Associate Counsel/Senior Associate Counsel, Procurement Law

Associate Counsel (Associate Counsel I) Salary: $131,283 - $154,454

Senior Associate Counsel (Associate Counsel II) Salary: $144,157 - $169,593 

ABOUT US

Almost 1.2 million residents call York Region home, making it one of the largest regions in Canada – and the fastest growing with a population that’s expected to grow to more than 2 million by 2041. Our geography, which is comprised of about 1,800 square kilometers over nine different municipalities, is as beautiful, interesting and diverse as our people. Local government is organized in a two-tier structure, and we work together with our local municipalities to provide residents and businesses access to a broad selection of services and resources.

WHAT WE OFFER

Consistently named one of Canada’s Best Employers by Forbes, we offer a collaborative, progressive workplace that takes pride in our organizational culture and is committed to living The 13 Factors of Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace – aligned with our vision to create strong, caring and safe communities both within and outside our walls.

• Defined Benefit Pension Program - With the Ontario Municipality Employees Retirement System (OMERS) defined benefit pension plan, you can confidently retire knowing that you will have income for life. Eligibility from date of hire as a full-time employee and includes employer-matched contributions.
• Employer of Choice - Recognized as the highest-ranking government employer in Canada and fourth overall among 300 organizations.
• Benefits and Wellness - Employees and their loved ones have access to an employee health care spending account, access to a 24/7 Employee and Family Assistance Program and corporate discounts and purchase plans for day-to-day products and services. Casual employees are eligible to receive payment in lieu of benefits and/or vacation.
• Inclusive and Diverse Workforce - We’re committed to fostering an environment that celebrates all dimensions of diversity and ensures everyone can develop to their full potential, participate freely in society and live with respect, dignity and freedom from discrimination. Our robust Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility program continues to grow, and has been recognized by the United Nations and many other organizations for our leadership.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Regional Municipality of York is seeking a driven, customer service oriented & collaborative lawyer to join its collegial Legal Services group to provide high quality and effective legal advice. Reporting to the Senior Counsel, Procurement, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing advice on a variety of public procurement, commercial, and municipal law matters to Regional Council, Senior Leadership and Regional Staff and the Region’ corporations, boards and related entities.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

• Work on complex procurement matters and review, draft, negotiate and advise on contracts, and other documents, to support the Region’s interests in the strategic planning and delivery of Regional services and infrastructure, including complex procurements.
• Provide sound-legal advice to Regional departments, corporations, and related entities on public procurement, commercial and municipal law matters, with a focus on  procurement issues.
• Represent the Region, and its related boards and corporations, in negotiations with external suppliers and contractors, and its agencies and partners at municipal, provincial and federal levels.
• Advise on and prepare Committee and Council Reports and by-laws and proactively advise Regional Council and Regional Staff on the legal implications of departmental initiatives.
• Provide legal advice to staff regarding public procurements and review and draft a variety of procurement documents. 
• Develop and implement proactive legal strategies that help to protect the interests of the Regional Corporation and reduce exposure to legal risks.
• Manage relationships with external stakeholders, Regional and local municipal Councils, municipal staff, external government and non-governmental agencies, and the communities served. 
• Maintain current knowledge of developments in law and their application to Regional responsibilities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet Department and Regional objectives.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

• Successful completion of a University Degree in Law (L.L.B.) or Juris Doctor Degree (J.D.).
• Membership in good standing as a Lawyer in the Law Society of Ontario.
• Associate Counsel: Minimum of one (1) to five (5) years experience providing a broad range of legal services in the area of commercial law with experience in public procurement law and municipal law being an asset.
• Senior Associate Counsel: Minimum of five (5) years experience providing a broad range of legal services in the area of commercial law with experience in public procurement law and municipal law being an asset. 
• Expert knowledge of legislation, guidelines, procedures, standards applicable to the practice area and an understanding of the Regional governmental structure.
• Experience in and familiarity with the public sector would be an asset.
• Knowledge of current developments in the law and their application to Regional responsibilities, with particular expertise in procurement law, corporate/commercial law, information technology matters or municipal law.
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability in corporate core competencies including customer service, communication, teamwork, initiative/self-management, leadership/management, accountability, and flexibility/self-management.
• Excellent communication, drafting, analytical, decision making and problem-solving skills. 
• Knowledge of and demonstrated ability in strategic planning, change management design, process and implementation strategies to optimize both quality and cost-effectiveness of delivery of its areas of business.
• Ability to multi-task and balance competing priorities.  

Please apply online by 5:00PM EST of the closing date indicated above. As an alternative, you can apply via e-mail to careers@york.ca .

All employment opportunities are recorded on a 24-Hour Career Line and may be accessed by calling 1-877-464-9675 ext. 75508. We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Please be advised, York Region uses email as the primary means of communication with candidates and does not use AI technology in any part of the recruitment process. Please ensure your email address is up to date, checked frequently (including your spam folder), and accepts messages from unknown users.

York Region is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive, barrier-free recruitment and selection process. We respect, encourage and celebrate our diversity, aiming to build a qualified workforce that reflects the population we serve. Should you require an accommodation under the Human Rights Code during the recruitment and selection process, including accessible formats and communication supports, please email careers@york.ca or call 1-877-464-9675 extension 75506. Accommodations for applicants with disabilities are available upon request during recruitment processes and throughout employment.