Job Description
The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario (Office) is recruiting two highly motivated researchers interested in supporting its mandate to promote accountability and value-for-money in the public sector. The Office conducts value-for-money (VFM) audits of virtually all aspects of the Ontario government’s operations, which assess how efficient, effective and economical government programs are, and reports findings to Ontario’s Legislative Assembly. The Office is also responsible for attest audits of the financial statements of the province and of a wide variety of Crown Agencies such as the LCBO, Ontario Securities Commission and Ontario Health.
What can I expect to do in this role?
You will:
- Work with fellow team members in the Research Unit to keep the Office apprised of current issues affecting Ontarians, legislative, program and policy changes, and other updates that may affect the work we do.
- Employ a variety of research methods (surveys, literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, qualitative and quantitative analysis of primary data) to support on-going value-for-money audits. This could include supporting audit reports on a range of topics, such as health, energy, transportation, economic development, infrastructure, social services, education, environment, etc.
- Summarize complex issues and results of research in clear and concise manner for audit teams and senior management, evaluating the significance of research and findings for audit consideration.
- Write research paper on a variety of topics for publication on the Office’s website and in our Annual Report.
- Support the annual and ongoing processes of identifying and prioritizing suitable audit candidates for consideration for future audits and identification of potential audit issues.
How do I qualify?
Mandatory:
- Master’s degree (such as MA, MPA, MPH, MBA, LLM or equivalent) or PhD in a related field such as public health, education, social sciences, public policy, public administration, political science or law.
- Minimum three to four years of demonstrated experience in research or policy analysis.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, including report writing.
- Proven organization and analytical skills.
- Self-starter with the ability to work individually and in a team environment.
Knowledge and Technical Skills:
- Applied advanced knowledge of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and principles, including surveys, questionnaires, sourcing data from the internet, libraries, and associations, sampling techniques and interviews.
- Strong working knowledge, demonstrated through research or policy experience, in the following areas is an asset: health, social services, infrastructure, economic development, education, finance. A general knowledge about a broader range of public policy areas is also beneficial.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the public sector research sources, as well as the ability to obtain a thorough understanding of the practices, regulations and funding process of all aspects of ministries and other public sector organizations.
Analytical, Judgment and Problem-Solving Skills:
Note: Prior to an offer of employment, the top applicant(s) will be required to undergo a screening by the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC).