Description
Diversity Statement (on sidebar)
MacEwan University is committed to fostering the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion within our community, and we are dedicated to removing barriers that have been historically encountered and are currently experienced by some members of our society. We welcome and encourage applications from Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, visible minorities, women, persons with disabilities, sexual and gender minorities, and members of all equity-deserving groups. We believe that the diversity of our students, staff, and faculty serves as a strength of our institution and benefit to society. We are committed to ensuring full and inclusive participation for all in our community.
About Us
MacEwan University is where caring faculty help people connect their passions to their future paths. Located in the heart of Edmonton's diverse and dynamic downtown community, and on the traditional lands of Treaty 6 First Nations and homelands of the Métis people, MacEwan is known for exceptional undergraduate learning. With its dedication to teaching excellence, informed by scholarly research, innovation, and creative activity, MacEwan provides an exceptional collaborative and supportive learning environment with a commitment to human rights, environmental sustainability, and opportunities for community engagement. We are committed to creating an equitable, diverse, inclusive, and welcoming community for all peoples, cultures, and identities.
Our comprehensive undergraduate university offers 55 programs to more than 19,000 full- and part-time students in business, communications, community and human services, design, fine and performing arts, health, humanities, natural science, nursing, public safety, and social science. Through a wide array of experiential learning opportunities, and strategic relationships in the community, we partner with others to produce graduates of stature. Along with a robust grounding in their chosen disciplines, MacEwan students are given durable life skills that prepare them to take on the world.
Opportunity
MacEwan University is seeking a full-time Legal Counsel to join the Office of General Counsel. In this role, you will provide expert legal and strategic advice to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and executives. You will handle a wide array of legal matters spanning multiple practice areas, supporting initiatives that are critical to the university’s mission and public profile. This position offers the opportunity to address high-visibility, complex challenges in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, requiring innovative solutions and sound judgment to balance legal, business, and strategic priorities.
In this capacity, you will provide legal and strategic advisory services on a wide variety of evolving and often non-standard matters. Your responsibilities will include negotiating and drafting diverse agreements, reviewing draft policies with a focus on legal compliance and institutional strategy, and offering expert legal advice to support decision-making. You will also build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and play a central role in developing and delivering educational materials and sessions to ensure the university community is informed and prepared for emerging legal challenges.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing timely and practical legal and strategic advice on administrative law, privacy law, contract and commercial law, procurement law, human rights law, governance, risk management and policy matters.
- Supporting client decision-making by explaining legal risks, options, and implications clearly and constructively, and developing effective mitigation strategies.
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and other documents, including those related to commercial goods and services, software services, consulting services, research projects, employment, and international partnerships.
- Supporting high-impact university initiatives by providing expert legal and strategic advice on the development and execution of complex, prominent projects involving diverse external stakeholders.
- Supporting the General Counsel on high-priority or strategic initiatives.
- Working collaboratively with departments and internal experts across the university—including procurement, privacy, and investigations—as well as with external counsel and other specialized advisors, to identify legal issues, provide preventive advice, and support institutional initiatives.
- Conducting in-depth legal research on new and evolving legislation, proposed contracts, and sector-specific developments, and providing clear, actionable advice based on findings to support institutional decision-making and compliance.
- Proactively monitoring and analyzing emerging legal trends affecting the post-secondary sector and sharing relevant insights with stakeholders to ensure the university remains informed and prepared for change.
- Responding to complaints or formal inquiries involving outside agencies, including the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner, Human Rights Commission, etc.
- Reviewing the Confidence Line (confidential, third-party reporting line) complaints or formal inquiries and ensuring proper assessment and appropriate delegation/referral.
- Advising on employment-related matters, including faculty and staff discipline, grievances, terminations, and other workplace issues in accordance with relevant policies and legislation.
- Providing legal guidance on student-related processes, including academic and non-academic discipline, student rights, academic integrity, and accommodation issues.
- Coordinating and collaborating with external counsel on a wide variety of specialized legal matters—including commercial transactions, privacy, student discipline, procurement, litigation, and claims—affecting the University.
- Responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, and public records requests.
- Providing legal and strategic analysis in the review and development of university policies and procedures to ensure regulatory compliance, mitigate risk, and support institutional objectives.
- Developing and delivering legal information sessions to promote awareness and best practice regarding legal and regulatory compliance for administrators, faculty, and staff on relevant legal topics.
Skills
You will have:
- High emotional intelligence (EQ) and interpersonal sensitivity.
- A commitment to professionalism, approachability, and service.
- The ability to remain calm and constructive in high-pressure or sensitive situations.
- Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work under strict timelines and to manage a diverse workload with competing demands.
- Excellent professional judgment, with the ability to identify, assess, and analyze complex legal issues, and develop sound and effective solutions and implementation strategies.
- Creativity and innovation.
- Demonstrated adaptability in leveraging legal research technologies (and an openness to developing a competency in artificial intelligence tools) to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and insight in legal analysis, contract drafting, and policy review.
- Excellent written and oral communications skills with a strong attention to detail, with the ability to present, both orally and in writing, legal opinions, arguments and recommendations, and communicate the law and procedures in plain language.
- Excellent legal drafting skills for the preparation of legal documents and instruments, including contracts and agreements, policies and procedures, etc.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or Juris Doctor (JD) degree.
- Membership in good standing, with the Law Society of Alberta or having the eligibility for membership.
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably in a university, public sector, or similarly complex environment, or with a law firm with experience providing services to university and/or public sector clients.
- Experience in 1 or more of the following: administrative law (litigation or solicitor), contract/commercial law, privacy, regulatory, employment, procurement, human rights, and governance.
- Experience in translating complex legal concepts into practical advice and communicating with a wide range of audiences.
- Experience working with diverse stakeholders and multidisciplinary teams.
- Familiarity with the post-secondary sector or broader public sector would be considered an asset.
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Benefits
When you become part of the MacEwan University team, you will enjoy a competitive salary. Our total compensation package includes:
- Competitive base pay
- Generous vacation time
- Secure pension plan
- Flexible benefits package
- Continuous learning culture
- Opportunities for career growth
How to Apply
To apply, please head to our MacEwan University Opportunities Page, select the job opportunity and click Apply Now. If you require assistance, please contact us at careers@macewan.ca.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties when submitting your application, please try submitting through a different browser (i.e., Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.). If the issue persists, please send a screenshot of the error message to careers@macewan.ca so we can assist and ensure your application is received.
This position is included under the Out of Scope employee policy (D1015). Applications sourced through this process may be considered for similar opportunities within MacEwan University.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Accessibility Statement
We strive to provide an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, beginning with the hiring process. If you require accommodation, we want to ensure you have the support you need to showcase your abilities. Please contact humanresources@macewan.ca and we will support you to the best of our ability.
Category: Full-Time Continuing (35 hours per week)
Salary: $115,214 to $155,754 per annum
Closing Date: May 15, 2025
Competition No.: 25.04.114
Personal Information Collection Notification
Personal information is being collected to determine your qualifications for employment. This information is collected, used and protected under the authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It may be provided to non-HR members of a hiring and interview panel if your application advances to that stage of the hiring process. If you have any questions about these arrangements, please contact: Human Resources, University Services Centre, Rm. 10-600, 10700-104 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T5J 4S2 or phone (780) 497-5434.
