Job Description

Senior Legal Counsel
Take a central role The Bank of Canada has a vision to be a leading central bank?dynamic, engaged and trusted?committed to a better Canada. No other employer in the country offers you the unique opportunity to work at the very center of Canada?s economy, in an organization with significant impact on the economic and financial well-being of all Canadians. You will be challenged, energized and motivated to excel in our environment.
Building on the principles that have always guided us ? excellence, integrity and respect ? we strive to be forward-looking and innovative, to welcome people with diverse perspectives and talents, and to earn trust by living up to our commitments and by clearly explaining the intent of our policies and actions.
With our defined-benefit pension plan, benefits, and high flexibility for work life balance - find out more about why we are annually ranked as one of Canada's top employers: Working Here - Bank of Canada
Find out more about the next steps in our Recruitment process.
Did you know?
Financial System
The Bank of Canada promotes the economic and financial welfare of Canada by fostering a stable and efficient financial system, which includes banks and credit unions, the financial markets, and clearing and settlement systems. The Bank does this by:

• providing central banking services, including liquidity and lender-of-last-resort facilities;
• overseeing and acting as the resolution authority for critical financial market infrastructures;
• conducting and publishing analyses and research; and
• helping to develop and implement policy.

Digital Currency
The Bank of Canada has initiated a project to be prepared to issue a general purpose, cash-like central bank digital currency (CBDC) should the need arise. CBDC can be thought of as a banknote, but in digital form.
For further background information on the CBDC program, please refer to the Contingency Planning for a Central Bank Digital Currency background note and Money and Payments in the Digital Age speech by Deputy Governor Tim Lane.

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  This poster may also be used to fill other Senior Legal Counsel positions that become available throughout 2023.

What you will do
Reporting to the Assistant General Counsel, you provide the Bank with expert legal services as a senior legal practitioner. You will provide advice relevant to the Bank?s Digital Currency program and to the Bank?s role in fostering a stable Canadian Financial System.
As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will also engage and manage outside counsel autonomously to represent the Bank in situations where specialist advice is required and will be required to partner with internal clients and legal counsel at other organizations to support evolving Bank or departmental needs.
Specifically, you will;

• Advise on the Bank?s CBDC program to address legal, financial and reputational risks for the Bank.
• Provide legal support for the Bank?s mandate to supervise and regulate clearing and settlement systems under the Payment Clearing and Settlement Act as well as the Bank?s authority to provide banking services.
• Assist with the development and design of internal policies, processes and legal documentation associated with the Bank?s banking services and supervisory authorities.
• Perform other legal advisory duties to the Bank as may be assigned.

What you need to succeed
You have expert knowledge of Canadian regulatory law, with significant exposure to banking services, payment systems and/or fintech. You will have developed the ability to provide practical legal advice to clients, in an in-house role or a law firm environment.
This position also requires you to possess strong research skills, combined with a deep interest in evolving legal issues and technological advancement in the financial sector, highly developed analytical skills and the ability to analyze and quickly grasp the essence of complex issues that have an impact on the Bank and the financial sector, and to independently develop appropriate responses.
You are required to understand the mandate, needs and objectives of the Bank and provide high-quality, pragmatic and focused legal advice. We also require you to have strong verbal communication and writing skills as well as good planning and project management skills to successfully manage complex, sensitive and changing priorities while being able to adapt to unexpected circumstances.
To be successful in this role, you also require strong relationship-building skills and can function both independently and as part of a team. Finally, having the ability to travel on occasion is required on a very limited basis.
Nice-to-have

• knowledge of the payments services / fintech industry, including legal and commercial aspects of cryptocurrency, blockchain, DeFi and smart contracts
• familiarity with technology and working with IT/tech specialists
• experience with privacy law, AML/ATF, and intellectual property lawcontracting/commercial transactions
• prior work experience with a leading law firm, financial institution, government agency or official international organization
• knowledge of civil law and/or international public and private law
• knowledge of the general structure and core functions of the Bank of Canada

Your education and experience
This position requires a Law degree and membership in a Canadian provincial law society with a minimum of 5 post-call years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
What you need to know

• Language requirement: English and French essential (bilingual) with a minimum starting level of functional (level 4) in second official language. Training may be provided to help reach the required level of fully functional (level 5) in second official language.
• Priority will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents
• Security level required: Be eligible to obtain Secret
• Relocation assistance may be provided, if required
• Please save a copy of the job poster. Once the closing date has passed, it will no longer be available.

Hybrid Work Model #LI-Hybrid The Bank offers work arrangements that provide employees with flexibility, enable high-performing teams, and support an excellent workplace culture. Most employees can telework from home for a substantial part of each month as part of the Bank`s hybrid work model, and they are expected on site at the Bank location a minimum of eight days per month to help build connections between colleagues. You must live in Canada, and within reasonable commuting distance of the office.
What you can expect from us
This is a great opportunity to join a leading organization and be part of a high-performing team. We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet your needs at every stage of your life and career. For more information on key benefits please visit A great deal to consider.

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  Salaries are based on qualifications and experience and typically range from $130,960 to $163,700 (job grade 20)
• Depending on performance, you may be eligible for performance pay. The first tier of performance pay is for successfully meeting expectation, at 7 to 10% of your base salary. The Bank offers additional performance pay for those who exceed expectations (15% of your base salary).. Exceptional performers who far exceed expectations may be eligible for higher performance pay.
• Flexible and comprehensive benefits so you can choose the level of health, dental disability and life and/or accident insurance coverage that meets your needs
• Extra vacation days (up to five each year) that you can purchase to add to your vacation entitlement
• Indexed, defined-benefit pension #LI-POST

We wish to thank all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.