Assistant Deputy Minister, Anti-Racism Directorate

Apply by: Thursday, June 18, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

Overview

As the Assistant Deputy Minister, Anti-Racism Directorate, you will provide executive leadership to advance Ontario's Anti-Racism Strategy and embed equity into government policies, programs, and community responsive programs and services. This is a high-impact role requiring strong political acuity, credibility with communities, and the ability to drive transformation across complex systems. You will lead a multidisciplinary team and work across ministries and with community partners to translate strategy into meaningful, sustained change.

A career in the Ontario Public Service is driven by a passion for creating a stronger Ontario.

We foster a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees have the resources and opportunities they need to be fulfilled and inspired to move Ontario forward.

About the job

Leading the Anti-Racism Directorate and reporting to the Deputy Minister, you will:

• provide executive leadership to the development and implementation of Ontario's Anti-Racism Strategy and related initiatives
• lead cross-government efforts to embed anti-racism approaches into policy, program design, and community responsive delivery
• lead and implement programs to support anti-racism and anti-hate initiatives
• oversee the development of frameworks, tools, and performance measures to monitor and address systemic racism
• build and sustain strong relationships with Ministry partners, communities, and partners across the province
• provide strategic advice to senior leadership on high-profile, sensitive, and complex issues with significant public impact
• provide leadership while demonstrating the Ontario Public Service leadership behaviours and fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion and excellence

What you bring to the team

Executive Leadership and Culture Building

You are a seasoned, influential policy and people leader with proven abilities in:

• leading high-performing, multidisciplinary teams in complex, high-profile environments
• fostering inclusive, equitable, and respectful workplace cultures aligned with OPS values
• navigating complex human resource, labour relations, and organizational challenges
• driving transformation and sustaining results in fast-paced, politically sensitive environments

Stakeholder and Community Leadership

You are a credible, relationship-driven leader with proven abilities in:

• building and maintaining trusted relationships with equity-deserving communities
• engaging diverse stakeholders with cultural empathy, awareness, and sound judgment
• collaborating across ministries, agencies, and sectors to partner in the advancement of shared outcomes
• providing balanced, strategic advice in complex, sensitive, and high-profile environments

Strategic Policy and Program Leadership

You are a strategic and delivery-focused leader with proven abilities in:

• leading the development and implementation of large-scale, cross-government strategies and initiatives
• integrating data, research, and evidence into policy and program decision-making
• driving systemic change through coordinated policy, program, and operational approaches
• aligning strategy with measurable outcomes and accountability frameworks

Don't meet every qualification?

If you are excited about this position and meet most, but not all, of the listed qualifications, please still consider applying. We recognize that no one person might have every qualification in this job ad, and you just might be the right candidate!

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

What we offer

This is a unique opportunity to lead a high-impact, enterprise-wide mandate focused on advancing racial equity and addressing community responsive programming which addresses systemic barriers across government.

• shape and drive Ontario's Anti-Racism Strategy and its implementation across ministries
• lead a visible and influential portfolio with direct impact on policies, programs, and public trust
• work closely with senior leaders and community partners to advance meaningful, system-level change
• operate in a dynamic environment requiring strong leadership, judgment, and collaboration

The Ontario Public Service is one of Ontario's largest employers. Employees work for a wide range of ministries, with offices in more than 70 cities across the province. We offer:

• a career that can grow across ministries and job functions
• flexible learning and developmental opportunities, including education and mentorship programs
• many employee networks offering support for and education about underrepresented groups

Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package includes:

• a defined-benefit lifetime pension plan (guaranteed, ongoing inflation-protected income after retirement)
• 100% employer-paid group health, dental, life and disability benefits
• a $750-per-year health and wellness spending account
• 25 days' vacation, increased after 15 years
• parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents
• an Employee and Family Assistance Program, which provides confidential counseling services

Note:

• The OPS uses multiple methods to assess candidates for executive positions; these may include resume screening, interviews, assignments, psychometric assessments, simulations and reference checks.

• This competition may be leveraged to fill other vacancies for similar roles.

• This role is located in Toronto and requires 5 days in office.