Legal Counsel

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 and Corporate Commercial Services team is currently seeking a Commercial lawyer to join our busy and collegial legal team, located in downtown Toronto. Reporting to a Director, Legal Services, the successful candidate will be required to provide proactive, timely and strategic advice to senior business leaders and their teams, or business units, gaining exposure to a wide variety of work on a broad range of matters for complex projects, including information technology, procurement, and general commercial matters.

What will I be doing?

• Draft and review contracts, memoranda of understanding and other legal documents including SaaS agreements, software licenses, managed service agreements, professional services agreements, data sharing agreements, sponsorships, partnerships, promotional agreements, and other technology, privacy and marketing related initiatives.
• Collaborate with other members of legal and commercial management groups to support procurement related work including preparation, review and negotiation of terms and conditions, review of key procurement documents, such as RFPs and RFQs, and manage other matters pertaining to government procurement initiatives, including bid preparation and evaluation, Contract A/B issues, trade agreements, disputes, disqualifications, debarments and conflict of interest assessments.
• Be accountable for matters within an assigned portfolio of legal work grouped by business unit, program or project as assigned by senior lawyers.
• Maintain an awareness of current provincial and federal legislation and regulations, international and domestic trade agreements and relevant judicial decisions that may impact Metrolinx.
• Recommend amendments to existing templates, policies and procedures arising from relevant legislative or regulatory changes; provide advice/opinions on the interpretation of legislation.
• Provide high-quality and timely legal advice, strategic advice, research, opinions, guidance and service on matters pertaining to various portfolios supported by the team.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of processes and tools to facilitate retention of knowledge, information and decisions made with respect to legal advice provided, and the consistent Application of such advice across the enterprise.
• Conduct, and where appropriate, oversee legal research to provide legal advice and opinions on a diverse range of complex legal matters.
• Oversee legal work completed by articling students and summer law students
• Make presentations on current legal issues relevant to internal Metrolinx stakeholder groups.
• Contribute to enhancing corporate policies, standards and procedures, and provide opinions and advice to the corporation to minimize corporate legal risk and protect positions and assets.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in law (JD or LLB).
• Membership in the Law Society of Ontario as a Lawyer in good standing is required.
• Demonstrated legal experience within the area of Commercial/Contract Law and Information Technology; and Government Procurement and Contracting would be an asset.
• Ability to provide sound legal advice and suggest business-oriented solutions to complex legal issues in commercial and political contexts.
• Excellent interpersonal, negotiation, oral/written/presentation skills to draft documentation, provide legal opinions and interpretations, and direct and manage external legal counsel effectively.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, push files forward and escalate issues appropriately.
• Ability to identify and resolve legal issues and translate legal concepts into readily understandable advice.

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.

For Internal applicants, with the recent implementation of the Internal Mobility Policy, the internal recruitment process has changed for non-union roles. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application.

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.

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