ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.
Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

The Legal Services Branch of the Treasury Board Secretariat has an immediate opening for one intermediate or senior solicitor counsel to join the Employment Law and Governance Group.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

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.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

What can I expect to do in this role?

You will:

• Provide strategic legal advice to all government ministries and various Crown agencies on employment law, human resources, and labour relations issues
• Draft employment contracts
• Draft and review orders in council and minister's appointments
• Support client policy development
• Support and advise on HR policies and directives including compensation
• Prepare legislative amendments and regulatory instruments
• Provide advice on public sector statutes including the Broader Public Sector Executive Compensation Act, 2014, Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006, Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019, and Supporting Retention in Public Services Act, 2022
• Provide written and oral legal opinions in complex areas of law often on an urgent basis with short turnaround times.
• Provide litigation support, including liaising with Crown Law Office Civil and the Constitutional Law Branch in high profile litigation
• Work closely with counsel within the branch and across government on matters relating to appointments

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated experience in employment and labour law
• Analytical skills to assess legal implications of government policy and practices
• Knowledge of and experience in the legislative process, including work on drafting legislation and regulations
• Demonstrated experience leading legal support and briefing senior clients on complex files and issues.
• Proven ability to work independently and provide exceptional client service
• Proven oral and written communications skills as well as the flexibility and the ability to provide innovative solutions to complex problems
• Proven ability to anticipate and respond to the client ministry's needs
• Professional judgment, political acuity, analytical, problem solving, negotiation, conflict resolution and

communication skills

• Proven ability to produce high-quality work under tight deadlines with changing and competing demands
• An enthusiasm to actively promote branch collegiality and a culture that values everyone's contributions and
• The ability to promote a collaborative, diverse, inclusive and respectful workplace.

Additional Information:

Note:

• In accordance with the Ontario Public Service (OPS), Employment Screening Checks Policy (ESCP), the top candidate(s) may be required to undergo a security screening check. Refer to the above to determine the screening checks that are required for this position.
  
  Required security screening checks along with your written consent, will be sent to the Transition and Security Office (TSO), Corporate Talent Programs Branch, Talent and Leadership Division to evaluate the results. If applicable, the TSO, with your written consent, will request and obtain any additional employment screening checks that were not obtained directly by you.
  
  A record under the Criminal Code and/or other federal offence record(s) does not automatically mean you will be ineligible for the position. The employment screening check(s) will only be reviewed and evaluated by the TSO for the purpose of making a security clearance decision. The details of an individual's employment screening check(s) will be considered in specific relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position being filled. Employment screening check records will be maintained by the TSO and kept strictly confidential.
• For issues with submitting applications, or questions, please contact CSMD.HR.LegalCompeti@ontario.ca