Assistant Director, Legal Services

Role Responsibilities

Are you interested in advising on workplace and other legal issues while a leading a cohesive and collaborative team of lawyers? Alberta Justice - Legal Services Division - has an Assistant Director opportunity with the Jobs and Immigration Legal Team in Edmonton.

Reporting to the Director of the Justice and Public Safety and Emergency Services and Jobs and Immigration Legal Teams, the Assistant Director – Jobs and Immigration Legal Team will deliver senior strategic and legal advisory services as part of an experienced team, cohesive group that provides strategic legal support to Jobs, Economy and Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism, and the professional governance division of Advanced Education. The Assistant Director – Jobs and Immigration Legal Team will also support the Director with a variety of management/administration duties as required.
 

• Providing client-focused written and verbal legal and strategic advice to support decision-making on a wide range of issues pertaining to workplaces, including policy and program initiatives.

• Handling urgent, high priority workplace legal matters and briefings that come in on short notice that have not yet been assigned. 

• Analyzing legal and strategic risks and recommending mitigation strategies;

• Working with other legal teams to coordinate legal advice and services; and

• Working with clients, including senior government officials, to advance goals; and

• Drafting briefing notes and other required reporting, including high priority and urgent requests on legal and non-legal issues and sensitive matters.

• Support the Director with general team operations including leading Jobs and Immigration Legal Team meetings and morale building activities;

• Support the Director with human resource matters as requested (supervision, recruit, orient and train new employees; performance excellence and performance management);

• Foster collaborative relationships among team members and other legal teams;

• Manage client relationships, expectations and service delivery;

• Assigning files to lawyers on the Jobs and Immigration Legal Team and serving as lead counsel on the most complex assignments;

• Overseeing file assignments and practice management for lawyers on the Jobs and Immigration Legal Team and assisting in finding solutions if capacity and resource issues arise;

• Mentoring, and coaching Jobs and Immigration Legal Team members;

• Succession planning to ensure continued and ongoing service delivery;

• Assisting the Director in managing outside counsel matters;

• Act for the Director as needed.

Please click on this link to view the job description for this position.

APS Competencies

Competencies are behaviors that are essential to reach our goals in serving Albertans. We encourage you to have an in depth understanding of the competencies that are required for this opportunity and to be prepared to demonstrate them during the recruitment process.

This link will assist you with understanding competencies:
https://www.alberta.ca/system/files/custom_downloaded_images/psc-alberta-public-service-competency-model.pdf.

Systems Thinking: Work done is part of a larger integrated and inner-related environment. Allows us to keep broader impacts and connections in mind.

Creative Problem Solving: Ability to assess options and implications in new ways to achieve outcomes and solutions.

Agility: Ability to anticipate, assess, and readily adapt to changing priorities, maintain resilience and work effectively in changing environments.

Drive for Results: Knowing what outcomes are important and maximizing resources to achieve results that are aligned with the goals of the organization while maintaining accountability.

Develop Networks: Proactively building networks, connecting, and building trust in relationships with stakeholders.

Build Collaborative Environment: Leads and contributes to the conditions and environments that allow people to work collaboratively and productively.

Develop Self and Others: Commitment to lifelong learning and the desire to invest in the development of the long-term capability of yourself and others.

Qualifications

A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctor (JD). For Law degrees obtained outside Canada, proof of accreditation from the National Committee on Accreditation (NCA) is required. You must be an active member or must have immediate eligibility for full membership with the Law Society of Alberta.

Civil Crown Counsel 4 – a minimum of 11 years of related experience is required. 

Assets for this role include:

• Experience leading a team of lawyers.
• Knowledge of legislation and policies governing Alberta’s workplaces.
• Experience in labour and employment law.
• Experience providing strategic legal advice on complex projects.
• Experience providing advice on the development, interpretation, and application of legislation.

In your cover letter, please briefly summarize:

• Legal experience and expertise,
• Relevant strengths and skills, 
• Reasons for interest in the position

Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.

Minimum recruitment standards outline the minimum education and experience required for appointment to a job classification. 
Refer to https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-minimum-recruitment-standards.

Notes

Hours of work: Monday – Friday, 8:15 am - 4:30 pm (36.25 /week)

Location: This opportunity is located in Edmonton.

Final candidates will be required to undergo a security screening.
Any costs associated with obtaining the required documents/checks as noted or interview travel expenses, will be the responsibility of the candidate. Out-of-province applicants can obtain the required documents/checks from the province they currently reside in.

Links and information on what the GoA has to offer to prospective employees.

• Working for the Alberta Public Service - https://www.alberta.ca/advantages-working-for-alberta-public-service.aspx
• Public Service Pension Plan (PSPP) - https://www.pspp.ca
• Management Employees Pension Plan (MEPP) - https://www.mepp.ca
• Alberta Public Service Benefit Information - https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-public-service-benefits
• Professional learning and development - https://www.alberta.ca/professional-development-support-directive
• Research Alberta Public Service Careers tool – https://researchapscareers.alberta.ca
• Positive workplace culture and work-life balance
• Opportunity to participate in flexible work arrangements such as working from home up to two days per week and modified work schedule agreement
• Leadership and mentorship programs