General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

SUMMARY
 

The General Counsel and Corporate Secretary is a Board-appointed Corporate Officer and Defence Construction Canada’s (DCC) senior legal and governance executive. The incumbent plays a critical role in enabling the corporation's success by providing strategic, independent and business-focused advice to the Board of Directors, its Committees, the President and CEO, and the Executive Management Group.

As DCC's chief legal advisor and governance leader, the incumbent safeguards the corporation's interests, helps shape strategic decisions, and provides leadership on complex legal, governance, regulatory, ethical, risk and reputational matters. The role has direct influence on the effectiveness of DCC's governance framework, organizational integrity, stakeholder confidence and long-term sustainability.

The incumbent provides executive leadership to Governance and Legal Affairs, including the Corporate Secretariat, Legal Services, Parliamentary and Ministerial Affairs, and Access to Information and Privacy. Through the leadership of specialized professionals and trusted advisors, the incumbent advances sound governance, informed decision-making and organizational excellence across the corporation.  

KEY AND PERIODIC ACTIVITIES

1. Strategic Legal Leadership

• Serve as DCC's principal legal advisor and provide independent, strategic and business-focused legal counsel to the Board of Directors, its Committees, the President and CEO, and the Executive Management Group.
• Establish DCC's legal strategy and advise on the legal, regulatory, governance, commercial and reputational implications of corporate priorities, significant initiatives and major decisions.
• Anticipate emerging legal risks and opportunities and recommend practical solutions that protect DCC's interests while supporting the achievement of its mandate and business objectives.

• Act as the senior point of accountability and escalation for significant legal matters, disputes and litigation affecting the corporation.

   

2. Governance, Legal Risk and Compliance Oversight
 

• Lead and continuously enhance DCC's governance framework to support accountability, transparency, effective oversight and organizational performance.
• Provide enterprise leadership on governance, compliance, ethics, regulatory and reputational risks.
• Ensure governance structures, decision-making processes and oversight mechanisms align with applicable legislation, corporate authorities and governance best practices.
• Advise senior leaders and the Board on significant governance issues, emerging risks and matters that may impact DCC's mandate, reputation or long-term sustainability.

• Promote ethical conduct, sound stewardship and principled decision-making across the corporation.

   

3. Board and Corporate Secretariat Leadership

• Fulfill the responsibilities of Corporate Secretary and serve as the principal governance advisor to the Board of Directors and its Committees.
• Enable effective Board governance through the provision of governance advice, decision-support processes, records management and statutory reporting.
• Maintain the integrity of DCC's corporate records, governance instruments, delegations, corporate filings and official Corporate Seal.

• Support Board effectiveness through governance reviews, orientation programs and continuous improvement initiatives.

   

4. Government, Regulatory and Stakeholder Relations

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with senior government officials, central agencies, Client-Partners, industry representatives, external advisors and other key stakeholders.
• Provide executive oversight of Parliamentary and Ministerial Affairs and ensure coordinated and effective responses to government requests and inquiries.
• Represent DCC on significant legal, governance and public-sector matters.

• Serve as DCC's senior liaison with external legal counsel, auditors, regulators and other professional service providers.

   

5. Access to Information, Privacy and Information Governance

• Exercise the delegated powers, duties and functions of DCC's Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator.
• Provide executive leadership and oversight for access to information, privacy and information governance programs within the mandate of Governance and Legal Affairs.
• Advise management on privacy, information-management and disclosure issues that may present legal, operational or reputational risk.

• Ensure effective governance practices support the responsible stewardship of corporate information assets.

   

6. Executive and Functional Leadership 

• Provide executive leadership for Governance and Legal Affairs, including Legal Services, Corporate Secretariat, Parliamentary and Ministerial Affairs, and Access to Information and Privacy.
• Establish the function's vision, priorities, service standards and strategic direction.
• Oversee workforce planning, succession management, financial stewardship, resource allocation and operational performance within approved authorities.
• Develop and lead a high-performing team of managers, professionals and specialists.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, accountability, inclusion and continuous improvement.

• Contribute to corporate strategy and enterprise decision-making as a member of DCC's Executive Management Group.

