Hearing Officer in Cambridge

The City of Cambridge is seeking up to two (2) individuals to provide contracted Hearing Officer services. This contract calls for experienced and qualified individuals who are available to work on average 1-2 days per month, or on an as needed basis.

As a Council-appointed Hearing Officer (as per the City’s Screening and Hearing Officer By-law), you will act in a quasi-judicial manner, reviewing decisions made by Screening Officers in relation to municipal by-law Penalty Notices issued as part of the City’s Administrative Penalty System (APS). You must be familiar with municipal law and adjudicative processes, as you will be responsible for determining whether to confirm, modify, extend, or cancel Penalty Notices.

Your duties as a Hearing Officer will include but are not limited to:

• Conducting hearings in accordance with the Statutory Powers Procedure Act and the Administrative Penalty By-law, ensuring equal access, fair treatment, and due process for all parties.
• Making rulings and issuing oral and written decisions relating to the APS By-law that are independent and free of outside influence.
• Making decisions on whether to modify administrative penalty amounts and/or time to pay administrative penalties in accordance with the APS By-law and associated policies, procedures, and guidelines.

All decisions made by Hearing Officers are deemed final and binding. Hearing Officers are appointed by City Council, for the duration of the Council term (approximately 4 years). Members of Council, their relatives and people indebted to the City are not eligible to apply (as per the APS By-law).

Your qualifications as a Hearing Officer – Administrative Penalty System include the following:

• Be of high ethical standards, integrity, and judgment.
• Post-secondary diploma or degree in a related discipline, training courses offered by the Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators and/or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Preferably a current member of The Society of Ontario Adjudicators and Regulators (SOAR) and/or The Law Society of Ontario (LSO).
• Knowledge and experience with respect to mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and adjudicative processes.
• Knowledge of, and experience in interpreting and applying, appropriate legislation, including Municipal By-laws, the Municipal Act, and the Statutory Powers Procedure Act.
• Highly effective leadership, facilitation, communication, presentation, interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Respect for access to justice, diversity, and accommodation with demonstrated understanding of systemic barriers and/or experience working with diverse communities, including racial, ethnic, and 2SLGBTQ+ populations is preferred.
• Ability to formulate reasoned decisions and communicate them clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Computer and software literacy (Microsoft Suite application, Adobe, etc.).

Hearing officers receive a per diem fee of $600 for a full day (up to 6 hours) or $300 for each half day (up to 3 hours). Services will be paid for by invoice. There is no reimbursement of mileage or transportation costs, and no guarantee of minimum days of work. Schedules will be determined in advance, or as required by appeal. Hearings are currently held virtually, however, may change to in-person at the discretion of the City.

The City of Cambridge is an equal opportunity employer, committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome and encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will accommodate the needs of qualified applicants under the Human Rights Code in all parts of the recruitment and hiring process. Please contact Human Resources to make your needs known in advance, with the nature of any accommodations that you may require in respect to any materials or processes used to ensure your full and equal participation throughout the recruitment and hiring process.

Personal information collected in relation to the recruitment process is collected under the authority outlined in the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and used solely to determine eligibility for employment with the City of Cambridge only.