Job Description

JOB TITLE: Legal Counsel, Real Estate & Planning Law (Planning Lawyer)

DEPARTMENT: Legal Services

POSTING NUMBER: 105540

NUMBER OF POSITIONS: 2

JOB STATUS & DURATION: Full Time Permanent

HOURS OF WORK: 35

LOCATION: Hybrid Model* - when working onsite, you will report to the location of West Tower.

SALARY GRADE: 9

HIRING SALARY RANGE: $136,429.00 - $153,483.00 per annum (Salary will be commensurate with experience and Market premium may be applicable)

MAXIMUM OF SALARY RANGE: $170,536.00 per annum

JOB TYPE: Management and Administration

POSTING DATE: September 07, 2023

CLOSING DATE: September 24, 2023

AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY:

Reporting to the Deputy City Solicitor, this position is that of a municipal solicitor responsible for the provision of legal services, including opinions and advice to the Corporation and its Departments to keep the Corporation secure in its legal position and compliant with its legal obligations.

• Advocate. Represent the City before the Ontario Land Tribunal and other boards and tribunals.
• General. Deliver competent, timely legal services working in cooperation with Legal Services staff and City Departments as a municipal legal counsel to the Corporation. Perform collaboratively with client Departments as part of the Legal Services team in the delivery of legal services and development of legal solutions.
• Advise. Provide written and oral legal and procedural advice to Council, staff and committees and others as required. Assist staff in drafting and interpreting municipal by-laws. Share understanding of the municipal legislative and factual framework, understand municipal obligations and objectives, anticipate probable outcomes and present appropriate solutions. Process a wide variety of issues including contracts, real estate, construction, commercial matters, taxation, procurement, planning and development. Deliver professional legal counsel by opinion, analysis, review, and research. Formulate policy and advise on policy initiatives. Review, advise and comment on pending provincial legislation.
• Prepare legal documents. Draft, review and advise on contracts, including agreements that relate to land development. Conduct due diligence, review searches, and prepare required documentation for transactions in the acquisition, disposal and expropriation of property included leases and related documents. Review title searches and environmental studies. Recognize legislative and factual framework when preparing documentation so municipal obligations are achieved and appropriate solutions can be implemented. Review agreements in conjunction with other City Departments to identify problems with respect to legality, enforceability and recommend changes or revisions as required to mitigate risk to the Corporation.
• Negotiate. Protect the Corporations interests by discussion and negotiation with external parties, other levels of government, and their representatives. Prepare including reviewing files, researching law, verifying, and investigating facts, interviewing witnesses, compiling, and drafting documentation. Anticipate probable legal outcomes and present appropriate solutions to staff and others to protect the interests of the Corporation.
• Council and Committees. Attendance at Council and Council Committee meetings as required. Presentation of legal reports in closed session meetings of Council and Committees. Review agendas and Corporate Reports. Preparation to provide comments and advice to Council and Committees. Review of Corporate Reports and By-laws of other City departments before they proceed to Council or Committees.
• Corporate Projects. Represent the Legal Services Division in its relations with other City Departments and external parties. Undertake special projects and initiatives in furtherance of the Corporations legal direction and strategic objectives. Work in multidisciplinary teams with Legal Services staff and other Departments, both in leadership and support roles as required.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

EDUCATION:

• Law degree and call to Ontario Bar, with demonstrated interest in municipal and real estate, commercial and development law.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years related work experience, preferably in the municipal field.

OTHER SKILLS AND ASSETS:

• Over 5 years of experience in Municipal or Planning Law.
• Ontario Land Tribunal (OLT), Local Planning and Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) or Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) experience.
• Member in good standing with the Law Society of Upper Canada
• Exceptional communication skills and superior report writing
• Ability to prepare argument and successfully negotiate resolutions.
• Computer proficiency in MS Office suite software and online legal research

**Salary will be commensurate with experience.

**Various tests and/or exams may be administered as part of the selection criteria.

Alternate formats will be provided upon request.

Interview: Our recruitment process may be completed with video conference technology.

As part of the corporations Modernizing Job Evaluation project, this position will undergo an evaluation which may result in a change to the rate of compensation. Any changes affecting this position will be communicated as information becomes available. Our Hybrid Model is subject to change.

If this opportunity matches your interest and experience, please apply online at www.brampton.ca/employment quoting reference #105540 by September 24, 2023, and complete the attached questionnaire. We thank all applicants; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The successful candidate(s) will be required, as a condition of employment, to execute a written employment agreement. A criminal record search will be required of the successful candidate to verify the absence of a criminal record for which a pardon has not been granted.

As part of the application process, applicants will be invited to complete a self-identification survey. The survey is voluntary. Participation in the survey will have no impact on hiring decisions. Should you wish to opt out of completing the survey, please select prefer not to answer as a response to each question. All information collected is confidential and will not be shared with the hiring manager. The surveys will be anonymized and will be kept separate from applicant or employee files, such that the individuals who completed the surveys will not be identifiable. The results of the survey will assist in the analysis of disaggregated metrics for organizational planning purposes and our commitment to advance and foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City may use anonymized data to produce aggregate reports for internal or external use.

Please be advised, the City of Brampton uses email to communicate with their applicants for open job competitions. It is the applicants responsibility to include an updated email address that is checked daily and accepts emails from unknown users. As we send time sensitive correspondence via email (i.e., testing bookings, interview dates), it is imperative that applicants check their email regularly. If we do not hear back from applicants, we will assume that you are no longer interested in the Job Competition and your application will be removed from the Competition.

City of Brampton