Regular Full Time (Excluded)
About Us
One of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningful career opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As the sixth largest city in BC, we are home to more than 150,000 residents. Our diverse municipality is a great place to work as it continues to grow through innovative urban design, inspiring arts, progressive and diverse culture and recreation programs, and state-of-the-art transportation systems. Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible and sustainable manner, while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre. We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you!
About You / What We Are Looking For:
Are you an experienced solicitor looking for the next journey in your career? Join our dynamic team as the City Solicitor, where your expertise in local government law will shine in the regional legal landscape. The City of Coquitlam is seeking a person with drive to provide leadership and guidance to our Legal Services division and serve as the City’s chief legal advisor, providing legal advice and opinions to City Council and the senior management team. You will have a diverse range of legal expertise and experience, including advising on local government matters. If you're ready to make a significant impact in the legal field, read on!
As a City Solicitor, your oversight will encompass a wide range of legal functions critical to our municipality's success. You will provide collaborative leadership and invaluable legal expertise to support the City of Coquitlam. Your key duties include:
- Providing leadership, guidance and mentorship to the Legal Services team.
- Preparing, reviewing and delivering legal opinions for City Council, City Manager, senior management and staff.
- Reviewing and providing input into Council reports and presenting legal advice at Council meetings.
- Managing the City’s litigation and dispute resolution portfolios, including acting as counsel for the City in administrative hearings before City Council and in proceedings in BC Supreme Court, Small Claims, Civil Resolution Tribunal, Human Rights Tribunal, British Columbia Utilities Commission, and other levels of court or administrative tribunals, or managing the retention of external counsel in such matters.
- Advising on and assisting with drafting municipal bylaws to ensure sound governance that complies with local government legislation.
- Offering practical recommendations on various subject areas, including corporate procurement initiatives.
- Providing strategic drafting and negotiating advice on a broad range of contracts, including a variety of complex real estate agreements, covenants, easements, leases, commercial contracts, construction agreements, operating, service and supply agreements and purchase and sale agreements.
- Supporting and identifying process and procedural improvements that lead to making City operations more efficient and effective.
- Leading recruitment, retention, professional development, and workforce planning for Legal Services.
- Mentoring and coaching staff to ensure their continuous growth and development.
Qualifications:
- Hold a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a recognized law school.
- Be a current member in good standing with the Law Society of British Columbia.
- Possess a minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, ideally with a municipality or a firm providing legal services to local government or a similar institution.
- Experience and expertise in local government law and litigation are strong assets.
- Have considerable experience in a management or supervisory role, coupled with sound leadership skills.
- Expertise in BC’s land title system, real estate transactions, land use planning processes and development-related legal issues is desirable.
- Experience in corporate and/or municipal governance and procedures.
- Demonstrated understanding of municipal law, local government legislation, municipal bylaws, policies, and procedures.
- Adept at providing research and thoughtful analysis on legal implications of matters of law, legislation, procedures, and operational strategic decisions within the Canadian legal context.
- Strong communication skills to present and explain complex or legally sensitive issues to interested parties.
- Exceptional writing and composition skills, especially for legal documents.
- Ability to provide leadership and guidance to your team.
For this job, you will need to undergo a Police Information Check as part of the hiring process.
What We Offer:
This position has an annual salary from $177,768 to $216,282. The rate pay is based on a variety of factors including qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills. You'll have the chance to join a rapidly growing and diverse team dedicated to supporting the local community. Additionally, there's an opportunity to participate in an earned day off/flex day program, and the position is based in Coquitlam, BC, with flexible, hybrid work options available. You will also have the opportunity to engage in variety of learning and development opportunities. . The City offers an attractive vacation and extended benefits package, including contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan is included for Regular employees.
Accessibility / Equal Opportunity Employer
The City of Coquitlam is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancing equitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As an organization we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment to support our growing and diverse work force. To learn more about what equity, diversity, and inclusion means, and the City’s efforts in support of these principles, please visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information.
If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team for confidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.
Good people make Coquitlam great, sign up for career alerts through our recruitment portal to stay up to date about opportunities within our team, or follow us on LinkedIn to learn more about how #YouCouldWorkHere too!
Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55 pm on December 22nd, 2023.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55 pm on December 22, 2023.
We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
This excluded position has an annual salary from $177,768 to $216,282. The rate pay is based on a variety of factors including qualifications, knowledge, experience and skills. You'll have the chance to join a rapidly growing and diverse team dedicated to supporting the local community. Additionally, there's an opportunity to participate in an earned day off/flex day program, and the position is based in Coquitlam, BC, with flexible, hybrid work options available. You will also have the opportunity to engage in variety of learning and development opportunities. . The City offers an attractive vacation and extended benefits package, including contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan is included for Regular employees.
