Principal Legal Counsel Transportation and Infrastructure

The Opportunity:

WSP is currently seeking a legal professional to assume the role of Principal Legal Counsel for its Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) sector, to be based in any major location in Canada. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel & Head of Legal for T&I, this individual will be a senior subject matter expert and responsible for a portfolio of major projects across Canada.

Why choose WSP?

• We value and are committed to upholding a culture of inclusion and belonging
• Our Flexible Work Policy – we recognize the importance of balance in our lives and encourage you to prioritize the balance in yours. We will support you on and off the job so you can be fully present in both your work and home lives.
• A Canadian success story - we're proud to wear the red and white of this beautiful country and show the world what Canada has to offer.
• Enhance the world around you - from the environment to the highways, to the buildings and the terrain, WSP is the fabric of Canada.
• Outstanding career opportunities - we're growing and pushing ourselves every day to be greater than yesterday - we're open to your ideas and trying new things.
• A phenomenal collaborative culture and a workforce filled with genuinely good people who are doing humbly important work. Come find out for yourself what it's like to be a part of our journey.

We offer attractive pay, flexible work options, a great corporate culture, comprehensive and employee-focused benefits including virtual healthcare and a wellness platform as well as great savings programs, and a clear vision for the future.

#WeAreWSP

What you can expect to do here:

• Act as the primary senior lawyer for T&I, driving excellence and innovation;
• Provide proactive legal support to internal clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and stakeholder engagement;
• Participate actively as part of the T&I legal team and the project teams, contributing to the operational success, driving initiatives to improve business processes and optimize efficiencies;
• Act as a subject matter expert, ensuring alignment with WSP Canada's vision, mission, strategic pillars and project goals;
• Deliver exceptional legal support for contract lifecycle management, dispute resolution, commercial negotiations and contractual interpretations in the T&I sector;
• Assess and manage the legal risk profile of business opportunities and RFPs, presenting informed recommendations to internal decision-making committees;
• Ensure strict legal compliance with WSP's internal policies as well as applicable laws and regulations;
• Foster collaboration with other internal legal teams in Canada and in the other jurisdictions, sharing best practices and insights to strengthen WSP Canada Legal's position across sectors in Canada;
• Integrate with cross-functional teams, supporting areas such as Ethics & Compliance, Finance, Risk, Communications, Project Delivery, HSE and Operations;
• Disseminate essential legal knowledge and training pertaining to relevant federal and provincial laws and regulations to the business, ensuring informed decision-making; 
• Mentor and provide relevant training to other junior members of the legal team, focusing on enhancing subject matter expertise. 

What you'll bring to WSP:

• Licensed as a member in good standing a Canadian Provincial Bar;
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience as a lawyer, preferably in-house, with expertise in transportation, rail and infrastructure projects;
• Proven track record of negotiating contracts including both traditional and alternative delivery contract models such as collaborative agreements, alliance agreements and integrated project delivery (IPD) agreements;
• Experience with influencing high-stakes decision-making including experience with project steering committees;
• Collaborative spirit with the ability to unite a wide array of stakeholders within a multidisciplinary team and identifying strategic legal collaboration opportunities;
• Experience in Health & Safety related matters and understanding of legal framework;
• Experience in related and adjacent fields of the T&I sector including environment, energy, property and buildings and major projects is an asset;
• Construction project expertise, with experience in drafting, negotiating and managing teaming agreements, joint ventures, consortia, subcontracts and consultant agreements;
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex legal concepts and strategies to senior management, ensuring clarity and decisiveness in high-level communications;
• Advanced negotiation skills, capable of finding common ground and fostering mutual respect in high-stakes discussions;
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and maintain poise under pressure;
• Decisive problem-solving, with a knack for identifying issues quickly and crafting effective, strategic solutions.
• Adaptability and resilience, thriving in a fast-paced environment and adapting to evolving business needs with agility;
• Bilingualism (French/English) is an asset.