Associate Solicitor

Why Guelph:
**What we offer**:
We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

- Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
- Paid personal days;
- Hybrid and flexible work arrangements;
- Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
- Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
- Employee and Family Assistance Program;
- Parental leave top up program;
- Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
- Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview:
**Key duties and responsibilities**:

- Provide competent and timely legal advice and opinions on a wide range of matters, in response to the needs of City Council and all City Departments and work collaboratively in developing legal solutions.
- Prepare, review and negotiate a variety of legal documents including contracts and agreements (e.g., services, funding, financing, brownfields) of varying complexity.
- Prepare and review a variety of municipal by-laws and by-law amendments.
- Negotiate and liaise with external stakeholders, lawyers, and government bodies.
- Participate as Legal Services team member for City projects and initiatives.
- Provide creative options and proactive solutions to implement City initiatives.
- Monitor and analyze new legislation and emerging case law and provide advice on the implications for the City’s powers and responsibilities.
- Prepare and review Council and Committee reports.
- Work with staff to ensure that the City’s legal risks are minimized.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

**Qualifications and requirements**:

- Licensed to practice law in Ontario and a lawyer licensee in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Excellent customer service skills with the ability to resolve inquiries in an effective manner.
- Excellent interpersonal and communications skills and ability to interact effectively with all levels of staff, a variety of stakeholders, including senior management, City Council, and external stakeholders / general public.
- Demonstrated business and political acumen.
- Ability to accurately scope out length and difficulty of issues and set priorities.
- Ability to explain / present complex ideas in a clear and understandable fashion, and influence others.
- Ability to provide clear direction to others and comfortably delegate tasks.
- Demonstrated understanding of the key industry trends and legislative changes and the ability to develop legal strategies accordingly.
- Creative and innovative problem solver with the ability to handle complex and sensitive issues.
- Excellent research, analytical and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple assignments in order to meet deadlines in a demanding environment.
- Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment.
- Considerable knowledge and understanding of municipal legislation, regulations and by-laws.
- Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook).
- Knowledge and understanding of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the Ontario Human Rights Code, Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
- Experience working on labour and employment law matters is an asset.
- Experience in environmental law would be considered an asset.

**Hours of work**:
35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 4:30 p.m. This position is eligible for hybrid and flexible work arrangement options (as per current corporate policy).

**Pay/Salary**:
Non-Union Grade 8: $114,249.25 - $142,811.56

**How to apply**: