Senior Policy and Privacy Analyst

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs; Toronto; On-site; CAD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Environment, Conservation and Parks | Environnement, Protection de la nature et Parcs in Toronto seeks a seasoned FOI and privacy professional to advance information access and privacy protections within Ontario’s justice system. You will lead guidance on FIPPA, manage complex requests, and oversee appeals with Legal Services and IPC.

You will also plan training, deliver awareness initiatives, and prepare executive briefings for senior management, supporting informed decision-making in a

Qualifications

• Knowledge of FIPPA and related legislation to advise diverse client groups.
• Experience reviewing records and processing FOI requests in compliance with laws and directives.
• Ability to manage sensitive information and apply exemptions appropriately.
• Strong consultation and written communication skills.
• You have leadership in training and policy or process change facilitation.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, training, and guidance on FIPPA interpretation.
• Process and manage FOI requests and exemptions.
• Recommend searches and disclosure obligations under FIPPA.
• Research IPC orders and court precedents to inform disclosure decisions.
• Lead appeals for complex, sensitive, contentious cases; coordinate with IPC and Legal Services.
• Plan and deliver training and awareness initiatives across the organization.
• Prepare briefings, presentations, and executive materials for senior management.

Skills

FIPPA knowledge

Information governance

Policy interpretation

Training delivery

Stakeholder engagement

Research legal precedents

IPC orders familiarity

Tools

Case management system

Redaction software

Job description

City:

Toronto

Position(s) language:

Job term:

1 Temporary - 12 months with possibility of extension

Champion transparency. Protect privacy. Shape public trust.

Join the Ministry of the Attorney General's, Justice Sector Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Office, where you'll play a key role in advancing access to information and privacy protection across Ontario's justice system. In this impactful position, you'll provide expert guidance, training, and strategic advice on the interpretation and application of freedom of information and privacy legislation, helping ensure compliance while supporting informed decision-making. If you're passionate about accountability, public service, and navigating complex legislative frameworks, we'd love to hear from you.

About the job

In this role, you will:

• Provide leadership, technical guidance, and training on the application and interpretation of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), ensuring compliance with legislation, policies, procedures, precedents, and regulatory deadlines.
• Process and manage complex and sensitive freedom of information requests, providing advice on the appropriate application of exemptions and disclosure requirements.
• Make recommendations to program areas and decision-makers regarding records searches, information collection, and disclosure obligations under FIPPA.
• Research, monitor, and analyze case law, Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC) orders, and relevant precedents to assess the statutory appropriateness of disclosure decisions.
• Lead and administer the appeals process for complex, sensitive, and contentious cases, liaising with program areas, Legal Services, and the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), while ensuring the accurate and timely preparation of all supporting documentation.
• Plan and deliver training sessions and awareness initiatives that promote understanding of and compliance with FIPPA across the organization.
• Prepare and deliver briefings, presentations, and executive materials for senior management, and respond to inquiries regarding freedom of information and privacy matters.

What you bring to the team

Freedom of Information Expertise, Issues Management Skills and Change Management Skills:

• Knowledge of FIPPA and related legislation, regulations, principles, guidelines, procedures and decisions to provide advice to diverse client groups
• Knowledge of current and emerging issues and legislation related to FIPPA

You have experience:

• Reviewing records and processing FOI requests in accordance with privacy principles, legislation, regulations, guidelines, directives, policies and orders (i.e. FIPPA, Orders of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC))
• Managing issues and recommending solutions that ensure all statutory requirements are met and appropriate exemptions applied
• Recommending and implementing legislation, policy and process changes

Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

• You are able to communicate effectively with officials at all levels and the general public regarding sensitive and confidential issues
• You demonstrate written communication skills to prepare correspondence, reports and presentations
• You can establish effective working relationships and work in a team environment
• You have consultation skills to determine disclosure concerns and provide advice to clients

Analytical and Problem Solving Skills:

• You can evaluate complex and sensitive information and new technologies to anticipate risks and impacts
• You can anticipate, identify and resolve complex situations and issues and make recommendations on effective solutions
• You can demonstrate issues management skills and high political acuity to manage sensitive, complex and contentious issues
• You exercise judgement, tact, discretion, diplomacy and sensitivity when dealing with the media, general public and the Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC)
• You have experience researching and interpreting relevant IPC orders and court decisions

Leadership and Project Management Skills:

• You have experience coordinating a high volume caseload and managing various deadlines at different stages of the process
• You have group leadership skills to direct staff, chair FOI meetings and provide training
• You are results oriented with the flexibility to manage and mitigate delays

Computer Skills:

• You have computer proficiency to track and process requests using the case management and redaction system, prepare reports and presentations and conduct research

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 720 Bay St, Toronto, Toronto Region, Criminal Record and Judicial Matters Check
• Association of Management, Administrative and Professional Crown Employees of Ontario About security checks: A criminal or other federal offence record does not automatically disqualify you from the position. We consider each situation based on the position's responsibilities. If a check is needed and you've lived outside of Canada in the past 5 years for 6 or more months in a row, or if you are not a Canadian resident, you'll need to provide an out-of-country police clearance certificate from the country you lived in. Employment screening checks are only reviewed and evaluated by the Transition and Security Office, which also maintains them and keeps them strictly confidential.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.