Policy Advisor (Legal)
Office of Economic Growth & Innovation (Innovation Office)
Full-Time Contract (One year)
File #21-69
Who We Are
The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is the statutory body responsible for regulating Ontario’s capital markets in accordance with the mandate established in the provincial Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act. The Commission’s mandate is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair and efficient capital markets and confidence in capital markets, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. This mandate is performed through policy, operational, adjudication and enforcement work. The OSC also contributes to national and global securities regulation development.
We offer a diverse, fair and flexible work environment, and take pride in our challenging and rewarding work.
What We Do
The Office of Economic Growth and Innovation (Innovation Office) accelerates collaboration with businesses, investors, and other regulators to support innovation; facilitates capital formation and regulatory burden reduction; and promotes new technology solutions intended to reduce costs and accelerate financial services innovation.
The Opportunity
The Innovation Office is currently is looking for a full-time Policy Advisor to join the team on a one-year contract and play an important role achieving the Innovation Office’s core objective of accelerating innovation and economic growth in Ontario’s capital markets. Reporting to the Manager, Modernizing Regulation, the Policy Advisor will provide strategic program oversight and coordinate high priority (policy) projects to support change, modernize regulation and help reduce burden on our capital market participants
The Policy Advisor will analyze convergence between various key initiatives and monitor policy projects to enable decision making. The incumbent will be responsible for driving projects and explore relevant securities regulatory developments as they apply to the Innovation Office and OSC.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide program oversight and coordinate selected high priority projects and facilitate resolution by working across functions to support policy project execution. This includes highlighting trends, significant changes, and areas of improvement by collaborating with colleagues across the OSC.
- Analyze convergence between various policy projects including Capital Markets Modernization Taskforce recommendations and ongoing burden reduction initiatives.
- Monitor policy projects, working closely with other branches inquiring on status, clarifying changes, and highlighting dependencies to enable and assist in decision making.
- Provides research, prepares materials, and exercises judgement for the development and implementation of programs to modernize regulation and assist in identifying existing rules that require modification.
- Provide subject matter expertise on policy related items or lead the drafting of components of the document to ensure language is consistent with the policy objective.
- Monitor, research, and summarize relevant securities regulatory developments in Canada and internationally, emerging trends and practices to recommend improvements to OSC programs and operations.
- Respond to inquiries from stakeholders, pertaining to technical legal issues and larger policy matters.
- Prepare materials for, and present at meetings with the Executive, Commission, and other stakeholders (OSC advisory committees and industry associations).
Qualifications for Success
- Self-motivated individual who can work in an agile team environment with minimal direction, prioritize multiple projects, assist others, and perform at a high level under pressure.
- Process oriented with strong analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, analyze, and disseminate important information with attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze complex problems and develop creative recommendations.
- Excellent research and drafting skills.
- Excellent ability to communicate (verbal and written) ideas clearly and concisely, including when delivering presentations and responding to questions.
- Ability to collaborate with various partners to identify opportunities, provide policy advice, and develop strategies and products across all levels across the organization.
- Experience in program oversight, leading/monitoring of multiple projects, or legal project/ engagement management. PgMP, PMP, or similar considered an asset.
- A membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Minimum four to five years post call to the Bar with three to five years of policy focused work, gained ideally in a law firm and/or regulatory role within the financial services industry.
- Advanced knowledge of the securities industry, including the Ontario Securities Act and regulations considered an asset.
Grow your career and make a difference working at the OSC!
Apply online by September 24, 2021.
**Internal applicants: please apply using the Taleo profile created with your OSC email address**
We thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario Securities Commission. We will contact those selected for an interview.
The OSC is committed to diversity and providing an inclusive workplace. It is our priority to ensure employment opportunities are visible and barrier-free to all under-represented groups including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the LGBTQ2S community, to achieve an employee demographic profile reflective of the demographic profile of Ontarians.
The OSC is a proud partner with the following organizations: BlackNorth Initiative , Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion , and Pride at Work Canada .
If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting our confidential inbox HRRecruitment@osc.gov.on.ca . Visit Accessibility at the OSC to review the OSC’s policies on accessibility and accommodation in the workplace.
Source: Ontario Securities Commission
