Company Biography

As Ontario's only multi-utility provider, we offer a comprehensive range of services, including water, wastewater, natural gas, electricity, and telecommunications - all under one roof. This integrated approach empowers us to deliver innovative solutions, exceptional customer service, and operational efficiencies that set us apart in the industry.

With over 150 years of commitment to the Kingston community, we work every day to provide the safe, reliable utility services our customers rely on. Our efforts go beyond keeping the lights on and the water flowing. We’re driving progress through projects that create lasting, positive change. At the heart of everything we do is our vision to advance our unique utility model to benefit our customers and build better communities.

At Utilities Kingston, we believe that strong communities are built by strong teams. By joining us, you'll be part of a collaborative and dynamic environment where your skills and ideas will contribute to enhancing safety, driving reliability, and building a resilient future for our community.

Primary Duties

Reporting to the President & CEO, the General Counsel (GC) will be the organization’s chief legal officer and a strategic member of the Senior Leadership Team. The GC will provide enterprise-wide legal leadership, oversee corporate governance, serve as Corporate Secretary to several Boards, manage enterprise legal risk, serve as the Chief Privacy Officer and will be a trusted advisor to the President & CEO, Boards, and Senior Leadership Team.

This role will incorporate legal strategy, compliance, contracts, litigation oversight, and privacy in a highly regulated utility environment.

Major Responsibilities:

• Representing the corporations in a full range of legal services to the corporation including all matters related to corporate law, contracts, legislation, privacy, construction law, and other legal matters as required.

• Fulfills the role of Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors and the Chief Privacy Officer to the corporation.

• Provides legal counsel to the Senior Leadership Team and other departments, on a wide range of legal issues affecting the corporation.

• Establish and lead legal strategy for the corporation, including identifying, assessing, and implementing risk mitigation strategies to manage legal risk, and liability.

• Provide vision, leadership, expertise and direction in formulating strategies, programs and policies for the company in support of the attainment of the corporate strategic plans.

Corporate Governance

• Serve as a key corporate advisor on corporate governance and board matters, including overseeing board reporting
• Fulfill the corporate secretary functions for the Board of Directors (BOD), which includes ensuring the creation, implementation and maintenance of best practices for board and corporate governance, advising on a range of issues in a complex board landscape, maintaining corporate records.
• Attend all BOD meetings, sub-committee meetings as well as any other ad hoc committees as required

Privacy

• Serve as the Chief Privacy Officer function, manage the privacy program (governance, compliance, training, incident response) and coordinate with information management leads

Legal and Compliance

• Oversee the creation and implementation of strategies for multi-disciplinary legal projects, providing strategic legal advice to the executive team and senior leadership on a range of complex legal, regulatory and business issues.

• Oversee litigation matters as appropriate, preserve privilege and ensure rigorous fact-finding.

• Ensure management of legal risk and provide strategic advice on a broad range of issues including various types of legal contracts, intellectual property, privacy law, and litigation.

• As appropriate, draft, negotiate, review, and management of the full range of contractual agreements in support of all aspects of the corporation.

• Implement and maintain contracting frameworks, including implementing standards for drafting, negotiation, approval, and lifecycle management.

• Provide general legal advice to support the corporate functions and operations of Utilities Kingston, including as an officer of the Corporation

• Provide legal advice through the procurement process when required

• Provide legal review in policy development and review

Enterprise Risk Management

• Oversee the development and implementation of a mature Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) program and ongoing maintenance

• Ensure the ERM program is aligned with corporate strategy and reflects appropriate risk appetite, overseeing risk frameworks, assessments, and reporting to effective execution.

• Ensure appropriate insurance coverage is maintained proactively and aligned with organizational requirements and needs.

• Oversee the development of risk culture and risk partnerships across the organization, ensuring the risk team adopts best practices and practical solutions tailored to the needs of the organization.

Outside Counsel Oversight

• Identify matters requiring referral to outside counsel and obtain their services (except for matters related to employment, labour and health and safety law, insurance policies where the insurer appoints counsel and regulatory proceedings).
• Provide outside counsel with appropriate context, background, guidelines, and authorization.
• Determine, clarify, and communicate the respective roles of internal and external counsel.
• Evaluate external legal work and opinions and advise senior leadership.
• Review outside counsel fees, ensure appropriate and timely payment for services.

Education, Certification and Other Qualifications Required

• Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (J.D.)

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario.

• A minimum of 12 years of progressive legal experience with meaningful in-house leadership

• Experience in utilities/energy or other highly regulated industry experience is an asset.

• Expertise across corporate governance/board advisory, administrative, procurement/construction, privacy, and litigation oversight.

• Proven ability to advise CEOs/Boards, manage outside counsel and budgets, and align legal/risk strategies to business objectives.

• Experience leading teams, including in unionized environments, is an asset.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Advanced MS Office skills
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Advanced interpersonal skills
• Advanced ability to think and plan strategically and translate strategy into action

Special Working Conditions/Conditions of Employment

This position is being posted to support the creation of a new role within the department, ensuring continuity and support for our team and organizational goals.

Closing Statement

Your resume and/or cover letter must clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the position.

Accessibility Statement

Appropriate accommodations will be provided as required by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) upon request.

Employment Equity

Utilities Kingston is committed to employment equity and we encourage applications from all designated group members. Our goal is a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the Kingston community.

Utilities Kingston thanks all candidates that apply; however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

Internal applicants must inform their supervisor or manager of their application and subsequent status