Associate General Counsel

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, the Associate General Counsel is responsible for providing strategic legal advice for a broad range of legal matters to ensure BC Housing is managing legal risk and is in compliance with the law. He/she/they works closely with the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Board, CEO, Executive Team, and management team to identify and leverage risk, strategies, and operational needs. The position will manage legal matters, supervise a team of in-house lawyers, and oversee external counsel to ensure BC Housing satisfies its legislative obligations, reduces its exposure to risk and negative organizational impacts, and enters into commercial terms that optimize the organization’s objectives. The role, along with BC Housing’s legal unit provides a broad range of corporate services to all business units within the Commission, including providing strategic legal advice with matters related to: public procurement, privacy, insurance, compliance, construction, information technology, energy, litigation, employment and labour, commercial leasing, and other agreements (e.g.: housing, purchase and sale, secured financing, services, and licenses). The position will provide reporting on legal risks and strategy areas to the Executive Committee, Board of Commissioners, Ministry of Housing, and other relevant stakeholders.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

The successful candidate will have the following:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree and a Law Degree (LL.B or J.D) from a recognized post-secondary institution and a license to practice law in British Columbia.
• Current member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia or eligible for membership within three months of the start of employment.
• Extensive legal experience gained through in-house and/or reputable external firm.
• Or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience acceptable to the employer.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to learn and understand BC Housing’s mandate, programs, and policies in delivering social housing programs and services throughout the province.
• Ability to draft and negotiate complex agreements including service contracts, partnership agreements, public procurement documentation, insurance provisions, and other legal documents.
• Ability to manage and provide advice on complex litigation matters, with appropriate assistance from in-house and/or external counsel.
• Ability to explain complex legal issues and provide recommendations to address issues to a wide range of audience within and outside of BC lity to develop and maintain effective relationships with private and non-profit partners, various government agencies, external legal counsels, various associations/councils, and other key stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and make difficult decisions independently.
• Ability to deal with sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to lead and manage several complex files, initiatives, and demands concurrently.
• Strategic and analytical thinking, negotiating, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent leadership, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent consultative, facilitation, consensus building, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent skill in researching and investigating issues, determining facts and applying law and policy and making reasoned analyses.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, problem-solving, and conflict resolution skills.
• Criminal Record Check is required.

• Please Note: Successful applicant(s) are subject to a satisfactory criminal record search and are required to maintain Security Clearance throughout their employment.

  Indigenous candidates are welcome to connect with an Indigenous team member in our organization to discuss the recruitment process and our workplace, please contact to arrange a call.

  Please note that this excluded management position is a new position created by the employer. This created position is subject to the provisions of article 3.2 of the BCGEU Administrative/Clerical Division collective agreement. This article requires the employer and the BCGEU to reach a mutual agreement as to the exclusion status of the position which is currently outstanding. The permanent excluded status of this position remains outstanding and may be established as a BCGEU position. Pay, benefits, and terms of conditions of employment may be affected by this change.