Director, Legal Services

Job Description

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

Our award-winning Legal Services team is seeking a Director, Legal Services to join our busy and collegial legal team, headquartered in downtown Toronto. Under the general direction of the Chief Legal Officer, the Vice President – Legal Services, or a designate, this individual will assist with professional legal work, provide legal advice and opinions on a diverse range of operations matters, and manage a team of lawyers and other members of the Legal Services team.

What will I be doing?

• Act as Metrolinx’s legal lead (“Lead Legal Expert”) on assigned operations matters in the context of applicable legislation, regulation and Provincial directives applying to the Corporation, including SaaS agreements, software licenses, managed service agreements, professional services agreements, data sharing agreements, sponsorships, partnerships, concessions, promotional agreements, and other technology and marketing related initiatives
• Draft, review, analyze, and negotiate complex agreements, opinions, memoranda, and other legal documents to manage risk and ensure that the organization’s objectives are achieved.
• Provide high-quality and timely legal advice, strategic advice, research, opinions, guidance and service on matters pertaining to operations matters
• Accountable for matters within an assigned portfolio of legal work grouped by business unit, program or projects as assigned by a senior lawyer
• Attend and participate as a member of the department’s Legal Services Management Team
• Manage and mentor a number of direct reports working within the portfolio
• Direct Metrolinx’s external counsel on relevant legal matters and make recommendations to the Chief Legal Officer
• As Lead Legal Expert, provide feedback to other lawyers in the area, keep abreast of relevant legal developments, and pro-actively communicate related legal developments to affected internal clients
• Oversee legal research on a diverse range of complex legal matters
• Provide legal advice and opinions on a diverse range of disputes and other matters
• Lead significant day-to-day legal issues and other initiatives; report major developments to the Chief Legal Officer, Chief Executive Officer and/or Board of Directors as may be required
• Lead legal presentations to management, including presentations to the Senior Management Team
• Advise all levels of management, including briefings of senior management and ministry representatives up to and including Chief Executive Officer
• Maintain an awareness of current provincial and federal legislation and regulations that may affect Metrolinx; recommend amendments to existing policies and procedures arising from relevant legislative or regulatory changes; provide advice/opinions on the interpretation of legislation
• Contribute to enhancing corporate policies and procedures and provide opinions and advice to the corporation
• Provide pro-active legal advice to the organization outside of specific legal assignments
• Advise and prepare legal documents that comply with the law and do not expose Metrolinx to risk and/or financial loss
• Assist in developing programs for junior lawyers and, at the request of the Chief Legal Officer, mentor and train junior lawyers and other staff, particularly as Lead Legal Expert in matters under purview
• Commit to ongoing leadership development through participation in the organization’s leadership programs
  
  
  

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Law Degree and membership in good standing, as a Lawyer, in the Law Society of Ontario is required
• Minimum of eight (8) years’ experience as a lawyer, gained at a reputable law firm and/or in-house legal group, ideally at other provincial agencies or for the Province of Ontario
• Ability to identify and resolve legal issues and think strategically
• Ability to work well as a full and valuable member of an integrated business-legal team
• Prior experience managing a team of lawyers, law clerks and/or law students
• Comfortable working independently, as well as good understanding and judgment of situations which require approval or input of the Chief Legal Officer and other senior management
• Ability to function well under pressure and demonstrate leadership within the legal department
• Strong service ethic
• Ability to translate legal concepts into readily understandable advice
• Sound judgment and practical approach to resolving legal issues
• Strong negotiation, interpersonal, and oral/written communication skills
• Ideal candidates will have public transit or transportation experience, gained from a major firm, corporation or government agency.
• Experience in any of the following areas would be an asset: Government contracting, public procurement, information technology, payments, privacy, marketing, compliance oversight and public sector governance (Municipal, Provincial, or Federal).
  
  
  

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation

We value the unique skills and experiences each person brings to Metrolinx and are committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and accessible environment. We are committed to the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act so if you require accommodation during the hiring process, please let our Recruitment team know by contacting us at: 416-202-5601 or email hr.recruitment@metrolinx.com .

Application Process

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Metrolinx will be using email to communicate with you for all job competitions. It is your responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time-sensitive correspondence, we recommend that you check your email regularly. If no response is received, we will assume you are no longer interested in pursuing the opportunity. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate.

Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.