General Counsel

The General Counsel serves as the organization’s inaugural legal officer and a senior strategic partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team (ELT). This role provides authoritative legal guidance across all areas of the organization’s operations, with sensitivity to the unique legal, regulatory, and governance frameworks applicable to an Indigenous-owned enterprise operating within Squamish Nation territory and in alignment with Sḵwx́wú7mesh values and interests.

This is a decision-influencing position requiring deep legal expertise, sound commercial judgment, and the cultural competency to navigate the intersection of Indigenous governance, corporate law, and community expectation. The General Counsel is a trusted advisor who identifies and manages legal risk, ensures regulatory compliance, and upholds the legal integrity of Nchʼḵaý Development Corporation across all its entities and initiatives.

Duties, Responsibilities, Authority, and Accountabilities

Legal Advisory & Risk Management

• Provide timely, practical, and strategically sound legal advice to the CEO, ELT, and Board on matters affecting the organization.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risk across corporate, commercial, regulatory, real estate, and Indigenous law domains.
• Advise on the legal implications of major organizational decisions, transactions, and strategic initiatives before they are finalized.
• Ensure the organization’s operations are conducted in accordance with applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws, as well as Squamish Nation governance frameworks.

Corporate & Governance Counsel

• Support the Board and ELT in meeting their governance obligations, including fiduciary duties, conflict-of-interest protocols, and policy compliance.
• Draft, review, and negotiate contracts, agreements, and legal instruments on behalf of the organization and its subsidiary entities.
• Oversee corporate secretarial functions, including maintenance of corporate records, minute books, and statutory filings.
• Advise on the structuring of joint ventures, partnerships, and business acquisitions in a manner that protects the organization’s interests and aligns with Nation priorities.
• Provide legal guidance on Indigenous self-determination in the context of economic development, and the legal dimensions of economic reconciliation.
• Support the organization in structuring agreements and commercial relationships that reflect and respect Sḵwx́wú7mesh jurisdiction and values.
• Liaise with Squamish Nation General Counsel and external advisors on matters of shared interest, ensuring the organization’s legal positions are well-coordinated.
• Advise the CEO and ELT on emerging legal and regulatory developments affecting First Nations economic development.
• Manage and oversee litigation involving the organization, including engagement and supervision of external General Counsel.
• Develop strategies to resolve disputes efficiently and in the organization’s best interest, favouring negotiated outcomes where appropriate.
• Maintain oversight of legal proceedings and ensure the CEO and Board are apprised of material developments.

Compliance & Legal Operations

• Establish and maintain a robust legal compliance framework, including policies, procedures, and training to manage legal obligations across the enterprise.
• Manage external General Counsel relationships, including retainer agreements, budget oversight, and performance expectations.
• Ensure the organization’s intellectual property portfolio, privacy obligations, and regulatory licenses are maintained.

Knowledge, Skills, and Qualifications

• Current member in good standing to the Bar in British Columbia with a minimum of 5 years’ of in-house or equivalent counsel experience (not including articling).
• Demonstrated expertise in corporate and commercial law, with exposure to real estate, construction, finance, and regulatory matters.
• Knowledge of Indigenous law, Treaty rights, and the legal frameworks governing First Nations economic development in Canada.
• Experience advising Boards and senior executives on governance, risk, and strategic legal matters.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills, with the ability to distil complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance.
• High degree of cultural competency and demonstrated respect for Indigenous governance structures and community relationships.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment under pressure, and operate with discretion and integrity.
• Collaborative and relationship-oriented, with the ability to build trust across diverse internal and external stakeholders.

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