JOB DESCRIPTION
Posting # - RI-24-048R
Posting Period: November 7, 2024 – December 5, 2024
Position: Legal Counsel and Manager, Contracts Team
Term: Full-time (FTE 1.0), Permanent
Salary: Commensurate with skills and experience
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer, CHEO Research Institute & CHEO General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer
The Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is a leading healthcare organization and one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health. The CHEO Research Institute (CHEO RI) is one of the leading hospital-based Research Institutes in Canada, located in Ottawa.
We acknowledge that Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinabek territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. We also honour all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. This posting offers an opportunity to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and doing into our research programs in a meaningful way.
We have an immediate requirement for a full-time Legal Counsel and Manager, Contracts Team to join our growing team!
RESPONSIBILITIES:
General Legal Counsel:
- Draft and negotiate corporate and third-party contracts, opinions and other legal documents with emphasis on research and research related contracts as further detailed below, under ‘Contracts’.
- Provide organization-wide legal advice and information pertaining to a broad range of issues, including corporate/commercial and not-for-profit matters, risk management, privacy and access to information matters.
- Ensure corporate compliance with applicable local, provincial and federal laws governing the organization’s operations, including ongoing regulatory changes.
- Identify, address and manage legal needs in support of business and strategic objectives through effective fact-finding, research and the provision of high-quality legal advice and opinions in a manner that reflects the organization’s values and risk tolerance.
- Identify potential areas of legal risk/opportunity and make recommendations on risk tolerance and mechanisms to manage risks and opportunities.
- Respond to queries from staff, CHEO affiliated organizations and external agencies.
- Support the operations of the CHEO RI Board of Directors and committees of the Board as required.
- Support research initiatives and liaise across affiliated organizations to support legal and privacy matters common to the organizations.
- Develop strong professional relationships with internal and external stakeholders to facilitate ongoing communication throughout the organization, to anticipate and proactively manage legal needs and risks, and to keep current on best practices and emerging trends in legal practice and within relevant sectors.
- Support General Counsel at CHEO.
Contracts:
In addition to responsibilities as previously described under ‘Counsel’, specific responsibilities to:
- Review, draft, negotiate and administer clinical trial agreements, confidential disclosure agreements, data transfer agreements, fund transfer agreements, grant agreements, collaborative partnership agreements, registry/network agreements, licence agreements and other inter-institutional agreements with industry partners/pharmaceutical companies, Canadian funding agencies, research institutions and private sector companies.
- Provide contract advice, support and guidance to researchers, administrators and external clients with regards to the management and execution of research contracts.
Manager:
As the Manager of the CHEO RI Contracts Team:
- Manage staff including employee selection, determining work priorities, assigning responsibilities, establishing performance standards, conducting performance reviews, providing direction and guidance, handling employee relations issues, initiating disciplinary action as required, and fostering and supporting the creation of a team environment to ensure operational objectives are met.
- Advise staff on complex contracts.
- Facilitate process improvement.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Law degree from a recognized Canadian law school. L.L.B. or J.D. and membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
- Minimum 5 years experience in a law firm or in-house legal environment as a lawyer.
- Strong leadership, supervisory and team building skills.
- Strong experience in the drafting, review, negotiation and interpretation of contracts.
- High level of composure with the ability to demonstrate sound judgment, discretion, tact and courtesy, with the ability to manage demanding practice, work under pressure and maintain strict confidentiality.
- Knowledge of statutes, regulations, policies and guidelines governing the conduct of human research in Canada, and familiarity with Canadian, US and international guidelines as they apply to clinical trial management (e.g., Canada’s Food and Drugs Act and its regulations, Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004, principles of the International Conference on Harmonization’s Good Clinical Practices, Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans, etc.).
- Experience managing client expectations in a high-volume environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
- Strong conceptual skills, systems thinking and ability to deal with risk-based decisions and ambiguity.
- Work independently and productively, both on-site and remotely.
- Strong analytical, problem solving, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
- Quickly build strong and effective working relationships with a dynamic, professional team, including demonstrated strength as a trusted advisor.
- Work with a sense of urgency and flexibility to meet critical deadlines in a fast-moving environment.
- Highly organized with demonstrated initiative and ability to adjust priorities.
- Experience using computer systems and software, such as Microsoft Office 365 suite and comfort operating in a paperless environment (e.g., electronic document storage and management). Asset: Working knowledge of Agiloft Contract Management software.
- Familiarity with scientific and medical terminology.
- Experience working in a healthcare or health research environment.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
- Eligible to work in Canada;
- Valid police record check;
- Compliance with CHEO RI’s Universal COVID-19 Vaccination Policy; and
- Flexibility to work in a hybrid work model that would include both remote and on-site work.
TO APPLY
Interested applicants may send a cover letter and CV to researchhr@cheo.on.ca.
The CHEO Research Institute values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer who values diverse perspectives and support people to be their authentic selves. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants. Should an applicant require any accommodations during the application process, as per the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, please notify Human Resources at researchhr@cheo.on.ca.
The CHEO Research Institute seeks to increase equity, diversity, and inclusion in all its activities, including research, education and career development, and patient, family, and donor partnerships. We value diverse and non-traditional career paths and perspectives, and value skills such as resilience, collaboration, and relationship-building. We welcome applications from members of racialized minorities, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.
CHEO Research Institute does not use artificial intelligence during the selection and recruitment process.
Applications will only be considered from those eligible to work in Canada. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those invited for an interview will be contacted.