Vice President, Legal and General Counsel

Seize this incredible opportunity to help shape the future of our organization and take your career to new heights!

If you are a strategic and accomplished leader with a passion for excellence and a successful track record of delivering strategic insights, legal expertise, and strong leadership, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.  

Electrification, decarbonization, distributed energy resources, sustainability, and extreme weather, are at the heart of a changing electricity sector. This "once-in-a-generation" challenge and opportunity requires us to plan for the future of our industry and our business.  The Vice President, Legal and General Counsel will play a pivotal and strategic role in evaluating and advising the company regarding the complexities of regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management, while also significantly contributing to the formulation and execution of corporate strategy. The successful candidate will be a member of our Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Team Leadership: Supervise, mentor, and ensure the performance, development, and professionalism of direct reports.
• Legal Counsel: Provide guidance, support, advice, and assistance to the company, and represent the company, for a variety of legal, contractual, compliance, policy, insurance, and communications matters, optimizing decisions and outcomes. Draft, review, and/or negotiate contracts, agreements, and other legal documents. Research, analyze, and provide formal opinions on legal issues. Assist in dispute resolution planning. Monitor changes to provincial and federal legislation and regulations, evaluate their impact on operations, and assist with change management. Implement policies, processes, and training for legal risk mitigation. Audit the selection and deliverables of external legal counsel for consistency and quality.
• Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) & Business Continuity: In consultation with the Executive Leadership Team, oversee the development, implementation, and operation of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Business Continuity Management programs. Ensure maintenance and accuracy of enterprise KPIs and dashboards and oversee and manage risk associated with public disclosure of corporate information.
• Privacy and Freedom of Information (FOI): As Chief Privacy Officer, manage Privacy and Freedom of Information policies and procedures and ensure compliance with relevant legislation. Coordinate and ensure the execution of relevant special projects involving a broad range of business issues, in consultation with the Executive and/or senior management.
• Strategic Planning: Lead strategic planning processes in consultation with the CEO. Contribute to the development and implementation of annual budgets and business plans. Maintain the corporate performance scorecard.
• Procurement Oversight: Develop, implement, and oversee strategic procurement policies and practices. Foster collaborative partnerships with internal teams, ensuring procurement solutions are responsive, efficient, and aligned with organizational priorities.
• Stakeholder engagement: Represent the company, maintain beneficial business relationships, and advance the Company’s position through engagement with external counsel, industry professionals, customers, the Shareholder, City, and government officials, industry and community associations, regulators, and other agencies and through participation in external stakeholder (e.g. OEB, IESO, EDA) committees and consultations. Prepare project plans, proposals, presentations, reports, and recommendations and thorough, persuasive narrative evidence, arguments, and analyses in support of corporate positions for external applications and negotiations.
• Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors: Fulfill the duties of Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors and Board Committees. Ensure governance best practices and OBCA requirements are followed. Coordinate Board and Committee meetings and minutes, and the Annual General Meeting. Develop, maintain, and enforce governance-related Board policies and assist with board-effectiveness initiatives. Oversee records management of Board-related records. Advise on corporate governance matters.
• Safety: Ensure personal and direct reports’ adherence to all Occupational Health & Safety Act rules and regulations, IHSA safety rules, London Hydro Safe Work Practices, Health and Safety policies, and environmental policies. Ensure all personal and direct reports’ accident reports are reviewed and corrective action is taken.
• Others: Perform other duties related to the above.

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

We welcome applications from all candidates, including those whose knowledge, skills, and experience have been developed through alternative pathways from the requirements listed below. London Hydro, at its sole discretion, may deem a job applicant to meet the job requirements if they have sufficient skill, alternate education, and/or experience related to the role.             

• Successful completion of an Honours/ Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university
• Law degree from a reputable institution
• Licensed to practice law in Ontario / member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario
• Minimum of 10 years of post-call experience at a reputable law firm and/or as in-house legal counsel, with experience specifically (but not limited to) in: corporate governance, contracts, corporate/commercial law, regulatory compliance, real estate, property and casualty insurance, procurement, technology, intellectual property, financial services, audit and risk, and privacy (Knowledge of OEB and OBCA codes and regulations).
• Experience working with Boards, Executives, Senior Management, and external contacts and agencies. Able to establish and maintain positive and effective cross-functional relationships at all levels of the organization with strong business acumen.
• Professional and effective oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal skills with an ability to simplify and communicate complex legal matters in a manner that is meaningful and accessible to a broad audience.
• Proven track record in negotiating complex agreements and managing legal risks along with demonstrated ability to employ effective conflict/dispute resolution.
• Possess strong research skills, sound judgment, and expertise in advanced planning, project management, and problem-solving.
• Strong leadership, management, and supervisory skills.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

WHY JOIN OUR TEAM

London Hydro has been recognized by Canada’s Top 100 Employers as one of the Southwestern Ontario’s Top Employers for 2025. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence and our dedication to fostering an environment where every team member can thrive.

Benefits and Compensation Package:

• Competitive Salary
• Comprehensive Benefits Package, Including OMERS Pension Plan
• Competitive Vacation Entitlements
• Top-Up Leaves Program
• Learning & Development Opportunities
• Recognition & Social Programs
• Wellness and Family Assistance Program
• On-site Cafeteria & Free Fitness Centre
• Corporate Cellphone
• Hybrid Work Arrangement
• Positive, Collaborative and Safety-Focus Culture

Want to learn more about what makes London Hydro a great place to work? Watch our short video https://youtu.be/Pxw0_ZRnSKg or visit our website at londonhydro.com. 

SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD FIT? HOW TO APPLY

We invite you to submit your cover letter and resume as a single document (in .pdf or .docx format only), saving the file as your last name and first name with no spaces (i.e., LastnameFirstname) to: Human Resources Department, London Hydro Inc., P.O. Box 2700, London, ON N6A 4H6. Fax: 519-661-5164. E-mail (VP, Legal and General Counsel in the subject line and ensure that you attach your resume): ****@***********.***. 

Deadline to Apply: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

While we appreciate all applications received, only those invited for an interview will be acknowledged. In accordance with Canadian immigration requirements, this advertisement is directed to applicants who are authorized to work in Canada. The successful candidate will be required to complete a Criminal Record and education check prior to the commencement of employment.

 London Hydro is committed to fostering a corporate culture and climate that values and supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization. London Hydro is an equal-opportunity employer. Accommodation is available under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. Any personal information submitted will be managed in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used only to determine eligibility for employment. We recognize the importance of work-life balance. Currently, we offer a hybrid work arrangement (In-Office and Remote) in accordance with London Hydro policy. Please note remote work is not guaranteed in the future and is subject to change.