Organization: Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario
Division: Strategic Initiatives and External Relations Division (SIERD)
City: Toronto
Job Term: Permanent, Full-time
Job Code: Director (XEXE2)
Salary: $156,789 to $197,518
Posting Status: Open
Job ID: 249391
As the principal communication advisor to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC), Assistant Commissioner, Strategic Initiatives and External Relations (SIERD), and senior leaders, the Communications Director provides executive leadership and direction for the IPC’s strategic communications, media relations, issues and reputation management, public education, digital communications, stakeholder communications and corporate engagement activities. Reporting to the Assistant Commissioner, SIERD, the Director provides expert strategic counsel on complex, sensitive, fast-moving and high-profile privacy and access-related matters positioning the IPC as a trusted, independent regulator and authoritative source of information and guidance. The Director leads a dynamic group of communication professionals delivering integrated, organization-wide communications strategies that increase awareness and understanding of access and privacy rights and obligations in Ontario
The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) is an administrative tribunal responsible for 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 (PHIPA) and the
Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA). We are seeking a strategic and collaborative Communications Director.
What can I expect to do in this role?
As a Communications Director, You Will
- Provide executive leadership for the IPC’s communications function, establishing organization-wide communications strategies, priorities, standards and approaches aligned with the IPC’s mandate, strategic plan and corporate priorities.
- Serve as the senior communications advisor to the Commissioner, Assistant Commissioners and senior management team, providing expert strategic counsel on complex, sensitive, high-profile and emerging matters.
- Lead the IPC’s corporate approach to issues and reputation management, including environmental scanning, identification and assessment of emerging issues, and communications responses during sensitive or rapidly evolving situations.
- Provide executive oversight of media relations and advise senior executives on media strategy, interview opportunities, messaging and responses to high-profile or sensitive inquiries.
- Provide strategic leadership for public education strategies, campaigns, resources and engagement initiatives that make complex access and privacy issues understandable and relevant to diverse audiences across Ontario.
- Provide strategic direction for digital communications channels, corporate content, editorial, brand and accessibility standards, and major publications and communications products.
- Develop strategies to position the IPC as a trusted and authoritative voice on access to information and privacy issues and identify opportunities for executive thought leadership.
- Provide strategic communications leadership for initiatives involving government institutions, health information custodians, municipalities, law enforcement, education organizations, child and family services organizations and other regulated sectors.
- Provide strategic direction for internal and corporate communications supporting organizational priorities, employee engagement and change initiatives.
- Lead the Communications department, including people leadership, professional development, succession planning, resource allocation, budgeting, procurement, contracts, service standards and quality controls.
How do I qualify?
Education And Experience
You will qualify for this position by demonstrating:
- Extensive senior-level experience providing strategic communications leadership, executive counsel and direction for complex, high-profile organizational initiatives.
- Extensive experience across strategic communications, public relations, issues and reputation management, media relations, public education, stakeholder engagement, digital communications and corporate communications.
- Experience leading a multidisciplinary communications function, including people, financial, operational, and project management.
Knowledge Requirements
- Expert knowledge of strategic communications, public relations, issues and reputation management, media relations, public education, stakeholder engagement, digital communications and corporate communications.
- Extensive knowledge of communications strategy, research, audience analysis, evaluation and contemporary communications practices.
- Strong understanding of the role and responsibilities of an independent regulatory and oversight organization and the importance of institutional independence, credibility, and public trust.
- Understanding of Ontario’s access and privacy environment and the legislative, policy, regulatory and public-sector context in which the IPC operates.
- Highly developed political acuity and judgment to assess sensitive or high-profile issues while maintaining the IPC’s independence and non-partisan role.
Skills And Abilities
- Executive-level advisory skills and the ability to provide credible and persuasive advice in situations involving competing priorities, significant risk or limited time for decision-making.
- Exceptional written and verbal communications skills, including the ability to translate complex legal, regulatory, policy and technical information into clear and accessible communications.
- Strong leadership and management skills to build organizational communications capacity and lead highly skilled communications professionals.
- Strong relationship management, consultation, negotiation and influencing skills with senior executives, regulators, public institutions, stakeholders, media and external partners.
- Financial, operational and project management skills to establish priorities and manage staff, budgets, contracts, and multiple high-profile initiatives.
- Sound judgment and the ability to balance transparency and public interest with legal, operational, confidentiality and institutional considerations.
Asset Qualifications
Having the ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in French is an asset.
What’s in it for you?
- A modern organization with a flexible hybrid work model with in-office attendance at a minimum of 8 days per month.
- Commitment to continuous learning and developmental opportunities for all its employees.
- Work with an innovative and high performing organization committed to creating a positive organizational culture and highly dedicated to its mission of advancing the privacy and access rights of Ontarians.
- A pension plan program.
- Comprehensive Health Plan, Life and Disability Insurance.
- Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits.
Additional Information
Address: 2 Bloor St E, Toronto, Toronto Region
Compensation Group: Excluded
Commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism: We are committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and promoting a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.
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.
We invite all interested individuals to apply and 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.
We also believe in the importance of providing services to Ontarians in both official languages and encourage interested bilingual candidates to apply particularly for public facing positions.
Notes
OPS & IPC Reciprocal Staffing Agreement: The IPC has a Reciprocal Staffing Agreement with the Ontario Public Service (OPS) that enables employees to accept positions in either organization while retaining their access to benefits, pension contributions, and years of service.
Qualified List Information: A list of qualified candidates will be established for the Communications Director position in the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) and will be in effect for twelve (12) months from the date the list is created. Qualified candidates on the list may be considered when filling future permanent and/or temporary vacancies in this position.
This posting is for an organization that is separate from the Ontario Public Service. The information and tips on the Ontario Public Service Careers website may not apply to this posting. Please use the contact information below to contact the IPC directly if you have any questions about this position.
