Deputy Regional Solicitor

The Role

As corporate counsel to the Waterloo Police Service Board, provides advice and recommendations regarding the legal and strategic (political, social, economic) implications of courses of action, policies, and decisions (with direct reporting and approval responsibility to same). 

Assists to direct the administration of the Division’s programs and ongoing operations. 

Oversees the administration of Real Estate Services.

Ensures actions, policies, and contracts are legal and enforceable. Participates in corporate decision-making bodies for legal and policy input. 

Duties/Responsibilities

• Acts as solicitor/counsel for the Waterloo Police Service Board, including providing legal advice and recommendations for action, drafting and negotiating documents, attending meetings, and reviewing agendas for issues. 
• Assists to ensure the provision of legal services to the organization and ensures contract liabilities are defensible, compliant, and advance the Region’s interests. 
• Monitors legal and policy developments to determine their impact on corporate policies and procedures, identifies issues, and recommends changes to ensure compliance and prevent loss. 
• Oversees the provision of real estate services and legal advice to the Region including land acquisition, disposition and development for capital projects, and strategic priorities; assumes the carriage of priority real estate and planning files.
• Oversees the provision of legal advice to the Region relating to matters of regional interest, regional services and infrastructure in land use planning approval processes of area municipalities per Provincial legislation and policy, regional policy, and any memoranda of understanding.  
• Supervises the Manager, Real Estate Services, and Legal Assistant(s). Indirectly supervises real estate services staff, prosecutions staff and additional legal assistants. Retains and advises outside legal counsel and experts for specific projects, ensuring the Region’s interests are fully protected and advanced.
• Under the direction of the Regional Solicitor, supervises Solicitors to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of legal services to departments across the organization.
• Assists to monitor, review and approve the Division’s Committee/Council reports.
• Assists to direct the efficient administration and use of the Division’s people, physical, and financial resources. Researches trends and assists in directing short and long-range planning initiatives, goals, objectives, and service levels per departmental and corporate strategic goals.
• Assists to direct program development, and analyzes existing practices, agreements, and processes to identify and lead opportunities for improvement to support long-term outcomes. 
• Assists to direct compliance with policies, procedures, and legislation, and ensure operational policies, procedures, and benchmarks are established, implemented, and monitored.
• Participates on committees, project teams, and task forces. Participates on bodies and agencies to provide input on provincial initiatives and proposed legislation. 
• Receives, investigates, and resolves escalated and politically sensitive public concerns and complaints. Exchanges and provides information and resolves problems with management across departments, and members of council.
• Assists to prepare and administers the Division’s budget. Has unlimited signing authority for cheques required for legal purposes. 
• Administers the acquisition, maintenance, and security of divisional equipment and library.
• Performs related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge and skills are acquired through a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) Degree and subsequent Bar Admission requirements, plus significant, progressively responsible experience leading and practicing law in a municipal environment.
• Must be registered as a lawyer with the Law Society of Upper Canada.
• Knowledge of all areas of the law affecting a municipal corporation, as well as social, political, economic, and legal conditions at municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation and regulations affecting the Region, including its overall organizational structure, powers, jurisdiction, authority, and the constraints on its freedom of action to properly advise and represent the corporation. 
• Knowledge and understanding of MFIPPA including the appeals process.
• Knowledge and understanding of legislation and regulations affecting the Waterloo Police Service Board, including its structure, powers, jurisdiction, authority, and the constraints on its freedom of action to properly advise and represent the Board.
• Knowledge of policies, procedures, standards, and legislation with ability to apply them to conceivable sets of facts or circumstances, and/or recommend changes based on professional opinion. 
• Analytical, problem-solving, conflict resolution, continuous improvement, and time management skills to resolve unusual and complex issues and matters of significant financial, legal, or political implications; consider options, conflicting goals, needs, and interests; determine long-term impacts and implications; and maintain a broad view of legal directions and the corporation’s objectives. 
• Ability to balance objectives while safeguarding the interests of the Region, Police Service Board, provincial agencies, and the public.
• Leadership skills to direct, develop, motivate, and support staff.
• Communication, human relations, advocacy, mediation, negotiation, and presentation skills to communicate complex, sensitive issues effectively; mediate and negotiate between conflicting interests on complex, precedent setting issues; persuade others to accept a position; and participate as an effective team member.
• Understanding of multiple cultural frameworks, values, and norms and a demonstrated flexible style when faced with dimensions of culture in order to be effective across cultural contexts. Understands the dynamics of cross-cultural and inclusion-related conflicts, tensions, misunderstandings, and opportunities. In addition, recognizes and addresses one’s filters, privileges, biases, and cultural preferences with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement in diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence. 

Additional Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to lead transformative change in line with the vision and values of senior leadership while delivering on the expectations of an evolving workforce and regional residents. Ability to discern when to inquire, advocate, drive, or resolve more decisively.
• Ability to read, interpret, and analyze complex legal documents, reports, correspondence, opinions, professional literature, municipal publications, documents, statutes, regulations, by-laws, and Court decisions. 
• Ability to write legal documents and opinions, pleadings, briefs, correspondence, reports, legislation, and complex contracts, agreements, and other legal documents, using precise, specialized language and creativity, making complex concepts understandable to others. 
• Ability to draft by-laws using precise articulation of prohibitive provisions that are enforceable and stand up in court. 
• Computer skills with ability to use software such as Microsoft Office and legal databases. 
• Ability to travel within and outside Waterloo Region.
• Ability to adjust schedule to work evening and weekend hours as needed.
• Ability to support and demonstrate the Region’s values.