative or public law, with a minimum 2 years of additional experience in a leadership capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in administrative investigations and strategic problem-solving.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Leadership and decision-making capabilities, with a focus on achieving results.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the capacity to support, coach and mentor others.
• Proven ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team.
• Deep understanding of the Ontario government and public sector and the role of the Ombudsman.
• Experience in child protection law, education law, municipal law, or French language rights would be considered an asset.
• An ability to work in French would be considered an asset.

Additional Requirements

Please include a cover letter with your résumé, describing your relevant experience / achievements and why you are interested in a role with Ombudsman Ontario.

Must be eligible to work in Canada and work from the office as per work requirements.

In addition to being dedicated to building a workforce that reflects diverse talent, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible experience. If you require an accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, please contact us.

We thank you for your submission, however, only applicants selected will be contacted.

Seniority level

Seniority level

Mid-Senior level

Employment type

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Job function

Legal

Industries

Government Administration

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