General Counsel

General Counsel
Calgary, AB
External Relations – VP, of External Relations /
Management Permanent Salary /
Hybrid
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SAIT is a global leader in applied education and an institution that empowers employees to make a difference in the lives of our students. Building on more than a century of history, we are looking for innovative employees wanting to create a future with us. As part of our team, you are encouraged to be bold and inventive, bringing new ideas to the table. Change excites you.
 
SAIT offers the chance to do work with a purpose — preparing the next generation of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, advocates and explorers. We develop leaders in the classroom and our workspaces, encouraging lifelong learning for both students and employees.
Your future starts now … at SAIT.
 
We are looking for individuals who align with our commitment to excellence and who demonstrates:
o a growth mindset through curiosity, creativity, and collaboration
o leads with a world-class customer experience mindset
o is dynamic and responsible to the needs of stakeholders, speed and agility are critical
o someone who embraces trial and error as an important part of learning
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Vice-President, External Relations, SAIT’s General Counsel will provide guidance and leadership to the SAIT community regarding institutional governance issues, including legal affairs, policies and procedures, and regulatory commitments. The successful candidate will be able to manage the impact of external factors and limit risk exposure for SAIT. The complexity and sensitivity of the responsibilities requires this position to operate with considerable latitude. To perform successfully in this role, the General Counsel will maintain current knowledge of the legal environment, a solid understanding of the SAIT community, and develop/maintain productive relationships with campus stakeholders, external counsel and regulators, and the senior executive team.
The Role

• Provide Guidance and integrated vision, strategy, and implementation plan for Institutional governance issues, in alignment with SAIT’s 5-year strategic plan
• Ensure compliance with local, provincial, and federal laws and regulations
• Provide legal perspectives on various situations
• Identify legal and governance trends that may impact SAIT in the future
• Advise on changes to laws and regulations, evaluate the impact of these changes on SAIT, and develop SAIT’s position on such changes for review and discussion
• Serve as a resource officer to executive management and SAIT’s Board of Governors
• In partnership with other senior leaders, advise on appropriate procedures, controls and reporting to meet compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Deal with external parties such as regulators and external counsels
• Evaluate and advise on risk, and proactively look for and develop possible solutions and better practices to mitigate risk based on possible scenarios
• Provides leadership and direction to staff in the following areas: policies and procedures, freedom of information and protection of privacy, and records management
• Encourages and enables responsive communication, respect, and teamwork
• Manage and support employees through the employment lifecycle (hiring, training, mentoring, performance development and offboarding)
• Operates and implements teamwork strategies with intentional Equity, Diversity & Inclusion focused decision making.
• Demonstrate excellent employee leadership, while focusing on strategic skill development and opportunities for advancement
• Work in collaboration with other teams, understanding their scope at SAIT and ensuring legal, regulatory, and policy requirements are communicated and upheld

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience as a general counsel, director of governance, or similar role
• Training and certification in the governance or risk management is required; a Degree in Law would be an asset
• Licensed to practice law in Canada and a lawyer in good standing would be an asset
• Previous experience leading legal functions within mid-to-large organizations, preferably in the post-secondary education sector
• Thorough knowledge of relevant legislation, including but not limited to the Post-secondary Learning Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Health Information Act, Copyright Act, Alberta Human Rights Act, and Public Interest Disclosure Act
• Proficient in developing legal strategies and objectives aligned with organizational goals
• A strong commitment to ethical conduct, integrity, and a keen sense of responsibility in upholding regulatory compliance and secondary educational institutions’ best practices
• Track record of working in a regulated environment, providing practical support and advice on risk and compliance matters 
• Skilled in building consensus and influencing stakeholders through the development of strong, trust-based relationships
• Able to understand and navigate SAIT’s business objectives, balancing legal considerations with growth aspirations
• Proficiency in establishing relationships with regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders
• Adaptable and resilient in rapidly changing landscapes, showing aptitude in volatile environment
• Proven track record in a senior legal leadership role, including building, coaching, and mentoring teams 
• Proven ability to formulate policy proposals and implement effective compliance and risk mitigation training programs
• Experience supporting compliance and risk mitigation training programs
• Experience with various regulatory regimes and regulators

Job classification: Director
Salary range: $123,000 - 206,000
Paid Leave: 4 Weeks Vacation / 14 Flex Days per year
# of positions: 1
Hours Per Week: 37.5
Posting closing date: Open until position filled
View a summary of our benefits and perks for salaried employees as one of Alberta's Top Employers, including health & dental care, pension plan, vacation & special leave and flexible work options at our beautiful inner-city campus.
Equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) is essential to achieving SAIT’s vision to be a global leader in applied education. We encourage applications from women, Indigenous people, racialized people, people with disabilities, people from gender and sexually diverse communities, and/or people with intersectional identities. Learn more about EDI at SAIT .
At SAIT, we understand that experience comes in many forms. We’re dedicated to adding diverse perspectives to SAIT - so if your experience is close to what we’re looking for, please consider applying.
SAIT is committed to supporting persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. We will work with applicants to provide accommodations upon request to the Talent Advisor.  
 
To Apply
Please apply using Chrome, as applications are only supported using Chrome on desktop. To continue with the online application process click on the Apply For This Job button or use your LinkedIn profile. All applications should be made through our online system. By using this system to apply for this position, you agree that your candidacy will be visible to all hiring managers at SAIT. If you have concerns about this, please contact [email protected]. Please do not apply to this email address — all applications should be made through our online system.
 
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