Legal Counsel

Description

Please note this role will work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate must be located near a Canadian Blood Services site preferably in Ottawa or Dartmouth and will be working a mixture of on-site and off-site work based on the parameters for our operations to meet the needs of our donors, our staff and our communities. Currently, employees are expected to have an in-person presence for at least 40% of their work time. This requirement may vary depending upon circumstances.

Job category: Legal
Job posting ID: 8035
Employment status: Regular full-time
Classification: PTS/MGT/IT B
Salary/Rate of pay: $108,493 - 125,026
Application deadline: 2025-12-14

About this role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular Full-time Legal Counsel to join our dynamic Legal Services team.

The Legal Services team provides legal, privacy, ethics, governance, policy, and risk leadership across Canadian Blood Services’ product and service areas.

Reporting to the Managing Counsel, the Legal Counsel plays an integral role in legal and ethics matters affecting Canadian Blood Services, ensuring appropriate assessment and advice to support compliance and effective decision making. The Legal Counsel provides professional, timely, cost-effective legal advice on matters such as legislative compliance, research and development, intellectual property management, procurement, and partnerships to facilitate business transactions at Canadian Blood Services.

Formula for Success

• Leveraging your knowledge of federal, provincial, municipal, and international laws, you will maintain current knowledge of key legislation that impacts day-to-day operations.
• Drawing on your ability to monitor regulatory landscapes, you will conduct effective surveillance of relevant legal and regulatory developments and communicate these developments to key stakeholders within the organisation.
• Using your expertise in legal advisory services, you will provide advice on a number of legal matters, including legislative compliance, collaboration and engagement, intellectual property, and research and development initiatives.
• Building on your experience in procurement and business transactions, you will support procurement processes, business transactions, partnerships, and effective negotiations and contracting with third parties.
• Applying your strategic approach to legal risk, you will propose strategies and provide legal support enabling safe and agile decisions.
• Consulting with your strong judgement, you will advise senior leadership and internal client groups on complex issues with organisation-wide implications.
• Optimising your ability to coordinate resources, you will ensure optimal use of internal and external resources to provide professional, timely, and cost-effective advice and support.
• Championing a collaborative mindset, you will participate in a positive, proactive culture that encourages high performance and continuous improvement.

Desired Education & Skills

• A law degree from a recognized academic institution is required.
• Membership in good standing in a law society for a Canadian province or territory is required.
• At least 3+ years of legal experience (health law, regulatory, corporate/commercial law) in a law firm or in-house environment.
• Substantial knowledge of relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks and case law.
• Ability to practice law with minimal supervision, and to collaborate as necessary.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to translate complex issues and to provide practical legal advice to clients, communicating in a clear and accessible manner and incorporating all relevant business risks.
• Ability to understand and think critically about business needs and tailor advice accordingly.
• Ability to provide responsive client service in the context of competing demands.
• Other legal, ethics, risk, compliance and/or privacy related credentials are an asset.

What we offer you

• 4 weeks' vacation.
• Annual performance award up to 10%.
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources.

What you can expect

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at a Canadian Blood Services (preferably Ottawa or Dartmouth) location at least 40% of the time/2 days of the week.
• This role may require occasional travel, depending on operational and legal requirements.

If this position interests you, please apply directly through our careers site.