Are you a strategic legal thinker passionate about public service? The Office of the Auditor General (OAGO) is seeking a Director, Legal and Research to provide expert, solutions-oriented research and legal advice that upholds the integrity of the office's mandate. In this high-impact role, you will ensure that the Auditor General's mandate is executed with legal precision, independence, and transparency.
As the Director, Legal and Research, you will serve as a trusted advisor to the Auditor General and the senior leadership team. You will navigate the intersection of law, policy, and public administration, ensuring that every audit report is legally sound and every corporate contract is robust.
As the Director, Legal and Research, you will:
- Provide legal interpretations of the Auditor General Act, Environmental Bill of Rights, 1993, Government Advertising Act, 2004 and other relevant legislation, advising teams on their rights to access sensitive information
- Review draft audit reports to identify, assess, and advise on legal issues, risk/risk exposure, liabilities, and areas requiring mitigation or clarification.
- Lead the negotiation and drafting of professional services contracts, memorandums of understanding and non-disclosure agreements.
- Oversee responses to freedom of information (FOI) requests and provide advice on HR-related legal matters and engagement with stakeholders.
- Oversee and manage the OAGO's Research Unit in: ensuring the delivery of high-quality research to support performance audits and reviews; monitoring and reporting on legislative updates; collecting and reviewing key government documents; and maintaining a digital library of research documents.
- Act as the Office's primary liaison with the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, including with respect to Committee briefings, hearings, backgrounders, draft reports, and correspondence.
- Lead the Office's performance audit-selection process, including overseeing the Research Unit in the monitoring of emerging issues/risks, trends, and legislative, program and policy changes.
- Provide support and advice in responding and resolving requests and inquiries from MPPs, the media, stakeholders and the public.
- Manage external counsel on specialized files and navigate civil disputes or administrative complaints with a focus on risk mitigation.
- Provide internal training on understanding and researching legislation, regulations and other legal, policy and government information and documents.
- Review draft legislation for potential impacts to the OAGO or its auditees.
- Proactively identify emerging legal risks in the public sector that could impact the OAGO's reputation or the viability of future audit topics.
- LL.B. or J.D. from a recognized law school.
- Active member in good standing with the provincial Law Society/Bar Association.
- Significant, progressive experience in public, administrative, and corporate/commercial law. Experience within a government ministry or legislative office is highly preferred.
- Exceptional ability to translate complex legal jargon into clear, actionable advice for non-legal staff.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills to manage a team of professionals and foster a co-operative team environment and staff development.
- Deep understanding of the legislative auditor's mandate.
- Superior judgment, ethics, and integrity.
- Ability to manage high-profile, time-sensitive issues with impartiality.
- Having the ability to communicate (orally and in writing) in French is an asset.
- A modern organization with a flexible work model.
- Work with an innovative and high-performing organization, committed to creating a positive organizational culture.
- A defined benefit pension plan, Comprehensive Health Plan, and Life and Disability Insurance.
- Healthcare spending account.
- Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits.
If you want to work in an environment that is positive, challenging, and safe, where your contributions are valued, please go to the Careers portal on the OAGO website to submit a cover letter and resume (as one document) by
July 31, 2026.
Commitment to diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and anti-racism:
We are committed to building a workforce that reflects Ontario's varied communities and promoting 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, racialized individuals, including Indigenous and Black applicants, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
We offer accommodation in all aspects of employment, including the recruitment process, consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. If you require a disability-related accommodation to participate in the recruitment process, please contact the recruitment team at
[email protected] who will respond to you within 72 hours.
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:
Police Record Check
- Prior to an offer of employment, the top applicant(s) will be required to undergo a Criminal Records and Judicial Matters Check (CRJMC) through a local police service.
Qualified List Information
- A list of qualified candidates will be established for the Director, Legal and Research position and will be in effect for twelve (12) months from the date the list is created. Qualified candidates may be considered when filling future permanent and/or temporary vacancies in this position.
