Senior Legal Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary

CIRO / OCRI; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance-based bonus

Hybrid work environment

Health benefits

Pension plan with company matching

Paid leave and professional growth

Job summary

CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) in Toronto seeks a Senior Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary to oversee governance, comply with regulations, and advise the Board. You will maintain official records, draft board materials, and support fiduciary duties across the organization.

The role reports to the General Counsel, requiring strong communication, confidentiality, and strategic insight. Travel within Canada (5–10%) is expected; hybrid work arrangements are available.

Qualifications

• A law degree and a minimum of 3 years post-call experience in a legal or corporate secretarial role within the financial sector and/or a regulatory environment
• Strong understanding of governance principles and fiduciary responsibilities
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative and dependability
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism when interacting with members of the Board and other senior leaders
• Ability to maintain the highest standard of confidentiality in all matters related to Board materials, minutes and sensitive information
• Experience in, and strong knowledge of, regulatory processes and associated rules
• Experience preparing legal documentation for a Board-level audience
• Ability to travel within Canada for Board meetings as needed (5%-10% of the time)

Responsibilities

• Serve as governance contact for the Board of Directors and its committees
• Prepare, distribute, and maintain Board and committee agendas, materials, and minutes
• Ensure accurate documentation of Board resolutions and decisions
• Monitor ongoing regulatory compliance and suggest actions as needed
• Develop, review, and implement governance policies and procedures
• Communicate decisions, policies, and regulatory updates transparently
• Identify governance risks and recommend mitigation strategies
• Coordinate activities for the Annual Meeting
• Monitor Board terms, elections, and officer appointments
• Provide legal support on corporate law and regulatory issues

Skills

Governance principles

Regulatory compliance

Board communication

Drafting legal documents

Confidentiality

Professionalism with executives

Attention to detail

Regulatory processes

Board materials handling

Canadian travel ability

Education

Law degree

Job description

About Us

As a self-regulatory organization, our mission is to promote healthy capital markets by regulating fairly and effectively so that investors are protected and confident investing in their futures. At the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), we are committed to setting high regulatory standards for the investment industry, safeguarding investors, and supporting the integrity of Canada’s capital markets. Join a growing team and contribute to the dynamic and complex world of Canadian capital markets.

About This Opportunity

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary plays a pivotal role in the seamless execution of CIRO’s governance framework by ensuring the Board of Directors and its committees operate in compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. This role acts as a key governance advisor to the Board, maintains official records, and ensures accurate documentation of corporate decisions.

Core Responsibilities

• Working with the General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, serving as one of the primary governance contacts for the Board of Directors and its committees
• Prepare, distribute, and maintain Board and committee meeting agendas, materials, and minutes
• Ensure accurate and timely documentation of Board resolutions and decisions
• Ensure ongoing compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, while monitoring any changes and recommending necessary action as required
• Assist in the development, review, and implementation of governance policies and procedures
• Facilitate timely and transparent communication regarding decisions, policies, and regulatory updates
• Identify governance risks and recommend mitigation strategies based on best practices
• Coordinate the various activities related to the efficient conduct of the Annual Meeting
• Monitor compliance with Board terms, elections, appointments, and officer roles
• Provide legal support to CIRO, conducting legal reviews and providing advice on a variety of corporate law and regulatory issues

What You Bring

Must-haves

• A law degree and a minimum of 3 years post-call experience in a legal or corporate secretarial role within the financial sector and/or a regulatory environment
• Strong understanding of governance principles and fiduciary responsibilities
• Excellent communication, presentation and writing skills
• Excellent organizational skillswith strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated initiative and dependability
• Ability to demonstrate professionalism when interacting with members of the Board and other senior leaders
• Ability to maintain the highest standard of confidentiality in all matters related to Board materials, minutes and sensitive information
• Experience in, and strong knowledge of, regulatory processes and associated rules
• Experience preparing legal documentation for a Board-level audience
• Ability to travel within Canada for Board meetings as needed (5%-10% of the time)

Nice to Haves

• French language skills

What we offer

• Competitive base salary in alignment with market
• Performance based bonus *
• Hybrid work environment
• Employer paid Health Benefits and Spending Account that offer flexibility to meet your individual or family needs as of day one
• Defined Contribution Pension Plan with company matching that starts on your first day of employment *
• Paid flex days and sick days *
• Vacation days
• Maternity Leave Of Absence/Paternity Leave Of Absence top up *
• Paid continuous learning and continuing development including designations
• Asterisked offerings are not applicable to contracts

Why the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)

Our purpose and our impact

With offices across Canada - from Vancouver to Montreal, our mission is to promote healthy capital markets by regulating fairly and effectively so that investors are protected and confident investing in their futures. As regulators, we understand that we are all investors, and therefore a career with us is a purposeful career: protecting our future.

Culture and Working Environment

Life at CIRO is purpose and performance- driven. We foster an inclusive culture where teamwork, a forward-thinking attitude, and integrity are at the core of everything we do. This creates an environment where employees thrive, grow, and are empowered to learn and contribute their best.

Joining CIRO means becoming part of a dynamic and transparent organization that values accountability and is committed to maintaining the highest standards of regulatory oversight in the financial industry.

Looking for a career where you can safeguard the integrity of Canadian markets? Join CIRO and be part of the team that secures our financial future.

At CIRO, you’ll be part of an organization driven by Pride in Excellence, a strong Focus on Well-being, and A Shared Purpose that connects our people to meaningful work. We’re committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive environment where you can grow and make an impact.

Our Commitment

CIRO is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment accommodation in accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA). CIRO will provide accommodation to job applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. Should you require accommodation, please contact Human Resources.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process across Canada. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to providing accommodations upon request for candidates participating in all aspects of the recruitment process, in accordance with applicable human rights and accessibility legislation.

Our Recruitment Process

• This posting reflects an active vacancy on our team
• We use automated (AI) tools to assist with candidate sourcing and communications. Applications are reviewed by our hiring team and hiring decisions are made by people.
• This role has a hiring range of $140,000 - $160,000 with the placement and offered salary being based on knowledge, skills, education/training and experience, as well as external market conditions and internal equity.

While we appreciate receiving applications, only those applicants who closely meet the position requirements will be contacted. #Hiring