Join our team at Ombudsman Ontario

We are looking for dedicated professionals who:

  • Share our passion for public service
  • Are eager to contribute to meaningful change

Life at Ombudsman Ontario

When you join Ombudsman Ontario, you become part of a team that values integrity, accountability and service.

We offer:

  • Competitive compensation and benefits: Comprehensive health and dental plans, pension contributions, paid time off and more.
  • Professional growth opportunities: Access to training, mentorship and career development programs.
  • Work-life balance: Flexible work arrangements, including hybrid options.
  • A chance to make a difference: Work that contributes to fairness and accountability in Ontario’s public sector.
  • A supportive and inclusive environment: A place where your contributions are valued and your well-being is a priority.

“At the Ontario Ombudsman’s Office, we believe in recognizing and valuing the people who make our work possible. We offer fair pay, strong benefits and a workplace where everyone can grow and succeed. Our team is built on fairness, respect and inclusion – because when people feel supported, they do their best work. If you’re looking for a meaningful career where you can make a real impact, we welcome you to join us.”

Richard Mendonca, MSc, Executive Director, People and Culture

Want to be part of our team?

Explore Careers


Our mission in action: Employee perspectives

Staff member standing in office, smiling

“Our Office provides a critical service for the people of Ontario. The Children and Youth Unit has a special role to play, because we take and resolve complaints from young people in care. We want them to know that they have the right to contact our Office, and that we’ll help them and give them an opportunity to be heard.”

Maxim, Early Resolution Officer, Children and Youth Unit

Staff member smiling at the camera in front of an image of the Franco-Ontarian flag.

“I am passionate about language rights, which directly translates to my interest in our mandate of protecting the language rights of Franco-Ontarians. We are making a difference in the lives of Francophones in Ontario.”

Katherine, Investigator, French Language Services Unit

Staff member smiling at the camera standing in front of a computer.

“My job is to ensure people are treated the same as everybody else, and with procedural fairness. Maybe they’ve exhausted everything else, or they don’t know that there are additional steps they can take to solve their problems, and I’m able to help them. The government can be a black box to people – I can help by shining a light.”

Victor, Early Resolution Officer, Generalist Unit


Building community at the Ombudsman’s Office

At Ombudsman Ontario, we believe in fostering a workplace where everyone feels valued, supported and connected. Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) bring people together to share experiences, learn from each other and drive positive change. ERGs help build a stronger, more inclusive workplace by:

  • Raising awareness within the organization
  • Creating opportunities for discussion among staff
  • Acting as a resource for employees and the organization

As an ERG member, you can connect with colleagues who share similar experiences or interests, contribute ideas and help shape a workplace where everyone belongs. Many of our team members, including leaders, actively participate in ERGs, making them an essential part of our culture.

Employee Resource Groups

Our active ERGs support connection, community and cultural awareness across the organization. They include:

  • DiversAbility: Promotes a culture of accessibility and disability inclusion
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ Pride Action Alliance: Celebrates and supports 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and visibility
  • Black Cultural Committee: Honours Black heritage, advances equity and amplifies diverse voices

These groups are led by employees, for employees – creating space for shared experiences, allyship and learning.

Opportunities for growth

We believe that service to the public thrives when our people thrive. That’s why we’re deeply committed to supporting the professional growth and development of every team member.

Whether you’re just starting out or building on years of experience, we offer:

  • Leadership development programs
  • Coaching and mentorship opportunities
  • Job-specific and cross-functional training
  • Skill-building experiences tailored to your goals

We empower our employees to grow, take on new challenges and explore different career paths – all within a supportive environment grounded in integrity, fairness and service to Ontarians.


Our recruitment process at Ombudsman Ontario

At Ombudsman Ontario, we are committed to a recruitment process that is fair, inclusive and transparent – reflecting the principles of merit, equity and respect. We aim to ensure that every candidate has a positive experience and a clear understanding of what to expect at each stage of the process.

Application review

Our People and Culture team, in collaboration with the hiring manager, carefully reviews all applications. We assess each candidate’s qualifications, experience and alignment with the position requirements and our Office’s values.

Pre-screening

We contact shortlisted candidates selected for further consideration for a brief telephone or virtual pre-screen. This step helps us confirm your interest, clarify aspects of your application and provide details about the role and our work environment.

Assessment

Depending on the role, we may ask you to complete one or more assessments. These could include:

  • Written exercises
  • Case studies or role-specific tasks
  • Language assessments (for English/French bilingual roles)
  • Listening comprehension exercises (for bilingual positions)

We design our assessments to evaluate the core competencies you need to succeed in the position. We apply these consistently across candidates to ensure fairness.

Interviews

If you are selected for an interview, you can expect:

  • A panel interview with two or more members of our team
  • Questions to help us understand how you’ve dealt with real-life situations and how you approach challenges at work
  • We encourage you to share examples from your work, volunteer, or academic experiences
  • Opportunities for you to ask questions and learn more about our culture

In some cases, we may hold a second-round interview with finalist candidates.

References and background checks

We ask finalist candidates to provide professional references. We conduct a background check for all roles, and depending on the role, we may do extra background screening (such as a vulnerable sector check).

Employment offer

If you’re selected for a role, you will receive a formal offer of employment. Our People and Culture team will support you to ensure a smooth onboarding process. This includes introducing you to your new team, providing an orientation and giving you access to our work systems.

Accessibility

Ombudsman Ontario is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive workplace. We are dedicated to ensuring equal access and opportunities for all applicants, including those with disabilities.

If you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at careers@ombudsman.on.ca. We will work with you to meet your needs in a timely and respectful manner.

Please note: This email address is for requests for accessibility accommodation only. We cannot respond to inquiries about your application status.