LOBBYIST COMPLIANCE INVESTIGATOR

• Job ID: 60250
• Job Category: Governmental Affairs
• Division & Section: Toronto Lobbyist Registrar, Inquiries & Investigations
• Work Location: 375 University Avenue, Toronto (Hybrid Work)
• Job Type & Duration: Full-time, Permanent 
• Salary: $103,431.00 - $141,247.00, PSG #TM1772 and wage grade 7
• Shift Information: Monday to Friday, 35 Hours Per Week 
• Affiliation: Non-Union
• Number of Positions Open: 1
• Posting Period: 05-Nov-2025 to 19-Nov-2025

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America and home to a diverse population of approximately 2.8 million individuals. Consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities, the City of Toronto is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture.

The Toronto Lobbyist Registrar, one of the City’s four Accountability Offices, ensures the public disclosure of lobbying activities and oversees the regulation of lobbyists’ conduct, maintaining the first public, online municipal lobbyist registry in Canada and regulates the conduct of lobbyists in the City.

The Toronto Lobbyist Registrar is hiring a Lobbyist Compliance Investigator!

The Lobbyist Compliance Investigator implements and maintains an effective compliance investigation process as part of the City’s lobbying compliance framework, promoting high standards of ethical conduct and transparency in the interactions between lobbyists and public office holders. Exercising delegated authority under the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and Municipal Code Chapter 140, Lobbying to investigate, enforce, and promote compliance with the Lobbying By-law, ensuring accountability and public confidence in City decision-making.

Major Responsibilities:

• Participates as part of the Toronto Lobbyist Registrar team in implementing procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance by lobbyists with the Lobbying By-law (Municipal Code Chapter 140, Lobbying).
• Exercises delegated authority under the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and the Municipal Code Chapter 140 (Lobbying) to conduct formal investigations and enforce compliance, including the use of powers under the Public Inquiries Act, 2009 to compel evidence and issue summonses.
• Works independently within a statutory, arm’s-length accountability framework, ensuring impartiality and confidentiality in all investigative and compliance functions.
• Makes recommendations which directly affect the legal standing of Lobbyists, the integrity of the Lobbyist Registry, and the City’s compliance with transparency obligations under law.
• Manages assigned projects, ensuring effective teamwork and communication, high standards of work quality and organizational performance and continuous learning.
• Conducts research into assigned area ensuring that such research takes into account developments within the field, corporate policies and practices, legislation and initiatives by other levels of government.
• Provides service delivery, implements internal controls and complies with practices and procedures of the Toronto Lobbyist Registrar, including Council policies and legislative requirements.
• Works effectively as a team member of the Compliance Investigations Unit and the Toronto Lobbyist Registrar, maintains high standards of work quality and organizational performance and engages in continuous learning and innovation.
• Participates in the day-to-day operations of the Compliance Investigations Unit.
• Assists in implementing processes for investigating requests regarding compliance with the lobbyist compliance framework.
• Administers the system for receiving requests made by City Council, a member of Council or a member of the public about compliance with the system of registration and code of conduct for lobbyists as set out in the Lobbying By-law.
• Screens requests for inquiries and investigations and makes appropriate recommendations to the Inquiries & Investigations Counsel regarding whether the Registrar should refuse to investigate, suspend the investigation or refer a matter to appropriate authorities.
• Develops investigation plans for requests approved for investigation. Determines scope of investigation, deadlines, sequencing of witness interviews, document reviews and evidence analysis, while anticipating legal and procedural risks.
• Conducts or assists in investigations regarding compliance with the Lobbying By-law.
• Gathers evidence and in cases where the Public Inquiries Act applies, issues summonses for witnesses and documents.
• Interprets and applies statutory provisions, legal precedents, and principles of administrative and evidence law during investigations.
• Utilizes eDiscovery and digital investigation software to process, search, filter and analyze large amounts of electronically stored information, ensuring digital-evidence integrity and chain-of-custody standards consistent with legal requirements.
• Evaluates and analyzes the evidence gathered and develops and implements resolution strategies.
• Facilitates or mediates compliance discussions to resolve issues through education.
• Facilitates negotiated resolutions that achieve compliance outcomes consistent with the By-laws goals of transparency and accountability. Uses negotiation skills to resolve issues such as terms of compliance with lobbyists and organizations, clarifying interpretations of the By-law, and working towards fair and practical outcomes.
• Assists the Inquiries & Investigations Counsel in preparing interim and final reports concerning lobbyist compliance matters, including recommending findings of misconduct, referrals to appropriate authorities under the Criminal Code of Canada, and orders that may be made by the Registrar. Drafts reports and recommendations that may lead to compliance orders, public reports, or referrals to law-enforcement authorities.
• Recommends and contributes to the development of policies, procedures, and legislative amendments to strengthen the City’s lobbying compliance framework.
• Identifies and proposes legislative or procedural improvements arising from investigative findings.
• Provides advice to registrants, public office holders and members of the public regarding compliance obligations under the Lobbying By-law.
• Conducts outreach and education activities and provides training related to the Lobbying By-law to internal and external parties.
• Collaborates with other City Accountability Offices (Ombudsman, Integrity Commissioner, Auditor General) on shared governance, ethics, and policy matters.

