The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is the statutory body responsible for regulating Ontario’s capital markets in accordance with the mandate established in the provincial Securities Act and the Commodity Futures Act. The mandate of the OSC is to provide protection to investors from unfair, improper or fraudulent practices, to foster fair, efficient and competitive capital markets and confidence in the capital markets, to foster capital formation, and to contribute to the stability of the financial system and the reduction of systemic risk. This mandate is performed through policy, operational, and enforcement activities. The OSC also contributes to national and global securities regulation development.

We offer a diverse, fair, and flexible work environment and take pride in our challenging and rewarding work.

The Senior Advisor, Horizon Scanning is responsible for leading the OSC’s systematized approach to identifying and assessing trends relevant to the OSC’s mandate and priorities enabling the shift from reactive to proactive regulatory actions in anticipation of emerging trends.

Reporting to the Head of Modernizing Regulation the Senior Advisor, Horizon Scanning leads the development, operationalization, and continuous improvement of the OSC’s Horizon Scanning Framework and is responsible that emerging trends are regularly identified and analyzed. This is a highly influential role that requires significant collaboration based on strong relationships with teams across the Commission.

The Senior Advisor, Horizon Scanning produces and disseminates identified trends through internal and external reports, dashboards, and visualizations to ensure timely reporting to senior leadership and internal stakeholders to foundationally inform various processes including enabling that timely decisions are made on appropriate regulatory responses to new developments in the market.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Develop, Operationalize, and Continuously Improve Horizon Scanning

• Lead the development, implementation, operationalization, and continuous improvement of the OSC Horizon Scanning Framework to identify and assess trends.
• Establish and maintain a centralized repository to collect and manage relevant technological, economic, demographic, investment, and other signals from internal teams as well as external data sources and tools.
• Support the integration of stakeholder engagement insights into the horizon scanning process and centralized repository to enhance trend assessment.
• Establish and refine processes for signal elevation, sense-making, and prioritization, to identify trends relevant to the OSC’s mandate and priorities.
• Create model, including model criteria, for weighting horizon scanning inputs to determine a priority ranking of trends.
• Develop and maintain scoring frameworks and prioritization metrics (e.g., proximity, prevalence, impact, timing), as well as monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the framework through KPIs.
• Conduct regular analyses of external information sources, including academic journals, reports, and news, to identify relevant developments.
• Maintain an in-depth understanding (local, national and international) of emerging trends relevant to the regulation of capital markets in Ontario.
• Develop and maintain familiarity with global regulatory developments across the financial services sector in Canada and global capital markets.
• Conduct annual reviews and implement continuous improvements based on stakeholder feedback, performance data, and benchmarking.

Relationship management

• Build and maintain strong relationships across the OSC with various stakeholders to develop, implement, operate, and continuously improve the OSC Horizon Scanning Framework.
• Facilitate cross-functional workshops and participatory exercises to co-develop insights and validate trends.
• Working closely with teams across the Commission to Integrate advanced technologies (e.g., AI systems, automation) to enhance signal detection, data aggregation, and reporting capabilities.
• Establish and maintain a network of contacts among peer regulators (domestic and global) to remain informed about approaches to identify trends.
• Represent the OSC in foresight and regulatory forums to understand leading practices and improve trend identification.

Internal and External Reporting

• Produce and disseminate trend shortlists through reports, dashboards, and visualizations to ensure timely reporting to senior leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Facilitate regular internal reporting, summarizing key trends and insights to e.g. inform research agenda and strategic planning.
• Prepare high quality written narratives to communicate analytical results and recommendations.
• Effectively communicate trend shortlist that reflects the potential implications for the entire OSC.
• Contribute to the development of public-facing materials and reports to position the OSC as a forward-looking regulator.
• Prepare and present to Executive Team and the Board the results of the trend scanning with prioritized list recommendations for action.

What you bring to the role:

• University degree in business, economics, law, accounting or relevant field.
• Experience (7+ years) in the research, operation, and/or regulation of Canadian and international financial services/capital markets.
• Able to maintain a ‘big picture’ perspective and make connections between numerous and seemingly unrelated developments.
• Excellent writing skills and the ability to deliver effective presentations to audiences of varying levels of knowledge and seniority.
• Thrives in a dynamic environment of competing priorities with multiple deadlines.
• Curiosity about the evolution of financial markets and what that means for investors, market participants, and regulators.
• Experience building cross-functional partnerships and influencing stakeholders across the organization without having a direct reporting relationship.
• Problem solver, able to troubleshoot issues independently or escalate when necessary.
• Sense of accountability and sound professional judgement.
• Results focused, highly organized, adapts quickly to changing demands, effectively manages ambiguity, demonstrates critical inquiry, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated skills to identify and lead the analysis of a wide range of diverse and emerging trends.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Grow your career and make a difference working at the OSC.

* OSC Employees: please apply in Workday using the Browse Jobs feature within your Jobs Hub *

We thank all applicants for their interest in the Ontario Securities Commission. We will contact those selected for an interview.

The OSC is committed to diversity and providing an inclusive workplace and providing accommodation in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Human Rights Code. It is our priority to ensure employment opportunities are visible and barrier-free to all under-represented groups including but not limited to, Indigenous, Black and racialized groups, people with disabilities, women and people from the 2SLGBTQI+ community, to achieve an employee demographic profile reflective of the demographic profile of Ontarians.

The OSC is a proud partner with the following organizations: Ascend Canada, BlackNorth Initiative, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion, and Pride at Work Canada

If you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know by contacting our confidential inbox HRRecruitment@osc.gov.on.ca.

Visit Accessibility at the OSC to review the OSC’s policies on accessibility and accommodation in the workplace.