Position Summary

As a member of the College’s Legal Conduct team, acting as counsel for the College on matters related to registrant conduct, competence, and capacity, as well as pharmacy conduct. 

Working closely with members of the Legal Conduct team and external counsel to provide legal services to the College, including advice on investigations and prosecutorial viability assessments. Preparing for hearings, including oversight of disclosure, preparing for, and attending pre-hearing conferences, and preparing for and participating in hearings as prosecutor. Communicating with internal and external stakeholders about sensitive matters with tact and diplomacy, while maintaining confidentiality. 

Opportunity for further legal work within the College, working closely with General Counsel & Chief Privacy Officer.

What you’ll do at OCP

• Acts as counsel for the College on matters relating to registrant conduct, competence, and capacity, as well as pharmacy conduct, providing legal advice as required (e.g., investigations, prosecutorial viability assessments), and represents the College as prosecutor in proceedings before the Discipline Committee and Fitness to Practice Committee
• Provides legal advice during investigations, including providing opinions regarding prosecutorial viability. 
• Drafts documents for use in legal proceedings, such as pre-hearing conference memos, agreed statements of fact, joint submissions on order, and written submissions. Works with other members of the team to create accurate and timely documents, including notices of hearings, motion records, books of documents, etc. 
• Negotiates agreed statements of facts and joint submissions on orders, where appropriate. 
• Interacts with all hearing participants and College staff in a professional manner
• Meets key deadlines
• Attends pre-hearing conferences, case management conferences, hearings and other legal proceedings as college representative
• Provides feedback on processes and practices within the department to the Manager, Legal Conduct, in order to contribute to process improvement
• Works within data, information and records management principles, policies, and guidelines.,
• Ensures that information posted to the public register is accurate and up to date
• Actively participate in continuing professional development and performance improvement.
• Other responsibilities as assigned by the Manager, Legal Conduct

What we’re looking for

• Detailed knowledge of litigation practice before courts and/or administrative tribunals
• Knowledge and expertise in administrative law principals and/or professional regulation, including knowledge of principles of procedural fairness, natural justice, and relevant case law
• Knowledge of the applicable legislative and regulatory framework, including the Regulated Health Professions Act, the Health Professions Procedural Code, the Drugs and Pharmacies Regulation Act, the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, and the Discipline Committee Rules of Procedure
• Exceptional analytical, problem solving, negotiation and conflict resolution skills  
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills
• Tact and diplomacy when communicating with various stakeholders
• Demonstrated judgment and discretion; ability to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive material
• Self-motivation and strong organizational skills to efficiently and effectively manage workload, based on public protection and organizational risk, to deal effectively with multiple demands and multiple competing deadlines
• Ability to work independently with a commitment to teamwork
• Strong commitment to continuing professional development and performance improvement
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications and ability to work with other specialized applications (e.g., for virtual proceedings)

What experience we prefer

• Bachelor of Laws (LL. B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree plus member in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario
• Minimum 3 years litigation experience
• Experience working with a professional regulator considered an asset

Why work for us?

We are the registering and regulating body for the profession of pharmacy practice in Ontario with a mandate to service and protect the public interest.  In addition to ascertaining all registrant meet professional standards, the College sets and ensures ongoing adherence to professional and operational standards as it leads the advancement of pharmacy. 

If you are interested in joining the College, please forward your cover letter and resume in confidence, by February 1 2024, stating salary expectations.

OCP is committed to supporting accessibility and diversity.

Requests for accommodations can be made at any stage of the recruitment process.

Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest in this position. We will only contact those whose skills, knowledge, and experience most closely match the requirements of the position.

Job Number 22-03