Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Specialist

Role Overview

The Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) Specialist is responsible for leading or supporting the development of Privacy Impact Assessments to evaluate whether new technologies, information systems, programs, or policies comply with applicable privacy legislation, policies, and standards. This role focuses on identifying privacy risks, recommending mitigation strategies, and addressing stakeholder concerns in a public‑sector environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead or support the development of PIAs for new or modified technologies, systems, programs, or policies.
  


• Ensure compliance with provincial, municipal, federal, and private‑sector access and privacy legislation, regulations, statutes, policies, directives, standards, and guidelines.
  


• Assess privacy risks and recommend appropriate mitigation strategies aligned with Fair Information Practices.
  


• Interpret and apply privacy principles and compliance requirements to business processes.
  


• Conduct research and analysis of privacy laws, regulations, and jurisprudence, particularly decisions related to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario.
  


• Collaborate with business, technical, legal, and policy stakeholders to gather required inputs.
  


• Develop and interpret data‑flow diagrams and business process diagrams.
  


• Communicate complex privacy and security concepts clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
  

Qualifications & Skills

Privacy, Policy, and Legislative Expertise

• Strong knowledge of privacy and security concepts, trends, and issues.
  


• Experience conducting PIAs in a public‑sector context.
  


• Demonstrated knowledge of:
  




• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA)
  


• Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
  


• Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA)
  


• Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA)
  




• Familiarity with related regulations, standards, and jurisprudence.
  


• Knowledge of privacy‑enhancing best practices.
  

Technical and Systems Knowledge

• Understanding of IT concepts affecting privacy, including system interfaces, information security, data flows, and information architecture.
  


• Experience assessing privacy risks associated with digital, web‑based, cloud, and integrated solutions.
  


• Familiarity with encryption, security controls, and privacy protection approaches.
  

Operational, Communication, and Leadership Skills

• Ability to independently lead or support PIAs as part of a cross‑functional team.
  


• Strong analytical, organizational, and time‑management skills.
  


• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
  


• Experience developing risk assessment tools, methodologies, policies, and procedures related to personal information management.
  


• Knowledge of records management practices, including classification, retention, and disposition.
  


• Understanding of accessibility legislation and related standards.
  

Desirable Qualifications

• Professional certification in a related discipline (e.g., IT security, architecture).
  


• Experience delivering privacy‑related education or training.
  


• Familiarity with public‑sector policies, procedures, and approval processes.
  

About Symbiotic Digital

Symbiotic Digital provides the IT Experts you need that solve problems and get things done. See what the top 2% in their field can do for you. (Symbiotic Digital is a division of Symbiotic Group Inc.)

We serve customers in two ways:

1. Digital Experts: IT consulting expertise — Bright Minds That Produce Proven Results
   


2. Recruitment: Find the right people you need
   

Serving IT and business leaders, Symbiotic Digital enables organizations to solve complex business and technology challenges by providing proven experts evaluated through our Quality Management System (QMS) Staff Development Model. We are a 100% Indigenous‑owned company.