Legal Counsel
About the role
Vice President (Admin & Finance)
Thunder Bay
Full-time
Permanent
Overview
We are seeking an engaged, forward-thinking legal mind with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment, strong decision-making ability, and proven conflict resolution expertise. You will inspire collaboration and creative problem-solving, while anticipating the evolving and diverse needs of a dynamic, public-sector, post-secondary environment. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in higher education while working at the heart of an institution committed to excellence, innovation, and community. As Legal Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the University’s future by providing trusted legal advice and services across a wide spectrum of legal areas. You will be the University’s partner in identifying and managing legal and reputational risks, ensuring decisions are not only legally sound but also strategically aligned with our mission and values.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Oversight
- Reporting to the Vice-President (Administration & Finance), the Legal Counsel is responsible for providing on-site legal and strategic advice across University portfolios and priorities to manage matters involving institutional and reputation risk .
- Serve as a member of the University’s Senior Management Team, contributing legal and strategic insights to institutional priorities.
Legal Advice & Risk Management
- Provide oversight of all legal and regulatory matters including highly sensitive matters (e.g., Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Appeals).under which the University operates, ensuring protection of corporate and commercial interests.
- Analyze complex legal issues, assess risks including legal and reputational, and deliver in-depth opinions to guide University decision-making.
Contracts & Agreements
- Review, draft, and negotiate contracts and agreements requiring executive signing authority, ensuring terms are legally sound, favourable and aligned with University policies.
- Ensure contractual obligations are within the University’s capabilities and compliant with established policies and procedures.
Policy & Compliance
- Collaborate with the University Secretary on the development of policies and procedures and support University leadership in implementing frameworks that meet legal, regulatory, and governance requirements.
Litigation & Case Management
- Determine when external counsel is required for specialized or large-scale litigation matters and oversee their engagement.
- Manage internal case responsibilities, including liaising with external counsel, preparing and reviewing documentation, coordinating discovery, attending proceedings and supporting expert witnesses.
Third-Party Relations
- Represent the University in negotiations, communications, and settlements with third parties and manage legal interactions to resolve disputes and protect institutional interests.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree; member in good standing (or eligible) with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Significant experience providing strategic legal advice to senior leaders across a wide range of legal areas, including corporate/commercial, contracts, litigation, real estate, information and privacy, human rights/harassment, labour and employment, and estates/trusts.
- In-depth knowledge of corporate/commercial and contract law, with demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate diverse agreements (e.g., service, employment, construction, property/leases, affiliation, intellectual property, research, consulting, funding/contribution, non-disclosure, donor, and financing).
- Proven skills in negotiation, mediation, risk management, and problem-solving, with experience managing complex legal files of significant scope and impact.
- Strong ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and legal precedents to ensure compliance and mitigate institutional and reputational risk.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with experience in both unionized and non-unionized environments.
Benefits Information
Why Lakehead University?
Application Deadline:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 11:59pm
Salary:
Band 11 ($113,586.97 to $141,984.29)
Contact Information:
Reference Number:
SCHII-25-47
Application Deadline:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 11:59pm
Salary:
Band 11 ($113,586.97 to $141,984.29)
Yes, eligible for benefits
Contact Information:
Reference Number:
SCHII-25-47
About Lakehead University
Lakehead University offers an exceptional and unconventional education that can help you become who you want to be.
The University’s focus is nurturing scholarship. Lakehead is an innovative, comprehensive university that values the potential in all its students, giving them the highest chance of success. For every student who knows what they want to achieve and is committed to their own success, we provide an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community.
Over 8,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at Lakehead Orillia and Lakehead Thunder Bay, home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years. Lakehead is consistently among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities in Maclean’s Magazine University Rankings), as well as ranking highly in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource).
Lakehead Orillia maintains its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) status.
