Senior Audit Researcher

(Salary commensurate with experience)
The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario (Office) is recruiting highly motivated professionals interested in in making a difference for the benefit of the members of the Legislative Assembly and the people of Ontario. The Office of the Auditor General is an independent office of the Legislative Assembly that conducts performance and financial statement audits of the provincial government, its ministries and agencies. We also audit organizations in the broader public sector that receive provincial funding. Our vision is to deliver exceptional value and assurance to members of the Legislative Assembly, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and all Ontarians through high-quality work that promotes accountability, value for money and effective governance in the Ontario public sector.

OPS Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism:

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote 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, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.
We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

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.
  
• Be part of the team that supports annual and ongoing processes of identifying and prioritizing suitable audit candidates for consideration for future audits and identification of potential audit issues.
  
• Employ a variety of research methods (surveys, literature reviews, jurisdictional scans, qualitative and quantitative analysis of primary data) to support on-going performance 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 papers on a variety of topics for publication on the Office's website and in our Annual Report.
  
• Be part of the team that provides research support to the Auditor General and senior management.

How do I qualify?

Required:

• Master's degree (such as MA, MPA, MPH, MBA, LLM or equivalent) or PhD in a related field such as public policy, public administration, political science or law.
  
• Minimum three to four years of demonstrated experience in research or public policy.
  
• 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.
  
• Comprehensive knowledge of government and 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.
  
• Strong working knowledge, demonstrated through research or policy experience, in any of the following areas is an asset: law, social services, infrastructure, economic development, education, environment, or finance. A general knowledge about a broader range of public policy areas is also beneficial.

Analytical, Judgment and Problem-Solving Skills:

• Good judgment, discretion, tact and diplomacy in working with others.
  
• Ability to work concurrently on multiple assignments and meet deadlines and ensures research is conducted in a timely manner.
  
• Ability to refine research focus, methodology and research strategy as needed.

Communication and Relationship-management Skills:

• Demonstrated written communication skills to summarize complex information and issues in an accessible way and ensure performance audit reports are clear and concise.
  
• Strong oral communication skills to conduct audits and communicate observations
  and recommendations.
  
• Ability to be agile and respond constructively to new demands, priorities and challenges.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills to work co-operatively in a team environment.

Salary range: $76,382 - $93,174
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).
If you want to work in an environment that is positive, challenging, and safe, where your contributions are valued, please submit a cover letter and resume (as one document) resumes@auditor.on.ca, and specify the competition number as #2403 in the subject line. Please note that only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
Address: 20 Dundas Street West, Suite 1530, Toronto, Ontario
The Office of the Auditor General of Ontario is an inclusive employer and is committed to creating an accessible environment for our employees and candidates. Accommodation is available upon request.