The primary role of the Senior Consultant, Human Rights is to advance excellent human rights practices at the City of Toronto. In this highly independent role you will resolve complex employee and resident harassment and/or discrimination complaints and develop effective policy, programs, education and communications for the organization, resulting in positive systemic change.

In this permanent full-time role you will perform the following Major Responsibilities:

• Provide consultation, interpretation and direction on the City’s Human Rights and Anti-Harassment/Discrimination Policy, the Ontario Human Rights Code, harassment provisions in the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, other related policies and legislation, etc. (e.g., ESA, WSI, collective agreements, etc.) to all levels of City staff, elected officials and service recipients
• Provide confidential, impartial expert advice, coaching, and various conflict resolution approaches to parties in dispute
• Undertake complex and/or systemic employee and/or resident harassment/discrimination investigations, consistent with City policy, collective agreements and legislated obligations; interview parties, gather evidence, conduct research, analyse and prepare investigation reports determining findings; make recommendations to resolve and remedy complaints. Conduct trauma-informed investigations.
• Where required, testify before the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and arbitrations
• Assess equity impacts of complaint outcomes, developing appropriate resources to address gaps, including building equity and human rights understanding and capacity within City.
• Support management in addressing human rights issues including accommodation requests and complaints
• Actively promote a positive human rights culture undertaking human rights, equity and diversity research and analysis, identifying trends, and/or systemic barriers, and recommending/implementing effective solutions to advance human rights
• Assess and report on emerging human rights case law and legislative changes
• Develop and implement effective corporate human rights programs ensuring that access, equity and diversity are embedded into policy, procedures, education, and communications
• Review, advise on and ensure alignment of human rights programs, policies, procedures, education with the City’s equity and inclusion principles and compliance with the City’s legislative obligations
• Mentor and guide Consultant level staff on human rights issues and projects; coordinate the work of consultant staff to ensure that objectives are met
• Initiate, build and maintain relationships with internal partners in order to develop, facilitate and promote human rights, access, equity and diversity policies and programs
• Maintain detailed reports of all investigations, inquiries, statistics and confidential records

Key Qualifications:

1. Extensive human rights experience in a major unionized public or private sector organization.
2. Post-secondary education in a professional discipline pertinent to the job function, and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A Law degree (LLB or JD) would be considered an asset.
3. Extensive experience conducting complex investigations and major human rights interventions (including drafting investigation plans, gathering evidence, interviewing parties, addressing individual and systemic issues, preparing high quality, detailed investigation reports, determining findings, applying relevant legislation and case law and making appropriate recommendations to resolve the complaint)
4. Extensive experience applying relevant provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, Occupational Health and Safety Act, Employment Standards Act, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, contractual obligations including administration of collective agreements, current human rights case law.
5. Considerable experience leading, developing, implementing and evaluating corporate human rights and equity related programs, policies and projects to advance human rights strategic directions and organizational change.
6. Considerable experience facilitating complaint resolution through alternative dispute resolution such as negotiations, mediations and producing sound Minutes of Settlement.
7. Highly developed communication, presentation and human relations skills with the ability to communicate persuasively and effectively at all organizational levels.
8. Strong analytical skills to assess the relevance of evidence and ability to exercise sound judgement.
9. Ability to identify needs, initiate, coordinate and manage the implementation of solutions in response to client issues.
10. Highly developed analytical and problem solving skills.
11. Ability to exercise discretion, sound judgement, remain impartial and work independently.
12. Political acumen to address sensitive issues and work with all levels of employees, management, senior leadership, and council.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation
The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.