General Counsel

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Position Purpose:

Reporting to the Secretary-General, the General Counsel is the University’s principal legal officer and most senior legal advisor. The General Counsel provides trusted, strategic and solution-oriented counsel to the President, Secretary-General, Vice-Presidents, senior leaders and other University decision-makers on sensitive, high-stakes matters. The role safeguards the University’s legal interests, reputation and public mission while enabling sound, timely and well-informed decision-making. As head of the Legal Counsel Office, the General Counsel sets the strategic direction for the University’s legal services, leads and develops the internal legal team, and oversees the effective use of external counsel. The incumbent promotes a proactive, coordinated and service-oriented approach to legal risk, regulatory compliance, dispute prevention and institutional governance. The portfolio spans the full range of legal issues affecting a large, bilingual post-secondary institution, including governance, administrative law, corporate and commercial matters, policy development and interpretation, charities, procurement, intellectual property, access to information and privacy, contracts, estates and trusts, construction, information technology, real estate, insurance, employment and labour relations, human rights, litigation and dispute resolution.

In this role, your responsibilities will include:

• Provides timely, practical and strategic legal advice to the President, Secretary-General, Vice-Presidents and senior leaders on significant institutional matters.
• Leads the Legal Counsel Office, establishes service priorities and standards, allocates resources, and supervises, mentors and develops legal and administrative staff.
• Anticipates, assesses and communicates legal, regulatory, operational and reputational risks, and recommends proportionate strategies that protect the University while advancing its academic and administrative objectives.
• Provides legal and strategic guidance on institutional governance, decision-making authorities, policies, procedures and regulatory obligations, promoting defensible and transparent practices.
• Oversees the drafting, negotiation, review and interpretation of contracts, agreements, settlements, pleadings, tribunal materials and other legal instruments involving significant institutional interests.
• Directs the University’s response to litigation, claims, investigations, regulatory matters and disputes; develops resolution strategies and ensures senior leaders are appropriately briefed.
• Selects, retains and instructs external counsel and other legal service providers; manages performance, costs and outcomes to ensure high-quality and cost-effective support.
• Monitors legislative, regulatory and common-law developments affecting the University and translates emerging requirements into practical compliance, policy and operational responses.
• Builds strong, trusted relationships across the University and promotes early consultation, coordinated legal services and effective collaboration among specialized functions.
• Strengthens institutional legal capability through education, tools, templates and training that support informed decision-making and consistent risk management.
• Undertakes other strategic or legal responsibilities assigned by the Secretary-General.

What you will bring:

• LL.B. or J.D., with membership in good standing in the Law Society of Ontario.
• At least 12 years of progressively responsible legal practice, including substantial experience as a General Counsel, senior in-house counsel or legal leader in a university, public-sector or comparably multifaceted organization.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in both English and French.
• Demonstrated success leading an in-house legal function, managing professional staff, setting priorities and overseeing external counsel and legal budgets.
• Broad expertise across the principal areas of practice relevant to the University, with the judgment and agility to address unfamiliar or rapidly evolving issues.
• Superior strategic judgment, legal analysis, negotiation, advocacy, drafting and presentation skills, with a record of providing clear, practical and defensible advice on high-stakes matters.
• Strong understanding of governance, administrative decision-making, regulatory compliance and enterprise risk in a large, multi-stakeholder institution.
• Strong business acumen and demonstrated comfort with complex transactional matters or files across multiple practice areas.
• Exceptional relationship-building and influencing skills, including the ability to reconcile divergent perspectives, foster consensus and maintain trust in sensitive or contentious situations.
• Highly developed organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize competing demands, lead through ambiguity and respond calmly and effectively in a crisis.
• Impeccable integrity, discretion, independence of judgment and commitment to professional ethics.

*This position may be subject to a telework agreement.

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The University of Ottawa is committed to ensuring equity, diversity, and inclusion in the scholarly and leadership environments of our students, staff, and faculty. Accordingly, we strongly encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples in Canada, visible minorities members (racialized persons), persons with disabilities, women, as well as from all qualified candidates with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with equitable, diverse, and inclusive communities. Candidates who wish to be considered as a member of one or more designated groups are asked to complete the confidential Self-Identification Questionnaire, to be completed at the time of application.

All qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, preference will be given to Canadians and permanent residents. When submitting your application, please indicate if you are legally entitled to work in Canada

The University of Ottawa provides accommodations for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you are invited to proceed in the selection process, please notify us of any accommodations that you require by contacting the Office of the Vice-Provost, Faculty Relations by email at [email protected]. Any information you send us will be handled respectfully and in complete confidence.

The University of Ottawa is proud of its 160-year tradition of bilingualism. Through its Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute, the University provides training to staff members and to their spouses in their second official language.

Prior to May 1, 2022, the University required all students, faculty, staff, and visitors (including contractors) to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as defined in Policy 129 – Covid-19 Vaccination. This policy was suspended effective May 1, 2022 but may be reinstated at any point in the future depending on public health guidelines and the recommendations of experts.