Key Qualifications:

1. Post-secondary education in law (e.g., Juris Doctor, Bachelor of Laws) or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
2. Considerable experience and expertise working in a compliance or enforcement setting conducting regulatory, criminal or quasi-criminal investigations.
3. Considerable experience in preparing and conducting prosecutions or defences under the Provincial Offences Act, Criminal Code or other legislation.
4. Considerable experience and formal training in conducting complex investigations, with a strong ability to gather and critically analyze evidence in alignment with applicable laws.
5. Considerable experience with Microsoft 365 and digital investigative tools, including eDiscovery and electronic evidence analysis platforms, to support comprehensive investigations and ensure data integrity.
6. Ability to apply principles and processes related to legislative requirements, investigations, prosecutions, public policy development, decision making structures, accountability relationships, management controls, regulatory systems, and ethics and integrity.
7. Ability to interpret and apply complex law and legislation, including the Criminal Code of Canada, law relating to privacy and disclosure, law relating to ethics and lobbying, administrative law, laws relating to investigation, the Public Inquiries Act, the City of Toronto Act, 2006 and Chapter 140 of the Municipal Code as amended. 
8. Excellent presentation and communication skills and ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, at all levels, including testifying/presenting evidence.
9. Ability to conduct well-reasoned, unbiased research, summarize results, and provide user-friendly information and data reports to support investigations, projects and initiatives.
10. Highly developed interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively develop and cultivate effective working relationships both internal and external to the Toronto Lobbyist Registrar, and promoting organizational excellence.
11. Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage complex competing interests and concurrent investigations in a detail-oriented environment ensuring confidentiality.
12. Ability to exercise sound judgement, integrity, discretion and political acumen.
13. Advanced strategic, analytical and conceptual thinking skills with the capacity to understand complex issues and interrelationships and the potential consequences of actions and decisions.
14. Understanding of the complexity of the political environment and the role of providing professional advice and recommendations to Council and initiating prosecutions in an environment of media and public scrutiny.
15. Ability to represent the lobbyist control functions professionally with City Council, key stakeholders, and the public, with the highest of integrity and ethical standards.
16. Ability to maintain impartiality, neutrality and independence from members of Council and the business of the City, including having no other employment with the City, involvement in political campaigning/endorsements, or financial interest that would give rise to an actual or perceived conflict of interest.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The City is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to creating a workplace culture of inclusiveness that reflects the diverse residents that we serve. Learn more about the City’s commitment to employment equity.

Accommodation

The City of Toronto is committed to creating an accessible and inclusive organization. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Should you require Code-protected accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please make them known when contacted and we will work with you to meet your needs. Disability-related accommodation during the application process is available upon request. Learn more about the City’s Hiring Policies and Accommodation Process.