Legal Counsel

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ELIGIBILITY FOR THIS COMPETITION IS RESTRICTED TO STEP 1 CANDIDATES INCLUDING OPS ALOC AND OCAA LAWYERS living or working within 125 km of this location. Note: Eligible lawyers from outside the Area of Search may apply but will not be entitled to relocation or travel expenses for the transfer as set out below.

Step 1: All regular/fixed-term OCAA and ALOC lawyers on staff, current Redeployment List Members and current Articling Student Hireback Pool Members.
Step 2: In the absence of qualified applicants at Step 1 the competition may be reposted so that external applicants or non-members of the above-mentioned groups would then be eligible to apply.

The Legal Services Branch for the Ministry of Northern Development and the Ministry of Mines (the “Ministries”) has an exciting opportunity for one legal counsel. This position offers interesting and complex work in a small and collegial branch.

The successful candidate will provide legal advice and support to the Ministry of Mines with respect to the drafting and negotiation of policy-based resource revenue sharing agreements, complex bilateral and multilateral agreements, general corporate/commercial advice, and general Aboriginal law and resource development law advice. This position will involve work primarily in contract and commercial law, within a mining/resource development law context, including drafting and negotiating complex agreements with Indigenous communities and industry stakeholders.

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How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are committed to build a workforce that reflects the communities we serve and to promote a diverse, anti-racist, inclusive, accessible, merit-based, respectful and equitable workplace.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black, and racialized individuals, as well as people from a diversity of ethnic and cultural origins, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.

Visit the OPS Anti-Racism Policy and the OPS Diversity and Inclusion Blueprint pages to learn more about the OPS commitment to advance racial equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion in the public service.

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the "How to apply" section if you require a disability-related accommodation.

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About the job

Duties will include:

• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements, including resource revenue sharing agreements, complex bilateral and multilateral agreements, transfer payment agreements, licences, memoranda of understanding, procurements and other legal documents
• Providing general corporate/commercial legal advice
• Participating directly in and advising on consultation and negotiation sessions with Aboriginal communities and Indigenous organizations, mining and other resource companies, and their respective counsel
• Providing legal advice on contract matters related to Aboriginal law issues and Indigenous interests, including supporting government-wide Aboriginal policy initiatives.
• Providing legal support for issues management, communication products, correspondence and the development of Ministry policies and operational approaches
• Providing litigation support where necessary
• Drafting and interpreting legislation, regulations and related documents, and supporting related policy development
• Briefing senior management and stakeholders
• Performing legal research and providing written and oral legal advice in a variety of areas including mining, forestry, Aboriginal, environmental, administrative and commercial law
• Serving on, and providing legal support to ministry committees and taking on special projects as needed
• Travel to the northern regions may be required

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What you bring to the team

Mandatory requirements

Membership in good standing as a lawyer with the Law Society of Ontario

Knowledge and Skills

• Demonstrated and significant experience in drafting and negotiating contracts and other legal documents
• Demonstrated and significant experience in corporate/commercial law
• Demonstrated ability and judgment to help manage complex and contentious issues on high profile matters
• Experience in and aptitude for legal research and opinion writing, statutory interpretation and policy development work
• Experience in negotiating with Aboriginal communities and resource industries
• Demonstrated analytical and judgment skills to recognize and assess legal implications of ministry and government initiatives
• Demonstrated political acuity
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and within tight timeframes
• Demonstrated excellent organizational and interpersonal skills and the ability to handle a high volume of work on short notice and with minimal supervision
• Demonstrated excellent client service, including a demonstrated ability to be proactive and responsive to requests
• A proven record of valuing and positively contributing to a diverse and inclusive workplace
• Proven ability to build positive relationships with clients and colleagues, and work well in a team setting

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Additional information:

Note:

• In accordance with the Ontario Public Service (OPS), Employment Screening Checks Policy (ESCP), the top candidate(s) may be required to undergo a security screening check. Refer to the above to determine the screening checks that are required for this position.
  
  Required security screening checks along with your written consent, will be sent to the Transition and Security Office (TSO), Corporate Talent Programs Branch, Talent and Leadership Division to evaluate the results. If applicable, the TSO, with your written consent, will request and obtain any additional employment screening checks that were not obtained directly by you.
  
  A record under the Criminal Code and/or other federal offence record(s) does not automatically mean you will be ineligible for the position. The employment screening check(s) will only be reviewed and evaluated by the TSO for the purpose of making a security clearance decision. The details of an individual's employment screening check(s) will be considered in specific relation to the duties and responsibilities of the position being filled. Employment screening check records will be maintained by the TSO and kept strictly confidential.
• For issues with submitting applications, or questions, please contact CSMD.HR.LegalCompeti@ontario.ca

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Language requirements and assessment:
All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

Exigences en matière de langue et évaluation:
Toutes les offres d'emploi externes de la fonction publique de l'Ontario (FPO) sont affichées en français et en anglais. Consultez la section « Langue du ou des postes » en haut de chaque offre d'emploi pour connaître les exigences linguistiques. Pour tous les postes, les candidats sont évalués en anglais, la langue d'affaires de la FPO. Si le poste est bilingue (anglais/français), vous devrez également passer un test de compétences linguistiques en français.