Senior Counsel Employment

Senior Counsel Employment

Reporting to the Vice-President, Litigation & Employment, you will be a key member of the Canadian Litigation & Employment group. You will support our Canadian business units and partner with the Employee Relations & Standards team by providing practical and timely legal representation, advice, and guidance on a broad range of employment matters. Your primary focus will be on day-to-day employment advice, employment litigation, and employment litigation management including complex employment matters, wrongful dismissal claims, human rights complaints, and workplace investigations. You will have the opportunity to establish strong relationships internally and develop expertise in other related practice areas within the litigation and employment function. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a highly accomplished team of legal professionals.

 Accountabilities:    

• Contributing as a senior member of the Canadian Legal group by bringing your experience, creative legal skills, and collaborative work ethic to deliver practical solutions to our business and Human Resources partners.
• Providing legal opinions, advice, and recommendations to various business units on employment matters which affect or involves the Company.
• Representing Canada Life on litigated employment matters and at certain tribunals including the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
• Drafting pleadings, briefs, settlement material and other legal documents, conducting discoveries, mediations, and settlement conferences as necessary on employment matters.
• Instructing and managing external counsel retained in connection with employment matters.
• Supporting a wide variety of business units in connection with legislative and regulatory developments on employment matters.
• Co-ordinating and/or contributing to strategic projects that support the business units we serve and the development of the employment law function, efficiencies and capabilities.
• Supporting Human Resources initiatives such as policy development and drafting, the design of employee facing material for new projects and the preparation of employee communications.
• Assisting the Vice-President, Litigation & Employment on select legal and employment matters and broader Legal group initiatives.

Qualifications and Competencies:

• Law Degree, Member of the Law Society of Ontario (required) and in another provincial bar (an asset).
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in employment law with a law firm and/or in-house (ideally experience in both environments).
• Expertise in employment legislation in Ontario; knowledge of legislation in other provinces an asset.
• Experience advising on complex employment matters.
• Knowledge of insurance products and/or financial service industry an asset.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to synthesize and present issues with clarity to key stakeholders and/or senior management in all business and functional areas.
• Strong drafting, legal and communication skills with a practical solution-oriented approach and the ability to use clear, plain language.
• Excellent judgment, with the ability to identify key issues and provide an independent view to management in a clear and practical manner.
• Thorough understanding and up-to-date knowledge of employment law and related regulatory developments.
• Demonstrated interest in developing (further) subject matter expertise in various areas and sharing expertise with and/or mentoring other team members.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Superior negotiating skills.
• Highly focused with attention to detail, ability to self-manage, prioritize, organize work, and meet deadlines.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills with experience simplifying and resolving complex problems.
• Superior organizational and time management skills with experience addressing multiple projects.
• Experience practising with virtual litigation tools and techniques and proficient in role-related technology.

Please note that this position may require travel.

Given the size and scope of our organization, we have the flexibility for this position to be located in the following head office locations: Toronto, London, Winnipeg. 

Career opportunities will be open a minimum of 5 business days from the date of posting, closing dates will vary depending on the search activity. All applications received will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Be your best at Canada Life- Apply today!

Being a part of Canada Life means you have a voice. This is a place where your unique background, perspectives and talents are valued, and shape our future success.

You can be your best here. You’re part of a diverse and inclusive workplace where your career and well-being are championed. You’ll have the opportunity to excel in your way, finding new and better ways to deliver exceptional customer and advisor experiences.

Together, as part of a great team, you’ll deliver on our shared purpose to improve the well-being of Canadians. It’s our driving force. Become part of a strong and successful company that’s trusted by millions of Canadians to do the right thing.

Canada Life serves?the financial security needs of more than 13 million people across Canada, with additional operations in Europe and the United States. As members of the Power Financial Corporation group of companies, we’re one of Canada’s leading insurers with interests in life insurance, health insurance, investment and retirement savings. We offer a broad portfolio of financial and benefit plan solutions for individuals, families, businesses and organizations.?

We are committed to providing an inclusive, accessible environment, where all employees and customers feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the communities in which we live, and to creating an environment where every employee?has the opportunity to?reach their potential.?

It is our priority to remove barriers to provide equal access to employment. A Human Resources representative will work with applicants who request a reasonable accommodation during the application process. All information shared during the accommodation request process will be stored and used in a manner that is consistent with applicable laws and Canada Life policies. To request a reasonable accommodation in the application process, contact talentacquisitioncanada@canadalife.com.

Canada Life?would like to thank all applicants, however only those who qualify for an interview will be contacted.