Decision Writer

Overview

As we move through a period of exciting transformation and organizational change, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has an immediate opening for a Decision Writer to join the Complaints & Investigations team.

Under the authority of the Professional Engineers Act, PEO licenses and governs over 91,500 licence and certificate holders and regulates the practice of professional engineering in Ontario. PEO’s mission is to regulate and advance the practice of engineering to protect the public interest. With a talented, multidisciplinary staff of over 100, PEO’s vision is to be a trusted leader in professional self-regulation.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Manager, Complaints & Investigations (the “Manager”) the Decision Writer prepares clear, legally robust, and well-reasoned decisions that accurately convey the Complaints Committee’s (“COC”) findings and rationale. The Decision Writer ensures that all decisions adhere to principles of administrative law, organizational policies, and applicable professional regulatory frameworks, ensuring alignment with regulatory standards and legislative requirements.

Additional duties include drafting other documents such as reporting letters, letters of advice, voluntary undertakings, minutes of settlement, case summaries, and articles for publication in PEO’s gazette.

Responsibilities

- Participates in approximately eight COC meetings annually, actively listening to and diligently recording detailed and accurate notes on all matters discussed.
- Prepares clear, precise, and comprehensive Decisions and Reasons (“DnRs”) for the COC, ensuring alignment with established templates and guidelines.
- Applies plain language principles to convey complex technical concepts to varied audiences including complainants, respondents, and adjudicative bodies, while upholding legal integrity and procedural fairness. This process may involve reviewing extensive documentation and researching unfamiliar terminology.
- Proofread prepared documents for grammar, spelling, readability, and completeness prior to submission of final drafts to the team.
- Composes letters of advice to respondents, as directed by the COC, for the Manager’s review and approval.
- Drafts correspondence to engage Independent Experts during investigations, subject to Managerial review for applicable cases.
- Prepares Voluntary Undertaking (“VU”) letters and forms as instructed by the COC, for the Manager’s review and approval.
- Drafts VU related publication content for PEO’s official publication vehicle, the Gazette.
- Collaborates with, and receives guidance from, PEO’s assigned legal counsel to ensure that drafts are legally sound.
- Integrates feedback and revisions from Investigators, the Manager, and COC into draft DnRs and other documents to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Supports the department in addressing public inquiries related to the complaints process, potential engineering failures, and professional conduct concerns.
- Monitors and manages timelines to ensure decisions are completed within prescribed deadlines and organizational standards.
- Actively contributes to departmental effectiveness and organizational success by participating in team meetings and offering suggestions to enhance investigation and resolution procedures.
- Reviews and analyzes all pertinent documentation associated with cases, including investigation outcomes, member submissions and legal counsel input, hearing transcripts, and other relevant materials.
- Undertakes additional responsibilities and participates in special projects as assigned.

Organizational Skills

- Manages multiple tasks and priorities independently and collaboratively, consistently meeting deadlines in a dynamic and fast-paced setting.
- Possesses strong organizational and active listening skills, contributing to efficient task management and collaborative engagement.

Technical Skills and Knowledge

- Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively.
- Exhibits excellent interpersonal and analytical abilities, fostering productive relationships and informed decision-making.
- Maintains a high level of attention to detail and demonstrates advanced editing capabilities to ensure accuracy and clarity.
- Conducts legal and policy research to support the development of decisions that align with legislative frameworks, established precedents and best practices.
- Holds general knowledge of professional engineering disciplines and practices, supporting informed analysis and context-aware decision writing.
- Proficient in a range of computer applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and graphics software, databases, email platforms, and internet tools.
- Skilled in synthesizing diverse viewpoints and reconciling differing perspectives to support balanced and fair outcomes.
- Capable of reviewing extensive documentation and identifying key issues through strategic questioning and critical analysis.
- Works effectively under pressure individually and in team settings, demonstrating adaptability and the ability to manage multiple priorities concurrently.

Educations and Qualifications

- Holds a post-secondary degree preferably in public policy, law, legal studies, public administration, or English.
- Minimum of 3 years relevant experience in investigations or decision writing, ideally within a regulatory environment.
- Possession of formal legal credentials (Paralegal or Junior Lawyer) is an asset.
- Understanding the Professional Engineers Act, Regulation 941, and PEO Guidelines, and how to apply this knowledge to ensure regulatory compliance.
- Experience conducting investigations, drafting decisions and reports, and collaborating with committees in a regulatory or adjudicative setting is considered highly desirable.
- Proven experience and a solid understanding of administrative law principles and tribunal procedures.
- Ability to interpret and understand legal documents is preferred. English/French bilingual (verbal and written) is an asset.

Hybrid Work Environment

We have embraced hybrid working, and for us this means coming to the office twice a week. However, if you wish to work in the office more often, you are welcome to.

The requirements of this role include attendance at COC meetings, which are mostly virtual, but do take place outside of regular business hours. In person attendance at 1-3 meetings per year is likely.

Application Deadline

If interested in this role, please forward your resume and cover letter to peocareers@peo.on.ca by Friday, January 9, 2026.

Disclaimer: The selected candidate will be subject to a background check as part of the hiring process.

At PEO, we recognize that our people are our best asset, including employees from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We know life isn’t linear so there may be gaps or ‘nontraditional’ employment and we welcome applications from everyone. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates in all phases of the selection process.