General Counsel at University of Regina

University of Regina; Regina; On-site; CAD 141,000 - 211,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health/Dental/Vision Benefits

Flexible spending account

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Job summary

University of Regina invites applications for General Counsel, the university's principal legal officer and member of the Executive Team. You will provide strategic legal services and advise on complex institutional matters to protect the university's legal interests.

The role covers contracts, privacy, compliance, employment, labour, and external counsel management, with a focus on risk mitigation and timely decision making.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree and licensure in good standing.
• Minimum 10 years of senior legal experience in Canada.
• Experience in post-secondary or large public sector contexts is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, practical legal advice to university leadership.
• Oversee contracts, privacy, compliance and procurement matters.
• Coordinate external counsel and litigation management.
• Lead risk management and regulatory compliance initiatives.
• Support employment, labour relations, and equity/diversity engagement.
• Foster cross-unit collaboration and practical guidance across campus.

Skills

Strategic legal advice

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws

Job description

Faculty/Department President's Office Unit President's Office General Employee Group Out of Scope Collective Agreement Consideration Open to the Public. CUPE 5791 Job Family N/A Category Staff Number of Vacancies 1

Position Summary

Are you a trusted legal leader who can guide complex decisions, manage risk, and support the University’s mission? Join us as our new General Counsel! The General Counsel is the University’s principal legal officer and a member of the Executive Team. The position provides strategic, institution-wide legal services and advice that protect the University’s legal interests and support practical, timely, and well-informed decision making aligned with the University’s public mission.

What You’ll Do:

• Strategic legal advice: Provides timely, practical, and solution-oriented legal advice to the President, Executive Team, and University leaders on complex institutional matters. Identifies legal exposure and recommends strategies to reduce risk.
• Contracts, privacy, and compliance: Oversees the delivery of legal services related to contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, privacy, access to information, legislative compliance, administrative law, procurement, leases and records. Works with the Compliance and Contracts Advisor and responsible University units to provide coordinated advice and consistent legal support.
• Legal services coordination and capability building: Builds connectivity among legal, contract, privacy, copyright, research, facilities, and other specialized resources across the University. Provides professional guidance and development to internal legal resources and promotes appropriate coordination, referral, and sharing of legal expertise.
• Litigation and dispute support: Liaises with external counsel and the University’s insurers on litigation, claims, threatened proceedings, regulatory matters, and other disputes. Ensures senior leaders are appropriately briefed and supports resolutions that protect the University’s interests.
• Employment and labour legal advice: Provides strategic legal advice on employment, labour relations, collective bargaining mandates, and faculty and staff matters where legal exposure or procedural fairness issues arise. Works collaboratively with Human Resources and academic leaders to support fair, consistent, and defensible processes.
• External counsel and legal services management: Determines when external or independent legal counsel is required. Manages retainers and legal budgets, coordinates external advice to support cost-effective and consistent legal services aligned with institutional priorities, and maintains appropriate records of key legal opinions and decisions.
• Education, prevention, and relationship building: Builds legal literacy through guidance, templates, training, and proactive advice. Develops trusted relationships and communicates complex legal issues in clear, plain language that enables sound decision making without creating unnecessary barriers.
• Plus More: Be ready to take on additional related tasks as assigned – your role is dynamic and essential to our success!

Why Join Us?

• Meaningful Impact: Your work directly contributes to creating a better environment for students, faculty, and staff.
• Professional Growth: We support your development, offering opportunities for advancement and learning.
• Work-Life Balance: We value your well-being and know your personal life is most important!
• Dynamic and Inclusive Workplace: We value diversity and inclusivity. You’ll be part of a team that celebrates different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences, making every day an opportunity for personal growth.
• Innovation Culture: We encourage fresh ideas and innovative thinking.
• Competitive Compensation: We offer competitive compensation package and benefits to reward your talent. A few of the these benefits include Health/Dental/Vision Benefits, flexible spending account, Defined Contribution Pension Plan, and much more!

Position Requirements

What You’ll Bring to this Position:

• Juris Doctor or Bachelor of Laws degree and membership in good standing, or eligibility for membership, with the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience in a Canadian common law jurisdiction, preferably including senior-level experience in a post-secondary or other similar diverse portfolios from the private/public sector, or equivalent senior level experience.
• A combination of education and experience may be considered.

Skills That Will Ensure Your Success in the Role:

• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic, practical, and risk-informed legal advice to a President, Board, executive team, or senior decision makers.
• Broad knowledge and experience across relevant areas of law, including contracts, privacy and access to information, human rights, labour and employment, statutory interpretation, corporate and administrative law, policy development and interpretation, litigation management, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent judgment, discretion, and political acuity, with the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters involving multiple stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice for non-lawyers.
• Collaborative, service-oriented approach with the ability to build credibility and trusted relationships across academic, administrative, and governance settings.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Indigenous engagement, accessibility, and the values of a public university.

Physical Demands

Pay Grade OOS 11 Salary Range $140,795 - $211,192

Status Permanent Work Hours Duration (if Term/Temporary) Full-Time/Part-Time Full Time Preference Posting Indigenous People, Visible Minority, Person with a Disability, Woman Target Posting Not Targeted Additional Information Contact Information Job Open Date 10/02/2026 Job Close Date 11/01/2026 Open Until Filled No Special Application Instructions We know imposter syndrome can get in the way, but we truly value diverse perspectives.

Safety Statement

The University is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy workplace and strengthening a culture of safety across the campus community. All employees share responsibility for contributing to a safe working environment.

Diversity Statement

The University of Regina is committed to an inclusive workplace that reflects the richness of the community that we serve. The University welcomes applications from all qualified individuals, including individuals within the University’s employment equity categories of women, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, Indigenous persons, individuals of diverse gender and sexual orientation and all groups protected by The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018.