Principal Legal Counsel Transportation and Infrastructure

WSP in Canada; Edmonton; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A Canadian professional services firm is seeking a Principal Legal Counsel for its Transportation & Infrastructure sector. The ideal candidate will have at least 15 years of experience in legal practice, focusing on transportation and infrastructure projects. Responsibilities include providing legal support, managing risks, and mentoring junior team members. This role offers a contract employment type with a mid-senior level of responsibility.

Qualifications

• Licensed as a member in good standing of a Canadian Provincial Bar.
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience as a lawyer, preferably in-house.

Responsibilities

• Act as the primary senior lawyer for T&I, driving excellence and innovation.
• Provide proactive legal support to internal clients.
• Deliver exceptional legal support for contract lifecycle management.

Skills

Negotiating contracts

Collaboration

Legal compliance

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Emotional intelligence

Bilingualism (French/English)

Education

Licensed member of a Canadian Provincial Bar

15 years of experience as a lawyer

Job description

Overview

Principal Legal Counsel Transportation and Infrastructure

Join to apply for the Principal Legal Counsel Transportation and Infrastructure role at WSP in Canada

WSP is currently seeking a legal professional to assume the role of Principal Legal Counsel for its Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) sector, based in any major location in Canada. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel & Head of Legal for T&I, this individual will be a senior subject matter expert and responsible for a portfolio of major projects across Canada.

What you can expect to do here

• Act as the primary senior lawyer for T&I, driving excellence and innovation;
• Provide proactive legal support to internal clients, fostering a culture of collaboration and stakeholder engagement;
• Participate actively as part of the T&I legal team and the project teams, contributing to the operational success, driving initiatives to improve business processes and optimize efficiencies;
• Act as a subject matter expert, ensuring alignment with WSP Canada’s vision, mission, strategic pillars and project goals;
• Deliver exceptional legal support for contract lifecycle management, dispute resolution, commercial negotiations and contractual interpretations in the T&I sector;
• Assess and manage the legal risk profile of business opportunities and RFPs, presenting informed recommendations to internal decision-making committees;
• Ensure strict legal compliance with WSP’s internal policies as well as applicable laws and regulations;
• Foster collaboration with other internal legal teams in Canada and in the other jurisdictions, sharing best practices and insights to strengthen WSP Canada Legal’s position across sectors in Canada;
• Integrate with cross-functional teams, supporting areas such as Ethics & Compliance, Finance, Risk, Communications, Project Delivery, HSE and Operations;
• Disseminate essential legal knowledge and training pertaining to relevant federal and provincial laws and regulations to the business, ensuring informed decision-making;
• Mentor and provide relevant training to other junior members of the legal team, focusing on enhancing subject matter expertise.

What you’ll bring to WSP

• Licensed as a member in good standing of a Canadian Provincial Bar;
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience as a lawyer, preferably in-house, with expertise in transportation, rail and infrastructure projects;
• Proven track record of negotiating contracts including traditional and alternative delivery contract models such as collaborative agreements, alliance agreements and integrated project delivery (IPD) agreements;
• Experience with influencing high-stakes decision-making including experience with project steering committees;
• Collaborative spirit with the ability to unite a wide array of stakeholders within a multidisciplinary team and identifying strategic legal collaboration opportunities;
• Experience in Health & Safety related matters and understanding of legal framework;
• Experience in related and adjacent fields of the T&I sector including environment, energy, property and buildings and major projects is an asset;
• Construction project expertise, with experience in drafting, negotiating and managing teaming agreements, joint ventures, consortia, subcontracts and consultant agreements;
• Strong presentation and communication skills, with a proven ability to articulate complex legal concepts and strategies to senior management, ensuring clarity and decisiveness in high-level communications;
• Advanced negotiation skills, capable of finding common ground and fostering mutual respect in high-stakes discussions;
• Strong emotional intelligence, with the ability to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and maintain poise under pressure;
• Decisive problem-solving, with a knack for identifying issues quickly and crafting effective, strategic solutions;
• Adaptability and resilience, thriving in a fast-paced environment and adapting to evolving business needs with agility;
• Bilingualism (French / English) is an asset.

Seniority level

• Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Contract

Job function

• Legal

Industries

• Professional Services