Description
Legal Services under the Office of General Counsel is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Senior Legal Counsel.
Reporting to the Associate General Counsel (Corporate/Commercial and Privacy), the Senior Legal Counsel advises executive and senior leadership on complex, high-value, and often precedent-setting matters. The role offers the opportunity to work on institutionally significant initiatives and transactions that shape the University's long-term strategic direction.
The position has a primary focus on procurement, construction, and/or real estate law, including major capital projects, strategic sourcing initiatives, and complex commercial arrangements. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver clear, practical, and business-oriented advice, often on compressed timelines and in circumstances involving competing priorities and interests.
This is a senior, high-impact role suited to an experienced lawyer who brings sound judgment, strong commercial instincts, and the confidence to operate as a strategic advisor in a complex institutional environment.
Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):
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Serve as a senior legal advisor on procurement, construction, and/or real estate matters, including major capital and infrastructure projects and strategic transactions.
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Provide practical, risk-informed, and business-focused advice to executive and senior leadership, aligned with institutional priorities and varying risk tolerances.
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Independently manage a sophisticated portfolio of high-complexity files, from structuring through negotiation and implementation.
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Support decision-making by clearly articulating legal risks, options, and recommended approaches, including where issues are complex or sensitive.
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Contribute to a high-performing legal team, bringing both technical excellence and strategic perspective.
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Build strong, trusted relationships across the institution, acting as a strategic partner to leadership.
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Navigate sensitive and high-profile matters with discretion, including those involving competing stakeholder interests or reputational considerations.
Qualifications / Requirements:
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Law degree from a recognized university and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Alberta (or eligibility for admission).
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Minimum 10+ years of post-call experience, gained at a leading law firm and/or within a sophisticated in-house legal environment.
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Demonstrated deep expertise in procurement law, construction law, or real estate law, with experience advising on complex, high-value transactions or projects.
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Proven experience advising executive-level clients or business leaders on strategic and high-impact matters.
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Strong track record of leading complex negotiations and structuring transactions, including risk allocation in high-value agreements.
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Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy, managing a full practice and delivering consistently at a senior level.
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Excellent judgment, with the ability to provide clear, concise, and pragmatic advice that enables effective decision-making.
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Strong interpersonal judgment and executive presence, with the ability to build trust, influence outcomes, and navigate complex stakeholder dynamics with discretion and credibility.
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Comfort operating in complex, matrixed environments, with the ability to provide candid, thoughtful advice on sensitive matters.
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Strong drafting and negotiation skills, with a focus on clarity, efficiency, and practical outcomes.
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Experience in public sector, post-secondary, or other regulated environments is considered an asset but not required.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed as they are received. This posting will remain open until filled.
We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.
This position is classified in the Professional Career Band, Level 5 of the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework.
For a listing of all management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary, view our Management and Staff Careers website.
About the University of Calgary
UCalgary is Canada's entrepreneurial university, located in Canada's most enterprising city. It is a top research university and one of the highest-ranked universities of its age. Founded in 1966, its 36,000 students experience an innovative learning environment, made rich by research, hands-on experiences and entrepreneurial thinking. It is Canada's leader in the creation of start-ups. Start something today at the University of Calgary. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.
The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy ii' taa'poh'to'p committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.
The university's commitment to the Indigenous Strategy is evident through the oversight of 18 Elders serving on the Circle of Advisors and the many unit-based circles working towards implementation of the strategy including the Faculty Advisory Circle and teams such as the Office of Indigenous Engagement, the Writing Symbols Lodge, and the Indigenous Research Support Team. Many Indigenous-based events and processes are impacting curriculum, programming and polices at the University of Calgary.
As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Institutional Commitments ([email protected]) and requests for accommodations can be sent to People & Culture ([email protected]).
Do you have most but not all the qualifications? Research show that women, racialized and visible minorities, and persons with disabilities are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At UCalgary we are committed to achieving equitable, diverse, inclusive and accessible employment practices and workplaces and encourage you to apply if you believe you are right for this role.
We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.
