Job Description
The Manitoba Ombudsman recognizes the importance of building an exemplary public service reflective of the citizens it serves, where diverse abilities, backgrounds, cultures, identities, languages and perspectives drives a high standard of service and innovation. The Manitoba Ombudsman supports equitable employment practices and promotes representation of designated groups (women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities).
Employment Equity is a factor in selection for this competition. Consideration will be given to Indigenous people, visible minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Conditions of Employment:
- Must be legally entitled to work in Canada
- Ability to work a flexible work schedule and ability to travel within Manitoba
- Satisfactory Criminal Record Check, Child Abuse and Adult Abuse Registry Checks
Introduction:
The Manitoba Ombudsman is seeking professional, energetic, responsive and forward-thinking individuals to join our team who are passionate about fairness, access to justice, accountability, and transparency, and who are dedicated to helping Manitobans.
The Manitoba Ombudsman is an independent Officer of the Legislative Assembly with oversight responsibilities under The Ombudsman Act, The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA), and The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act (PIDA). The Ombudsman resolves or investigates complaints about administrative decisions of provincial departments, agencies, boards, and commissions, municipalities, trustees and other public bodies about matters of fairness, access to information and protection of privacy. The Ombudsman has broad authority to investigate on her own initiative; to identify systemic issues of broad public importance for investigation; to make recommendations for administrative improvements in government; to comment on privacy implications of proposed programs/services; to comment on the administration of the legislation and the policies and procedures to handle wrong-doing disclosures; to conduct audits and monitor compliance with FIPPA/PHIA; and to report publicly on matters in the public interest. The Ombudsman provides information and educational services about the Acts and the role of the office to public bodies, and the Legislative Assembly.
Under the authority of the Ombudsman, the Manager, Ombudsman Division, leads a team of investigators who investigate complaints under The Ombudsman Act, The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, and the Victim’s Bill of Rights and review administrative acts, decisions, omissions or recommendations as well as monitor implementations of inquest recommendations under The Fatality Inquiries Act.
Qualifications:
Essential Criteria:
- Relevant university degree (law, public administration, humanities, social sciences) and/or combination of education and experience in legislative and policy interpretation, investigation, research and analysis, case management and negotiation.
- Exceptional investigative, analytical, and research skills, including the ability to exercise independent judgment and maintain confidentiality.
- Extensive experience working in, or closely with, provincial and/or municipal governments with demonstrated understanding of government administrative organization and structures.
- Demonstrated leadership skills including experience coaching, mentoring, and motivating professional level staff.
- Minimum 3 years’ management experience including recruitment, workload management, assigning objectives, monitoring progress, and performance management.
- Solid understanding of the Principles of Natural Justice and procedural fairness and the ability to demonstrate the applicability of the principles to decisions and programs of public bodies or trustees.
- Advanced experience interpreting and applying legislation.
- Ability to represent the office with integrity, demonstrate and promote ethical behaviour, sound judgment, fairness, accountability, and transparency.
- Strong written communication skills. Experience effectively communicating and preparing communications/briefing material and comprehensive reports and proposing recommendations on matters which are sensitive and complex in nature.
- Strong interpersonal skills with ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with public bodies, trustees and the public.
- Strong analytical skills including experience identifying systemic issues.
- Advanced experience in leading program development and implementation.
- Ability to communicate effectively on matters which are sensitive and complex in nature with parties of differing backgrounds and interests.
- Strong organizational skills including the ability to work independently while managing a workload with competing priorities, expectations and deadlines.
Desired criteria:
- Solid understanding of the role and function of the Office of the Ombudsman.
- Solid understanding of The Ombudsman Act, The Public Interest Disclosure (Whistleblower Protection) Act, and the Victim’s Bill of Rights
- Experience managing within a unionized environment.
- French written and oral communication skills
Duties:
Reporting to the Deputy Ombudsman, the Manager, Ombudsman Investigations, is responsible for directing and managing the work of a team of investigators to ensure impartial, thorough, and timely investigations with well-reasoned written decisions and recommendations in accordance with The Ombudsman Act. The Ombudsman delegates to the Manager the powers of the Ombudsman under The Ombudsman Act, to investigate complaints and review administrative acts, decisions, omissions or recommendations as well as monitoring implementation of inquest recommendations made under The Fatality Inquiries Act. This includes providing leadership and direction to a division of professional staff who conduct investigations, reviews and audits under the legislation, to ensure high quality investigative decisions and recommendations. Further to this, the Manager provides analysis, commentary and support to the Ombudsman with respect to policies and legislation as they relate to the administration of government programs to ensure compliance with the principles of fairness.