Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel, AGC071526

Department: Law

Type of Position: Full Time, Permanent

Location: 7th Floor, 5160 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON

Reporting to: Vice President & General Counsel

Work Model: Hybrid – flexible work schedule (All remote work must be completed from your home office within the province of Ontario.)

Grade: P

Posting Status: Open

Salary Range: The salary range for this position is $127,890 - $191,860 per year

About Tarion

Since 1976, Tarion has served new home buyers and new homeowners by ensuring that one of their life’s biggest investments is protected. Almost every new home in the province is covered by a new home warranty. This warranty protection is provided by Ontario’s builders and lasts up to seven years. It is backstopped by Tarion. More than 375,000 homes are currently enrolled in the warranty program. Every year about 55,000 new homes are enrolled.

How We Make a Difference

A home is one of life’s biggest purchases. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, Tarion provides Ontario’s new home buyers and owners with peace of mind that their purchase is safeguarded through the province’s new home warranty and protection program.

Almost every new home in the province is covered by a new home warranty. Tarion ensures consumer protection by providing free tools, guides and resources to help homeowners understand their builder’s warranty and navigate warranty claims with confidence. If a builder does not meet their warranty commitments, Tarion offers guidance to help homeowners ensure they receive the coverage they’re entitled to, and when necessary, steps in to help resolve warranty claims.

About the Team

The Tarion Law department has three broad functions: operational, support and policy development. A key operational component of the administration of the Ontario New Home Warranties and Protection Plan is dispute resolution, which Law addresses in courts, arbitrations and tribunals. Law supports other Tarion departments, the CEO and the Board of Directors by providing sound legal advice and recommendations regarding Tarion’s operations and special projects. Law is also involved in the development of Tarion’s policies and strategic initiatives.

Reporting to the Vice President & General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel provides expert legal advice, litigation leadership, policy development, and legal risk management. The Associate General Counsel also provides mentorship and oversight to legal staff and contributes to the organization’s long‑term strategic objectives.

What you will be doing:

Leadership & Department Management

• Provide leadership, direction, mentoring, and development to lawyers and legal support staff.
• Support the Vice President & General Counsel with departmental planning, operations, and leadership initiatives.
• Contribute to succession planning and capability development within the legal team, and manage direct reports including performance management, coaching, and professional development.

Dispute Resolution & Litigation Management

• Manage and conduct litigation before the courts, administrative bodies and arbitrations (homeowner LAT, builder LAT (NOPs), BAF, collection litigation and defence litigation) – representing Tarion at proceedings.
• Oversee external legal counsel and lawyers on assigned files.
• Maintain accountability for designated practice areas and business units and provide strategic legal risk assessment and resolution recommendations.

Corporate Legal Support, Policy Development & Strategic Initiatives

• Provide legal advice/opinions to other business units, operation groups, communications, strategic outreach (issues management), and advice on a broad range of legal matters.
• Support the development, implementation and evaluation of policy initiatives and collaborate with stakeholders to identify legal and operational impacts of policy changes.
• Ensure lessons learned through dispute resolution activities inform policy development and business practices.
• Participate on Board committees and governance‑related initiatives.

What you will need to succeed:

• Completion of Law degree required (LLB or JD), plus additional courses or Professional Designation.
• 10+ years of progressive experience or an equivalent combination of experience and demonstrated competencies may be considered.
• Significant experience in litigation and one or more of the following: client management, file management, project management.
• Advanced knowledge of legislation, legal rules and procedures; Ontario New Home Warranties Plan Act and Regulations.
• Strong business judgment and people leadership skills.
• Strong advocacy skills (both written and oral), excellent customer service skills with an ability to exercise tact, courtesy and sound judgment in relation with internal and external interested parties.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, documents and systems of other Tarion departments would be an asset.
• Legal research and drafting of legal documents.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of staff, from support staff to the CEO.
• Ability to represent Tarion to all stakeholder groups.
• Knowledge of the building industry and practices.
• Ability to work well under pressure and with short deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality.

Working Environment:

This position follows a hybrid working policy, requiring two (2) days per week in our office and three (3) days working remotely.

In order to assist with onboarding and workplace introductions, new hires will be required to work four (4) days in office per week during their first three (3) months of service. (All remote work must be completed from your home office within the province of Ontario.)

Why Choose Tarion?

We believe that Tarion’s employees are its most valuable asset. We strive to provide a welcoming work environment.

We offer employees a competitive compensation program, opportunities for learning and development, an employee discount program, access to wellness programs, and a variety of Employee Assistance Program tools and online resources to support well-being.

At Tarion, we believe that a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion allows employees to perform at their very best and underpins a culture in which everyone feels they have an equal opportunity to belong and build a career. Tarion is committed to developing and maintaining work environments and practices that ensure equality of opportunity in recruitment, selection and promotion, and to removing systemic barriers so that employees have every opportunity to feel included in the workplace.

If you are a person with a disability and have questions or would like help with your application, please contact a member of the Human Resources Department.

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