Legal Counsel

Employee Group: Exempt

Location: 4515 Central Boulevard, Burnaby

Salary Range/ Wage Rate: Professional / Technical, Level P5B ($161,794.85 - $190,355.78 annually) (2024 wage rates)

Our Legal Services & Indigenous Relations Department is seeking a Legal Counsel who will join our team of eight lawyers and two administrative staff.

You are: called to the Bar in British Columbia and have 5+ years of experience in one or more of the following practice areas: local government, environmental, regulatory, Aboriginal, and contract law.

The Legal Counsel reports to the Lead Legal Counsel.

This role:

• Provides legal advice regarding environmental issues, including regulatory compliance and enforcement, contaminated sites, environmental risk exposure and management, emergency systems and emergency response, and environmental incident avoidance, response, reporting and investigations.
• Provides legal advice and assistance with the development and drafting of new bylaws and regulations; amends and periodically revises existing bylaws.
• Works to ensure Metro Vancouver satisfies its legislative obligations, reduces its exposure to risk and negative organizational impact, and enters into commercial terms that optimize the corporation’s objectives in its dealings with other entities.
• Conducts research on a variety of relevant topics and stays current on changes in laws, especially rapidly developing common law decisions respecting the constitutional rights / title of Indigenous peoples, the application of UNDRIP, and Indigenous laws. Acts as a corporate resource and provides consistent and reliable advice on federal and provincial legislation applicable to solid waste, sewerage and drainage, water, and other regulatory services, including the Local Government Act, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act, Greater Vancouver Water District Act, Community Charter, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, B.C. Human Rights Code, Residential Tenancy Act, Environmental Management Act, Water Sustainability Act, and Fisheries Act. Also acts as a resource and provides advice on Metro Vancouver’s own regulatory bylaws, including compliance and enforcement, and permitting, licensing and administration in jurisdictional spheres including solid waste management, liquid waste disposal, air quality, watershed management, parks, and electoral area governance.
• Makes recommendations in consideration of all relevant information including facts, legal principles, risks, relationships and the clients’ objectives. Advises clients of risks and provides options and alternatives that are clear and responsive to client departments’ needs.
• Provides advice and guidance to regulatory programs including guidance on training for enforcement staff and challenging enforcement issues.
• Represents Metro Vancouver and provides advice on various proceedings including negotiations, agreements and other dealings with third party corporations, other orders of government, individuals and First Nations.
• Assists decision making by providing comprehensive risk assessments and liability advice. Reviews appropriate risk assessments and policies to address compliance with laws and regulations. Provides drafting advice for strategic plans, amendments and implementation matters and attends internal workshops in the early stages of a project to offer legal perspective.
• Provides legal advice regarding dispute resolution, litigation and administrative law proceedings in a variety of subject matters, including environmental, regulatory, procurement, construction, contracts, negligence, bylaw enforcement and others. In conjunction with external counsel, assists with drafting court documents and attends at regulatory hearings, mediations, and court proceedings on behalf of Metro Vancouver.
• Performs other related duties as required.

To be successful, you have:

• Bachelor of laws degree or equivalent degree. 5+ years of recent related experience as a practicing lawyer.
• Sound experience with local government, environmental, regulatory, Aboriginal and contract law. In-house legal counsel experience, particularly in the local government context, is an asset.
• Good standing as a practicing member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
• Superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively listen, persuade others, and resolve complex problems using a high degree of independent judgment.
• Significant experience drafting and revising sensitive and complex legal documents.
• Demonstrated ability to:
• provide objective opinions, options and alternatives that are clear and responsive to clients’ issues and needs;
• interpret and provide reliable and consistent advice. Experience with federal and provincial legislation applicable to local government, solid waste, sewerage and drainage, water, and other regulatory services, including the Local Government Act, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage Act, Greater Vancouver Water District Act, Community Charter, Environmental Management Act, Water Sustainability Act, Fisheries Act and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act is an asset;
• work under broad direction without formal guidelines or precedent and use significant independent judgment to provide advice to clients on issues of major consequence for the organization;
• meet challenging timelines and objectives and demonstrates persistence in overcoming obstacles;
• build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts under circumstances that may be highly politicized and sensitive;
• navigate disagreements, provide effective guidance and propose relevant and practical solutions in adversarial situations;
• identify areas of risk or opportunity and propose solutions to resolve issues in the best interest of the organization;
• understand and evaluate the long‑term impact of decisions; and
• analyze and interpret complex issues where considerable variation in interpretation is possible.
• Proficiency using Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Our Vision:

Metro Vancouver embraces collaboration and innovation in providing sustainable regional services that contribute to a livable and resilient region and a healthy natural environment for current and future generations.

Metro Vancouver employees proudly serve the region and demonstrate the behaviours and attributes of six leadership competencies: Accountability, Adaptability, Building and Nurturing Relationships, Communication, Continuous Learning, and Strategic Thinking and Action.

At Metro Vancouver, we are committed to cultivating a diverse, safe, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all. We strive to attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce that is reflective of the region we serve. If an accommodation is required during the recruitment and selection process, please contact careers@metrovancouver.org for support. Learn more about our commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion here.

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