   

   

  
  SKILLS
  General and Specific Knowledge

   

  
  •    Canadian corporate, commercial, procurement, contract, administrative and public law relevant to DCC's mandate and operations.
  •    Crown corporation governance, accountability frameworks, and federal government decision-making processes.
  •    Board governance, corporate secretariat practices, delegated authorities, and statutory reporting requirements.
  •    Regulatory compliance, ethics, enterprise risk management, and organizational controls.
  •    Access to Information, privacy, information governance, and related legislative frameworks.
  •    Government, parliamentary, ministerial, and stakeholder relations practices.
  •    Strategic planning, organizational leadership, financial stewardship, and people management.
  •    Legal operations, dispute resolution, and the effective management of external legal counsel and professional service providers.
  •    Emerging issues and trends affecting governance, public-sector organizations, and corporate legal functions.  

   

Formal Education and/or Certification(s) and Experience

Minimum: 

•    Law degree (JD, LLB, BCL or equivalent) from a recognized Canadian university.
•    Membership in good standing with a provincial or territorial law society in Canada.
•    A minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible legal experience, including significant experience advising Boards of Directors, executive leadership teams, or equivalent governing bodies on complex legal, governance, regulatory, commercial, risk or strategic matters.
•    Significant leadership experience managing legal, governance, or corporate services functions.

Preferred:

•    Experience within a Crown corporation, public sector organization, highly regulated industry, or organization operating within a complex stakeholder environment.
•    Recognized designation or advanced education in corporate governance, board governance, risk management, public administration, executive leadership, or a related field.
•    Expertise in one or more areas relevant to DCC's mandate, including corporate governance, commercial and contract law, procurement, litigation, regulatory compliance, access to information, privacy, or government affairs.
•    Experience supporting Boards of Directors and Board Committees in a Corporate Secretary capacity.

Abilities
•    Provide independent, strategic, practical and risk-informed advice on complex, sensitive, and high-impact matters.
•    Translate legal, governance, policy and regulatory requirements into business-focused solutions and decisions.
•    Exercise sound judgment, professional courage, discretion, and integrity in situations involving ambiguity, competing interests, and significant organizational risk.
•    Balance legal, governance, operational, financial, and reputational considerations while protecting the interests of the corporation.
•    Build trusted relationships and influence outcomes at the Board, executive, government, and stakeholder levels.
•    Communicate complex issues clearly, persuasively, and credibly to diverse audiences.
•    Anticipate emerging risks, opportunities and trends, and lead organizational responses that strengthen governance, organizational effectiveness and long-term sustainability.
•    Develop high-performing teams and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and professional excellence.
•    Represent DCC effectively in interactions with senior government officials, regulators, stakeholders, external counsel, and industry partners.
•    Communicate effectively in both official languages.
•    Demonstrate DCC's values of Dedication, Collaboration, Competence, and Fairness.

DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP
•    Provide enterprise leadership that advances DCC's strategic objectives, governance excellence, and organizational effectiveness.
•    Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement across Governance and Legal Affairs and throughout the corporation.
•    Develop organizational capability through workforce planning, succession management, coaching, mentoring, and knowledge transfer.
•    Create an environment that encourages professional excellence, innovation, sound judgment, and principled decision-making.
•    Strengthen current and future leadership capacity by supporting the growth and development of managers, professionals, and specialists.
•    Act as a role model for ethical leadership, stewardship, and service to the corporation in fulfilling the responsibilities of a Board-appointed Corporate Officer

WORKING CONDITIONS
•    Typical office environment with regular travel.
•    Occasional work outside normal business hours to support Board and Committee meetings, executive priorities, urgent legal matters, or significant corporate issues.
•    Frequent exposure to highly sensitive, confidential, and strategically significant information requiring discretion and sound judgment.  

Check out your benefits
Working with us offers excellent opportunities for growth and advancement—and entitles you to one of the job market’s best benefits packages valued at between 25 and 30% of your salary.

Your package includes:

Health and Wellness

• 100% employer-paid annual sick leave, and health and dental premiums
• $400 wellness allowance to help cover expenses such as a gym membership
• $2,500 for mental health services on top of regular $2,500 paramedical coverage
• Telus Virtual Health Care and $750 Health Care Spending Account for some expenses not covered under provincial plans

Home and Family

• Life, accidental-death, and short-term disability insurance
• Enhanced inConfidence employee and family assistance program
• Maternity and parental leave top-up plan to 93% of regular gross earnings for up to 37 weeks
• Flexible workplace options, including $400 allowance every two years, to support working from home

Leave and Retirement

• Public-service pension
• Comprehensive vacation and other paid-leave plans, alongwith enhanced travel benefits coverage