Paralegal

Irving Shipbuilding; Dartmouth; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading shipbuilding company in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia is seeking a Contract Specialist Paralegal to support its dynamic legal team. This role involves serving as the liaison between departments and legal, managing contract negotiations, and ensuring attention to risk management and compliance. Candidates should have post-secondary education in a relevant field, ideally with 3-5 years of paralegal experience. This full-time position requires on-site work, offering a chance to be part of impactful shipbuilding projects.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years' experience in a paralegal role supporting commercial or construction contracting.
• Experience with procurement teams is beneficial but not required.
• Ability to organize and manage legal documents.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for Legal support.
• Assist with contract negotiations and draft related documents.
• Support contract lifecycle management and risk mitigation.

Skills

Attention to detail

Excellent written communication

Excellent verbal communication

Experience with Microsoft Office

Education

Post-secondary education in a relevant field

Formal Paralegal training

Tools

Legal software packages

Database management

Job description

Job Description

Join Irving Shipbuilding's dynamic in-house Legal team as a Contract Specialist Paralegal, serving as the primary liaison between departments and Legal on a wide range of contract matters. In this role, you'll ensure a risk-aware approach to drafting and administration while collaborating closely with legal experts to support business needs. This is an opportunity to work in a high‑performing team and gain exposure to complex, impactful projects that shape the future of shipbuilding.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for Legal support, ensuring departments provide necessary information for contract execution.
• Assist with contract negotiations and engage legal counsel when needed.
• Draft contracts, amendments, and related documents for review.
• Organize and manage legal documents using iManage (training provided).
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to align priorities and monitor contract obligations.
• Support contract lifecycle management, approvals, and risk mitigation.
• Provide additional legal and administrative support, including letters, process improvements, and Access to Information Act requests.

Qualifications

• Post‑secondary education in a relevant field, with preference for formal Paralegal training.
• Minimum 3‑5 years' experience in a paralegal role supporting legal counsel engaged in commercial or construction contracting.
• Experience with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with legal software packages and database management considered an asset.
• Experience supporting procurement teams is beneficial but not required.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent written and verbal communication skills is needed to be successful in this role.

Due to the nature of work Irving Shipbuilding does, all successful applicants must meet requirements for the Canadian Controlled Goods Program (CGP), Canadian Government Security clearance, and U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

Please note this position requires a full‑time, in‑office presence.

About Us

Founded in 1882, J.D. Irving, Limited (JDI) has operations in Canada and the United States and is a team of 20,000 dedicated employees. At J.D. Irving, Limited, you are part of a dynamic team of professionals who lead with integrity and are passionate about delivering results. With a culture that nurtures talent and creates an inclusive workplace, you can grow your career across our various operating divisions.

We are committed to creating accessible environments for our colleagues, candidates, and customers. Requests for accommodation due to a disability (which may be visible or invisible, temporary, or permanent) can be made at any stage of application and employment. We encourage candidates to make their accommodation needs known so that we can provide equitable opportunities.

Worried you do not meet all the requirements? Studies have shown that many applicants apply only to job opportunities when they feel they meet 100% of the criteria. We promote an inclusive environment where everyone is appreciated, recognized, and empowered to contribute fully. If you are interested in this position but are worried you did not meet all the requirements, we would encourage you to still apply.

We appreciate your interest in our company; however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

About the Team

Irving Shipbuilding is proud to be Canada's National Shipbuilder. Our team is constructing more than 20 modern patrol ships and destroyers for the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard as part of the largest defence procurement project in Canadian history.

By joining our team of more than 2,400 shipbuilders, you can enjoy a dynamic and exciting career with a company dedicated to your success, development, and safety.

At Irving Shipbuilding, we’re making history — why not make it with us? Learn more about careers at Irving Shipbuilding: shipsforcanada.ca/opportunities.

We invite applications from all qualified candidates, including racially visible persons, women in under‑represented roles, persons with disabilities, Indigenous persons, and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and encourage applicants to self‑identify.