OMBUDSMAN INVESTIGATOR (HOUSING)

City of Toronto•Toronto, ON

2d•CA$105,241 - CA$146,191•Onsite

About The Position

This is an exciting opportunity to join a dedicated team within Ombudsman Toronto and advance the City of Toronto’s commitment to establishing a right to adequate housing. If you are passionate about fairness, equity and overcoming systemic hurdles in the City’s treatment of people who are living in housing precarity, this may be the job for you. Ombudsman Toronto operates independently of City Council and the City administration. Staff of Ombudsman Toronto report directly or indirectly to the Ombudsman, an independent Officer of City Council. Reporting to the Deputy Ombudsman, Housing, the Ombudsman Investigator, Housing will conduct systemic investigations, systems reviews, monitor progress, and analyze structural hurdles in the City of Toronto’s planning and delivery of housing services and programs.

Requirements

Post-secondary education in a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Considerable experience in the fields of Ombudsman work, human rights, and/or administrative law.
Considerable experience working on housing and homelessness issues.
Experience in community engagement, including relationship-building with community organizations and individuals experiencing housing precarity.
Experience in conducting administrative fairness investigations and systems reviews.
Experience in mediation and other forms of conflict resolution.
Exceptional communication skills (written & verbal) with demonstrated experience in investigative report writing and crafting recommendations.
Ability to consistently exercise and display sound judgment, integrity, and discretion, always remaining independent and impartial.
Strong analytical skills.
Excellent ability to problem-solve and make timely and well-informed decisions.
Ability to react quickly to changing situations and demands, manage competing priorities, meet tight timelines, and carry a substantial caseload.
Ability to work well independently and as a member of a team.
Familiarity with the administrative law, relevant Ombudsman and City of Toronto legislation and case law.

Responsibilities

Identifies systemic investigations into the City’s housing programs, ensuring the City is following its commitment to implement housing as a human right.
Identifies systems reviews in areas of service delivery across the housing spectrum.
Serves as a resource for City officials developing housing policies or programs.
Consults with relevant stakeholders to develop strategies for complaint resolution.
Drafts enquiry and investigation plans, gathers evidence, interviews, and analyzes evidence.
Makes findings of facts based on the evidence and drafts investigation reports.
Recommends policy development, changes, and amendments that uphold principles of human rights and administrative fairness.
Uses shuttle diplomacy/negotiation skills to facilitate communication among parties in conflict.
Ensures that Ombudsman Toronto's mandate and standards are followed and that the principles of natural justice, fairness, human rights and equitable service delivery are at the core of all investigations and reviews.
Maintains effective communications with the public service to ensure that complaints resolution management is consistent, that officials are kept informed and preventative strategies are encouraged.
Keeps appropriate records including up to date information on the case management system.
Accountable for the quality, timeliness, and outcomes of investigations and reviews.
Conducts engagement, education and outreach to relevant stakeholders.
Models and contributes to an environment which supports and values equity, inclusion, and organizational change.
Fosters and maintains cooperative working relationships with public servants and broader community stakeholders including colleagues and other organizations.