Privacy Impact Assessment Specialist

About the role

Job Description

To guide, influence and lead planning and development of Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) that evaluates whether new technologies, information systems or proposed policies meet legal privacy requirements and address client concerns.

Requirements include ensuring program complies with FIPPA, PIPEDA, PHIPA and other privacy laws (provincial, federal, municipal) as well as applicable regulations, program statutes, Management Board of Cabinet Directives, corporate policies and internationally established Fair Information Practices. May involve work with other jurisdictions and the broader public sector.

Major Responsibilities

• Knowledge and ability to interpret and apply Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and its municipal equivalent the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) their respective regulations and related jurisprudence.
• Provides consultative advice and guidance on laws, regulations, policies, standards, or procedures to clusters & ministries, management, personnel, or key groups.
• Leads the development of a privacy impact assessment that evaluates whether new technologies, information systems, or proposed programs or policies meet legal and policy privacy requirements, determines and mitigates risks, and addresses clients' concerns.
• Manages PIA service resource utilization, workload management and manage PIA intake queue to optimize resource allocation.
• Provides guidance and leadership to staff with the responsibility to plan work, set objectives, direct the work of staff while managing unexpected changes to deadlines and work demands.
• Leads client stakeholder management as primary point of contact of IT clients, providing strategic advice on project provisioning, policy and to make informed business decisions.
• Leads and/or participates on cross-cluster/IPC/Ministry research teams and working committees mandated to review/implement key strategic FOI/Privacy I & IT commitments.
• Analyzes policy proposals from ministries and cabinet submissions, to assess/evaluate I & IT implications and to develop privacy strategy and planning approaches.

Skills, Knowledge, Experience, and Qualifications

Required to lead or support the development of a Privacy Impact Assessment that evaluates whether new technologies, information systems, or proposed programs or policies meet legal and policy privacy requirements, determine and mitigate risks, and address clients' concerns.

These requirements include ensuring that the program complies with provincial, municipal, federal and private sector access and privacy legislation, as well as relevant regulations, statutes, OPS policies, directives, standards, guidelines and internationally accepted Fair Information Practices.

General Skills

• Excellent knowledge of privacy and security concepts, trends, and issues.
• This will include an understanding of their impact on business processes, as well as ability to interpretation and communicate principles and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of, and experience in researching and applying relevant information privacy laws, regulations, jurisprudence (particularly as it relates to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario) and risk countermeasures.
• Experience in conducting Privacy Impact Assessments in public sector context.
• Knowledge of, and experience with privacy enhancing best practices.
• Knowledge and ability to interpret and apply the Ontario's Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA) and its municipal equivalent the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA), Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) their respective regulations and related jurisprudence.
• Familiarity with the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) and US PATRIOT Act.

Policy Knowledge

• Familiarity with OPS Privacy Impact Assessment Process and Tools released by the Ontario Ministry of Government Services;
• Good understanding of related disciplines, such as IT security, IT system design, policy development (privacy or security), business architecture, legal processes, Freedom of Information administration, business analysis, risk management, project management.

Operational Program and Business Design Skills

• Ability to lead, manage or support the development of a PIA either independently or as part of a team by directing and gathering input from specific individuals within the organization.
• Knowledge and ability to create and understand data flow diagrams and business process diagrams.
• Ability to recognize the need for and seek input from external experts as required.
• Excellent communication skills with technical and business audiences and privacy experts.

Technology and Systems Knowledge

• Analytical skills to understand the current and future access and privacy implications of policies, decisions and business initiatives
• Knowledge of Information Technology concepts and processes that impact the protection of personal information, including (but not limited to) Internet tools, system interfaces, information security, information architecture and data flows

Information and Record Keeping Knowledge

• Experience in developing risk assessment tools, methodologies, policies and procedures to effectively manage personal information
• Knowledge of policies, directives, standards, business rules, procedures and guidelines relating to records management including classification, retention and disposition of information
• Knowledge and understanding of Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and related regulations and standards

Desirable Skills

• Professional certification from a related discipline such as IT security, architecture
• Experience providing education and training related to privacy
• Knowledge of, and experience with the policies and procedures of the Ontario government (e.g. business case development, project approvals and policy development)

PIA Specialist Skills Weighting

• Privacy Assessment Experience, Policy and Legislative Requirements – 35%
• Technical knowledge – 30%
• Leadership and Communications – 30%
• Digital Identity Frameworks and Standards – 5%

Must Have

• Excellent knowledge of privacy and security concepts, trends, and issues.
• This will include an understanding of their impact on business processes, as well as ability to interpretation and communicate principles and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of, and experience in researching and applying relevant information privacy laws, regulations, jurisprudence (particularly as it relates to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario) and risk countermeasures.
• Familiarity with OPS Privacy Impact Assessment Process and Tools released by the Ontario Ministry of Government Services;
• Good understanding of related disciplines, such as IT security, IT system design, policy development (privacy or security), business architecture, legal processes, Freedom of Information administration, business analysis, risk management, project management.
• Analytical skills to understand the current and future access and privacy implications of policies, decisions and business initiatives
• Knowledge of Information Technology concepts and processes that impact the protection of personal information, including (but not limited to) Internet tools, system interfaces, information security, information architecture and data flows

Nice to Have

• Knowledge of, and experience with the policies and procedures of the Ontario government (e.g. business case development, project approvals and policy development)