Senior Counsel

Assent; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company in Ottawa is seeking an experienced legal counsel to lead their global legal function. This role involves overseeing all legal matters, optimizing processes for commercial contracts and privacy, and mentoring a team of legal professionals. Candidates should have a Juris Doctor degree, at least 10 years of related experience, and strong leadership skills. The position offers flexible work options and a competitive benefits package.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits packages

Flexible work options

Professional development days

Qualifications

• 10 years of progressive legal experience, including in-house counsel roles.
• Proven track record in managing commercial and privacy legal functions.
• Strong mentoring skills for high-performing legal teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead global legal function and oversee legal matters.
• Guide strategic decisions and mentor legal professionals.
• Optimize contract playbooks and workflows.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Contract negotiation

Privacy frameworks

Team leadership

Legal tech proficiency

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Ironclad

Salesforce

Job description

Assent is seeking an experienced and business-savvy legal Counsel to lead our global legal function at a pivotal stage of growth. In this high-impact role, you'll guide strategic decisions and oversee all legal matters, including commercial contracting, privacy, procurement, and governance, while mentoring a talented team of legal professionals. Reporting to the CFO and partnering closely with cross-functional leaders, you'll build scalable, efficient, and forward-thinking legal processes that enable innovation, mitigate risk, and help shape the future of responsible supply chains.

Key Requirements & Responsibilities

Commercial Contracts

• Oversee the negotiation and execution of customer contracts including MSAs, Order Forms, SOWs, NDAs, and data processing agreements.
• Design and optimize contract playbooks, fallback positions, and approval workflows.
• Partner with Sales, Revenue Operations, and Finance to streamline deal velocity while managing risk.

Procurement & Vendor Agreements

• Support all vendor agreements including technology, professional services, and data providers.
• Collaborate with IT and Finance on vendor risk assessments and contract compliance.
• Implement scalable vendor onboarding and contract lifecycle processes.

Privacy & Data Protection

• Provide legal leadership on global privacy and data protection matters (GDPR, CCPA / CPRA, etc.).
• Partner with Product, Security, and Compliance teams to advise on product features, data flows, and privacy-by-design practices.
• Maintain and update internal privacy policies and third-party data processing agreements.

Corporate & Employment Matters

• Liaise with external counsel on corporate governance, corporate structure, IP strategy, and international legal compliance.
• Manage employment-related legal issues, policies, and investigations in partnership with the Chief People Officer and external counsel as needed.

Leadership & Strategy

• Support all vendor agreements including technology, professional services, and data providers.
• Collaborate with IT and Finance on vendor risk assessments and contract compliance.
• Implement scalable vendor onboarding and contract lifecycle processes.

Systems & Legal Tech Enablement

• Champion the use of legal technology (e.g., Ironclad, Salesforce integration) to automate workflows, improve insights, and accelerate execution.
• Define and track legal KPIs to support data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Leverage AI tools and systems to scale legal review, enhance productivity, and manage contract risks.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) and an applicable license to practice law or Member of the Ontario Bar in good standing.
• 10 years of progressive legal experience, including in-house counsel roles in B2B SaaS environments.
• Proven track record of managing commercial and privacy legal functions in a growth-stage technology company.
• Strong experience leading and mentoring high-performing legal teams.
• Demonstrated commercial acumen and ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Hands-on experience with contract negotiation, procurement processes, and privacy frameworks.
• Proficiency in contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems, especially Ironclad; familiarity with Salesforce is a strong plus.
• Knowledge and practical application of AI legal automation tools and systems to streamline legal operations.

Additional Information

Life at Assent

We believe your well-being is important. We offer vacation time that increases with tenure, comprehensive benefits packages (details vary by country), life leave days, and more.

Financial Benefits

We offer a competitive base salary, a corporate bonus program, retirement savings options, and more.

Life at Assent

We provide flexible work options, volunteer days, and opportunities to engage in corporate giving initiatives.

Lifelong Learning

We encourage curiosity and provide professional development days starting from your first day.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is guided by our Diversity and Inclusion Working Group and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs). We strive to create an environment where all team members feel included, valued, and respected, contributing to our business success.

If you require assistance or accommodation during the interview and selection process, please contact us, and we will be happy to help.

Remote Work & Employment Type

Full-time

Key Skills: HR Development, Delivery, Flooring, Irrigation, ACCA, Document Management

Experience: 10+ years

Vacancy: 1