Senior Legal Counsel

Mandatory Vaccination

As per the current Public Health Orders (Long Term Care/Seniors Assisted Living Provincial Health Order and the Health Sector Order), as of October 26, 2021, all employees working for Providence Health Care must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Proof of vaccination status will be required.

Summary Of Role Responsibilities

Within the context of a client and family centered model of care and, in accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of Providence Health Care, the person promotes a safe, respectful, and civil working environment for patients, residents, families, visitors and staff.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Counsel will possess strong leadership abilities to provide a broad range of legal support and advice to leaders and staff across all levels at Providence Health Care (PHC) with the goal of advising decision-makers and other internal stakeholders on legal strategies and solutions to minimize legal risk and financial exposure in respect of PHC operations. The Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with PHC’s People, Professional Practice, Information Access and Privacy, and Medical Affairs teams to provide legal support and consultation on labour, employment law, immigration, privacy, freedom of information, risk management, professional regulation, and other day-to-day operational issues.

The Senior Legal Counsel advises and represents PHC in relation to matters involving collective agreements, employment contracts, workplace investigations, administrative law and regulatory compliance, immigration, human rights, privacy, risk management, and other areas of law. This position also manages litigation and matters before administrative tribunals arising from performance management issues related to both medical and non-medical staff.

Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience

Membership or eligibility for membership in the Law Society of British Columbia, law degree from a recognized university, and a minimum of seven (7) years of active legal practice.

Experience in a variety of areas of law with particular experience in employment and labour law, immigration, professional regulation, information access and privacy, and healthcare is preferred, ideally with a public sector organization or a firm providing legal services to a public sector organization.

Skills And Abilities

• Demonstrated understanding of, and familiarity with, the legislative and regulatory framework governing healthcare, and unionized environments.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, labour law, immigration, information access and privacy, professional regulation, and administrative law.
• Strong legal research and legal analysis skills.
• Experience reviewing and drafting legal opinions, reports, contracts, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to provide timely and practical legal advice and guidance.
• Communicate effectively (both verbally and in writing) with a wide variety of audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and maintain and refine priorities in a complex and varied environment.
• Exemplary interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Team player with solution-oriented mindset and desire to continually learn new things.
• High standards of integrity, ethics, and professionalism.
• Strong ability to foster and maintain positive relationships with various internal and external stakeholders and team members.
• Experience advancing equity, diversity, inclusion and Truth and Reconciliation in the workplace.
• Physical ability to perform the skills of the job.
  
  
  

Role Responsibilities

• Working closely with a diverse set of professionals including professional practice leaders, physician leaders, mental health and adult protection leaders, risk management, human resources leaders, and other clinical and corporate functions, to provide legal support and recommendations on various PHC projects and strategic initiatives.
• Conducting legal research, interpreting or drafting contracts and policies, and providing legal advice and opinions (verbal and written) to enable effective decision-making.
• Acting as counsel in informal and formal grievance arbitration hearings, administrative tribunal matters, and before the courts.
• Advising on privacy, access and data protection requirements applicable to the organization, and recommending appropriate due diligence and risk mitigation steps.
• Liaising with PHC leaders, external counsel, and legal counsel in other public bodies, as required.
• Anticipating and identifying legal issues and advising internal stakeholders on legal strategies and solutions to mitigate risk, educate staff, and promote regulatory compliance.
• Advising on new and existing legislation applicable to PHC and the impact to the organization, programs, services and staff.
• Negotiating, drafting and revising legal documentation, including contracts, with external parties on behalf of the organization.
• Maintaining professional growth and development through ongoing education, and professional affiliations to keep up to date with industry trends, legislation, and developing case law.
• Conducting, supporting and overseeing workplace investigations.
• In collaboration with the General Counsel, instructing external counsel retained to provide specialized legal services, when required.
• Perform other duties as required.