General Counsel

NorthStarHR; Winnipeg; On-site; CAD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Profit sharing

RRSPs

Benefits

Professional training

Job summary

FWS Group of Companies is seeking a General Counsel to join our collaborative team in Winnipeg or Calgary. You will lead the legal function, provide practical, commercially focused advice across corporate and construction matters, and work closely with senior leadership, business units, and the Board of Directors.

This role involves mentoring junior lawyers, managing external counsel, handling governance, and overseeing cross-border activities with Canada and the United States.

Qualifications

• A law degree (JD or LL.B.) and current membership in good standing with the Law Society of Manitoba or the Law Society of Alberta.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal and business advisor to the President & CEO, senior management, operating business units, corporate departments, and the Board of Directors.
• Provide practical, commercially focused advice across corporate and commercial matters, construction law, labour and employment, and regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Contract management

Communication

Relationship-building

Education

Law degree (JD/LL.B.)

Job description

FWS Group of Companies is a fully integrated design, engineering, construction, and maintenance services firm. We are advocates of the design-build approach to project development. Whether our clients are looking at greenfield construction or retrofitting an existing facility, we have the in-house expertise to take their project from vision to reality.

To support our continued success, we are recruiting a General Counsel to join our collaborative and team-focused organization in either our Winnipeg or Calgary office.

We have a lot to offer you - profit sharing, RRSPs, benefits, professional training, just to name a few.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the General Counsel is a trusted business partner who leads FWS' legal function and provides strategic, practical, and commercially focused advice across our Canadian and U.S. operations. Working closely with senior leaders, operating business units, corporate departments, and the Board of Directors, you will help advance business objectives while identifying and effectively managing legal and commercial risk.

This is an opportunity for an experienced legal professional who enjoys being close to the business, developing trusted relationships, and finding practical solutions to complex issues. You will advise on a broad and interesting range of matters, lead our legal function, and mentor our junior Legal Counsel.

Position Overview:

• Serve as a trusted legal and business advisor to the President & CEO, senior management, operating business units, corporate departments, and the Board of Directors.
• Provide practical, commercially focused advice across corporate and commercial matters, construction law, labour and employment, workplace health and safety, regulatory compliance, and other matters affecting the organization.
• Draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts, commercial agreements, policies, and other legal documentation, providing advice throughout the construction project lifecycle.
• Advise on corporate governance, strategic transactions, corporate structures and reorganizations, shareholder matters, and cross-border business activities.
• Oversee litigation, claims, dispute resolution, internal investigations, and legal matters related to the organization's insurance and bonding programs.
• Lead the legal function, mentor and develop our junior Legal Counsel, manage external legal counsel, and oversee the administration of the Employee Share Ownership Plan and Deferred Compensation Unit Plan.

Qualifications Needed:

• A law degree, such as a JD or LL.B., and current membership in good standing with the Law Society of Manitoba or the Law Society of Alberta.
• 10 or more years of post-call corporate and commercial legal experience gained in-house, in private practice, or through a combination of both.
• Strong commercial contracting experience, including contractual risk allocation, claims, and dispute management. Construction law or construction-industry experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience advising leaders and executives on complex legal, governance, risk, and business matters. Experience supporting Canadian and U.S. operations is considered an asset.
• A practical and collaborative approach, with strong negotiation, communication, relationship-building, leadership, and decision-making skills, supported by sound judgment, integrity, and discretion.
• Ability to travel occasionally within Canada and to the United States.

About FWS

We've been receiving Best Managed company accolades for years and there's a reason. Our leadership team, our employees – we ensure collaboration, teamwork, and excellence in everything we do. We're honest, safe, entrepreneurial, creative and empower our employees. We have a wide range of expertise and skillsets that service multiple markets.

FWS may use technology-assisted tools, including artificial intelligence, to assist in screening and reviewing candidates. These tools are applied responsibly and only used to assist in the recruitment process. All hiring decisions are made by qualified individuals following human review.