Amended - Dispute Resolution Officer

Amendment: The vacancy duration has been changed to 12 months.

Are you a seasoned Dispute Resolution Officer with excellent conflict resolution skills, looking for a new and challenging opportunity, where you can really make a difference in your province?

Then consider this exciting opportunity at Tribunals Ontario - Landlord and Tenant Board.

Tribunals Ontario is a group of 13 adjudicative tribunals that play an important role in the administration of justice in Ontario. Each year our tribunals receive and resolve nearly 100,000 cases - providing fair, accessible dispute resolution to thousands of Ontarians.

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?

In this interesting role, you will be responsible for resolving disputes under the Residential Tenancies Act between landlords and tenants, and between non-profit housing co-ops and co-op members, through mediation, case management hearings or other proceedings as required.

You will employ "face to face", virtual and telephone techniques to ensure satisfactory resolution of highly contentious issues and maintain a tracking system designed to monitor results.

Note: the job may require provincial travel to off-site hearing locations or to assist at other Regional Offices.

Please note the successful candidate may work from one of the following locations:
• 2275 Midland Ave, Scarborough
• 25 Grosvenor St, Toronto
• 3 Robert Speck Pkwy, Mississauga
• 119 King St W, Hamilton

How do I qualify?

Technical Knowledge and Skill:

• You demonstrate excellent judgment and negotiation, dispute resolution, mediation, conciliation, and decision-making skills and practices, to conduct case management hearings and mediation and ensure that parties understand the sessions
• You demonstrate the ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation (i.e : the Residential Tenancies Act, the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code as it impacts the Residential Tenancies Act, applicable policy, procedure, case law, rules of practice and rules of natural justice) as well as an understanding of legislation related to residential tenancies and co-op housing ( i.e.: social assistance programs, housing standards) to interpret and explain the legislation to landlords, tenants, non-profit housing co-ops members and to formulate settlements and decisions

Analytical and Problem Solving Skill:

• You demonstrate analytical and problem solving skills to assess situations and determine the most effective use with each case
• You can consider information, facilitate discussion, clarify and summarize issues and weight pros and cons of each option
• You demonstrate the ability to identify underlying issues and determine when /if to approach parties on unresolved conflicts or tension
• You can measure progress of mediation session, actively pursuing areas where agreement appears imminent and begin case management where appropriate
• You demonstrate the ability to synthesize jurisprudence, and legal, policy and program information in clear language for parties

Communication and Interpersonal Skills:

• You demonstrate oral and written communication to elicit information from the parties, identify options, propose alternatives, and provide direction to ensure that parties understand the implications of settlement and to ensure that parties understand next steps available when settlement is not reached
• You demonstrate communication and interpersonal skills to understand the needs of each party in order to make decisions and facilitate solutions
• You can encourage parties towards settlement as well as provide clear and impartial interpretations and explanations of implications and options
to parties
• You have the ability to issue orders for disclosure of arguably relevant documents or materials, identifying the issues in dispute, requiring payment of money into the Landlord and Tenant Board and setting out procedural matters that the parties may agree on
• You demonstrate the ability to concisely deliver oral decisions and direction to a diverse clientele including both Legal Counsel and unrepresented litigants

Time Management and Administrative Skills:

• You demonstrate administration and time management skills to organize and prioritize a high volume and time sensitive workload generated on the day of the hearing, contribute to the development of operational policies and procedures

Computer Knowledge:

• You demonstrate knowledge of computer software (i.e. Office 365, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Case Management Systems) to conduct mediation, case management hearings and other proceedings, prepare orders and settlement agreements, and maintain a case management database.