The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is seeking a Deputy Legal Director to provide strategic leadership and expert guidance in the provision of human rights legal advice and litigation services. This pivotal role supports the Commission in advancing its mandate and promoting human rights across Ontario.
As a key member on the leadership team, the Deputy Legal Director plays an integral role in the effective management of the Legal Services and Inquiries Branch. The position requires exceptional judgement, strong analytical skills and a people-focused leadership approach.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is an independent statutory body that has a legislative mandate to promote, protect and advance human rights in Ontario based on 17 prohibited grounds of discrimination, and five social areas covered by the Human Rights Code.
Under the OHRC's unique mandate, you may be required to take part in inquiries, make an application (a complaint) directly to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) or intervene in applications before the HRTO or the courts.
About the job
Reporting to the Executive Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, duties will include:
•Leading a team of highly skilled staff and lawyers to deliver high quality, legal advice and representation on human rights matters.
•Bringing your experience in constitutional and administrative law to lead litigation before the courts and tribunals.
•Promoting a people-focused work environment that values collaboration diversity, inclusion and respect.
•Providing sound, risk-based and solutions-oriented legal advice on a wide variety of complex legal matters relating to the OHRC's mandate.
•Supervising and mentoring counsel, including working collaboratively on high profile or complex issues.
•Overseeing client service standards and protocols.
•Managing human resources, including recruitment, succession planning workload allocation and performance management.
•Overseeing the preparation of reports, policy papers and briefing materials for senior leadership.
•Ensuring timely and accurate identification and management of critical issues through effective communications and briefings.
•Playing a strong leadership role in supporting learning and development initiatives, including continuing legal education for counsel.
•Participating in financial forecasting, litigation risk management, resource planning and monitoring.
•Serve as an integral member of the senior management team.
What you bring to the team
Mandatory requirements
- Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario
Leadership
•You actively promote a people-centered workplace that values collegiality and collaboration and a culture of fairness that values people and their contributions.
•You have strong leadership, management and interpersonal skills to support and motivate experienced legal staff with varied expertise, bringing experience in building strong and agile teams
•You exercise a high level of political acuity, sound professional judgement and have strong skills in problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
•You have demonstrated integrity and commitment to diversity and inclusion and anti-racism, and to professionalism, civility and respectful communications.
Judgement
You are able to:
•Research, analyze, and recommend strategies to meet priorities/goals.
•Manage the implementation of projects and monitor results in support of OHRC initiatives and the strategic plan.
•Provide legal advice to the Chief Commissioner concerning matters about the OHRC's mandate.
Knowledge and Skills
•Demonstrated expertise in human rights law, constitutional and administrative law, civil procedure, evidence and litigation/advocacy.
•Demonstrated knowledge of the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
•Demonstrated experience overseeing and delivering exceptional legal service involving complex, sensitive issues.
•Demonstrated experience leading issues management and resolution of high profile, complicated and contentious issues.
•Demonstrated experience in providing high-quality written and oral strategic legal advice.
•Proven analytical, negotiating, communications and presentation skills to quickly assess situations and develop creative and well-brokered solutions.
•Proven team building, consultation and client service skills.
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
Additional information
Address:
- 1 English Temporary, duration up to 12 months, 180 Dundas St W, Toronto, Toronto Region, Criminal Record Check
Compensation Group: Management Compensation Plan
Category: Management and General
Posted on: Friday, August 28, 2026
Note:
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.
How to apply:
- You must apply online.
- Your cover letter and resume combined should not exceed five (5) pages. For tips and tools on how to write a concise cover letter and resume, review the Writing a Cover Letter and Resume: Tips, Tools and Resources.
- Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad. Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements for this job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
- Read the job description to make sure you understand this job.
- OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.
- If you require a disability related accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please Contact Us to provide your contact information. Recruitment services team will contact you within 48 hours.
All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.
Remember:
The deadline to apply is Monday, September 21, 2026, 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.
We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.
The Ontario Public Service is an inclusive employer.
Accommodation is available under the Ontario's Human Rights Code .
Pre Screening Questions
Are you a member in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario?