Click the link to take a virtual or an in-person tour - www.lakeheadu.ca/future-students/campus-tours
Click the link to ask questions about Lakehead University - www.lakeheadu.ca/studentcentral/ask-lakehead
For more information about Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
Legal Counsel
About the role
Vice President (Admin & Finance)
Thunder Bay
Full-time
Permanent
Overview
We are seeking an engaged, forward-thinking legal mind with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment, strong decision-making ability, and proven conflict resolution expertise. You will inspire collaboration and creative problem-solving, while anticipating the evolving and diverse needs of a dynamic, public-sector, post-secondary environment. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in higher education while working at the heart of an institution committed to excellence, innovation, and community. As Legal Counsel, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the University’s future by providing trusted legal advice and services across a wide spectrum of legal areas. You will be the University’s partner in identifying and managing legal and reputational risks, ensuring decisions are not only legally sound but also strategically aligned with our mission and values.
Responsibilities
Leadership & Oversight
- Reporting to the Vice-President (Administration & Finance), the Legal Counsel is responsible for providing on-site legal and strategic advice across University portfolios and priorities to manage matters involving institutional and reputation risk .
- Serve as a member of the University’s Senior Management Team, contributing legal and strategic insights to institutional priorities.
Legal Advice & Risk Management
- Provide oversight of all legal and regulatory matters including highly sensitive matters (e.g., Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Appeals).under which the University operates, ensuring protection of corporate and commercial interests.
- Analyze complex legal issues, assess risks including legal and reputational, and deliver in-depth opinions to guide University decision-making.
Contracts & Agreements
- Review, draft, and negotiate contracts and agreements requiring executive signing authority, ensuring terms are legally sound, favourable and aligned with University policies.
- Ensure contractual obligations are within the University’s capabilities and compliant with established policies and procedures.
Policy & Compliance
- Collaborate with the University Secretary on the development of policies and procedures and support University leadership in implementing frameworks that meet legal, regulatory, and governance requirements.
Litigation & Case Management
- Determine when external counsel is required for specialized or large-scale litigation matters and oversee their engagement.
- Manage internal case responsibilities, including liaising with external counsel, preparing and reviewing documentation, coordinating discovery, attending proceedings and supporting expert witnesses.
Third-Party Relations
- Represent the University in negotiations, communications, and settlements with third parties and manage legal interactions to resolve disputes and protect institutional interests.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) or equivalent law degree; member in good standing (or eligible) with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Significant experience providing strategic legal advice to senior leaders across a wide range of legal areas, including corporate/commercial, contracts, litigation, real estate, information and privacy, human rights/harassment, labour and employment, and estates/trusts.
- In-depth knowledge of corporate/commercial and contract law, with demonstrated ability to draft, review, and negotiate diverse agreements (e.g., service, employment, construction, property/leases, affiliation, intellectual property, research, consulting, funding/contribution, non-disclosure, donor, and financing).
- Proven skills in negotiation, mediation, risk management, and problem-solving, with experience managing complex legal files of significant scope and impact.
- Strong ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and legal precedents to ensure compliance and mitigate institutional and reputational risk.
- Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with experience in both unionized and non-unionized environments.
Benefits Information
Why Lakehead University?
Application Deadline:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 11:59pm
Salary:
Band 11 ($113,586.97 to $141,984.29)
Contact Information:
Reference Number:
SCHII-25-47
Application Deadline:
Friday, September 26, 2025 - 11:59pm
Salary:
Band 11 ($113,586.97 to $141,984.29)
Yes, eligible for benefits
Contact Information:
Reference Number:
SCHII-25-47
About Lakehead University
Lakehead University offers an exceptional and unconventional education that can help you become who you want to be.
The University’s focus is nurturing scholarship. Lakehead is an innovative, comprehensive university that values the potential in all its students, giving them the highest chance of success. For every student who knows what they want to achieve and is committed to their own success, we provide an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community.
Over 8,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at Lakehead Orillia and Lakehead Thunder Bay, home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years. Lakehead is consistently among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities in Maclean’s Magazine University Rankings), as well as ranking highly in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource).
Lakehead Orillia maintains its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) status.
Click the link to take a virtual or an in-person tour - www.lakeheadu.ca/future-students/campus-tours
Click the link to ask questions about Lakehead University - www.lakeheadu.ca/studentcentral/ask-lakehead
For more information about Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.