Inside General Counsel

Alberta Medical Association (AMA); Edmonton, Calgary; Hybrid; CAD 127,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

The Alberta Medical Association (AMA) is recruiting for an Inside General Counsel to provide strategic legal counsel and governance support. This role sits within the Representation and Negotiations team and partners with executives to advance physician interests and organizational risk management.

The successful candidate will handle contracts, governance, and labour-relations matters, with external counsel support for physician master agreement negotiations.

Qualifications

• JD or LLB from an accredited law school.
• Active membership and good standing with the applicable Law Society.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible legal experience in relevant settings.
• Experience providing legal advice on contracts, HR, governance, and bylaws.
• Experience with physician master agreement negotiations is an asset.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational legal advice across general organizational matters affecting the association.
• Assess legal implications, risks, and opportunities for initiatives and decisions.
• Translate complex legal issues into practical business guidance for decision-making.
• Support governance frameworks, bylaws, policies, and board operations.
• Review and interpret contracts, MOUs, procurement documents, and service agreements.
• Coordinate with external counsel on physician master agreement negotiations and labour matters.
• Identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, governance, and operational risks.
• Advise on compliance with legislation and governance standards.

Skills

Governance

Contract law

HR and employment

Regulatory knowledge

Stakeholder management

Communication

Time management

Microsoft Office 365

Education

Juris Doctor

Law Society membership

5-7 years legal experience

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Job description

The AMA is recruiting for the position of Inside General Counsel. As a member of the Representation and Negotiations team, the Inside General Counsel will play a critical role in ensuring that AMA initiatives are supported through strategic legal counsel, governance support, and executive partnership.

Who are we?

The AMA is the official voice of the medical profession in Alberta. The association advocates for and supports Alberta physicians, strengthening their leadership in the provision of sustainable health care. For more information on the AMA please visit our website at www.albertadoctors.org.

Why work for the AMA?

At the AMA, we know that employees are fundamental to our success as an organization. We take pride in hiring client-oriented relationship builders who embrace teamwork, personal growth and development and truly want to help us succeed. As part of our employee experience, we provide a competitive compensation package, benefits, work-life balance and development opportunities.

The AMA has a hybrid work environment. The successful candidate will be based out of our Edmonton or Calgaryoffice and will have the opportunity to work from home but will be required to go into the office or attend in person when required. Infrequent travel may be required to attend meetings, events or offsite activities.

Team Overview

The Representation and Negotiations branch oversees the AMA’s representation rights for physicians, leads negotiations strategy, and supports the Physician Master Agreement and other negotiated agreements. Manages the lifecycle of representation and negotiations, from negotiations strategy, planning and execution, through to dispute resolution, agreements and reporting. Representation and Negotiations serves a central role in advancing physician interests through effective negotiation and representation.

Position Overview

Provides strategic and operational legal advice across a broad range of general organizational matters affecting the association, including contracts, human resources issues, corporate governance, bylaws, and related organizational risk. Acts as an advisor to executives, governance bodies, and operational leaders by providing practical, risk-based legal guidance and supporting organizational governance structures, related bylaws, and contracting matters. Specialized legal advice and representation related to physician master agreement negotiations and related labor relations matters is provided by external counsel, with this area expected to become a developmental growth area for the role over time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and recommendations to executives, committees, and operational teams on matters affecting organizational strategy, governance, operations, and physician advocacy activities.
• Assess legal implications, risks, and opportunities associated with organizational initiatives and strategic decisions.
• Translate complex legal issues into practical business guidance that supports informed decision-making.
• Provide legal support and interpretation related to organizational governance frameworks, bylaws, policies, board governance, and committee operations.
• Support the development, review, and amendment of governance documents and organizational policies.
• Review and interpret a wide variety of contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, procurement documents, partnerships, and service arrangements.
• Provide legal support on general organizational negotiations and stakeholder arrangements, while coordinating with external counsel on specialized physician master agreement negotiations and related labour relations matters.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal, regulatory, governance, and operational risks facing the organization.
• Provide guidance regarding compliance with applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, privacy obligations, and governance standards.

Education and Experience:

• Juris Doctor (JD) or Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from an accredited law school.
• Active membership and good standing with the applicable Law Society.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible legal experience within a legal firm, professional association, healthcare environment, public sector organization, labour relations environment, or regulatory setting.
• Experience providing legal advice and support on general organizational matters, including contracts, human resources issues, corporate governance, and bylaws.
• Experience with physician master agreement negotiations and related labour relations matters is considered an asset and a developmental growth area, recognizing that specialized legal advice and representation in these areas is provided by external counsel.

Skills:

• Knowledge of governance, contract law, human resources and employment matters, regulatory requirements, and organizational risk management, with developing familiarity in labour relations matters related to physician master agreement negotiations.
• Strong understanding of legislative and regulatory frameworks affecting associations, healthcare organizations, physicians, and professional environments.
• Advanced written and verbal communication skills, to distil complex legal information for diverse audiences.
• Excellent collaboration and partnership skills that strengthen collaboration across the organization and build relationships with external stakeholders.
• Advanced critical thinking skills to address complex issues with broader operational or strategic implications.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management leadership; leads highly sensitive or complex interactions where outcomes influence risk mitigation and organizational direction.
• Advanced planning and time management skills, manages competing priorities and allocates effort effectively to ensure delivery.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 applications and business software, learns and adapts to new systems, applications and technologies.

The salary for this role is between $127,066 - $165,188per annum.