Job Description / Duties

Description:

Our Financial Services Department is seeking a Legal Counsel, Properties who will work closely with and support staff and clients of the Properties Division which is accountable for the acquisition and disposal of real property interests and the administration of a real property interests portfolio with estimated value of $8 billion.

You are a commercial real estate lawyer with extensive transactional experience in connection with the acquisition, disposal and the administration of real property interests.

The Legal Counsel, Properties reports to the Director, Properties and falls within our Professional/Technical Level 5B job family.

This role:

•Provides legal counsel, advice and services to support the day-to-day operations and functions of the Properties Division and its clients in connection with the acquisition and disposal of a wide range of real property interests (fee simple, leasehold, statutory right of way, license, etc.), the administration of a substantial and diverse portfolio of real property interests involving all land uses (e.g. watershed, agricultural, residential, commercial, industrial) and the protection and/or relocation of critical utility infrastructure.

•Researches, analyzes and interprets real estate contracts and other legal documents, legislation, regulations and policy required to inform decision-making, resolve complex problems, develop creative solutions and objectively evaluate options to weigh out risks and benefits.

•Accountable for budget preparation, resource allocation and reporting. Monitors and controls spending ensuring the effective and efficient expenditure of funds within the approved budget.

•Works to ensure Metro Vancouver satisfies its legislative mandate and statutory and contractual obligations; ensures adherence to laws, regulations and policies; avoids and mitigates risk and liability exposure; and obtains commercial business terms that optimize the organization’s objectives in its dealings with other parties.

•Leads or assists with complex, sensitive or high profile real estate transactions, negotiations and preparation of agreements with private and public land owners and oversees or conducts related due diligence.

•Provides legal oversight for the expropriation of real property interests and expropriation related litigation and guidance for the assessment, negotiation and recommendation for potential litigation settlement proposals.

•Prepares and submits applications to the Canadian Transportation Agency for Orders to construct and maintain utility pipe crossings of railway lands.

•Drafts, reviews and negotiates real estate contracts and other legal documents in connection with the acquisition and disposal of real property interests and the administration of a substantial and diverse real property portfolio and real estate development projects. Provides advice on risks and implications of provisions in contracts and ensures assets and Metro Vancouver’s integrity are protected. Develops, updates and maintains a variety of real property contract templates.

•Leads or assists with drafting written materials in circumstances where real estate legal issues arise such as senior management, Committee and Board reports, correspondence to external parties and transactional documents. Leads or assists with the development and implementation of real estate policies, procedures, standards and programs. Provides legal advice and assistance with drafting new or amending existing bylaws and regulations and statutory notices.

•Provides briefings and recommends legal documentation for approval by senior management, Committees and Boards. Prepares and presents reports, including alternatives and recommendations, for consideration by senior management, Committees and Boards.

•Provides objective opinions, advice, alternatives, guidance and other services to senior management, Committees and Boards. Participates in internal project steering committees, work groups and meetings at various stages of project delivery to offer strategic, tactical and legal perspectives.

•Makes recommendations in consideration of all relevant information including facts, legal principles, relationships and the organization’s objectives. Advises on areas of risk, liability and optimal business terms and provides options and alternatives that are clear and responsive to staff and client needs.

•In accordance with policy, retains, instructs and liaises with external counsel (or assists the Corporate Solicitor) retained for complex or diverse real estate purposes; monitors and manages related costs while ensuring funds are used efficiently within budgeted guidelines.

•Conducts research on a variety of relevant legal issues and topics and stays current on changes in laws, statutes, acts and regulations. Acts as a key advisor and resource on applicable legislation including, but not limited to, the Local Government Act, Community Charter, Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District Act, Greater Vancouver Water District Act, Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Property Law Act, Trespass Act, Land Title Act, Land Act, Expropriation Act, Residential Tenancy Act, Commercial Tenancy Act, the Environmental Management Act and other federal and provincial legislation applicable to mandates, functions and services provided by Metro Vancouver.

•Hires, manages and supervises staff, monitoring performance towards division, department and corporate objectives. Ensures staff adhere to corporate workplace conduct and Board policies. Leads, coaches and mentors staff recognizing the importance of leadership, supervisory and technical training. Develops and sustains a flexible workforce, considers succession planning and encourages staff to pursue opportunities that complement their skills and experience. Resolves technical and relational issues staff encounter while doing their work.

•Performs other related duties as required.

Qualifications / Required Skills

To be successful, you have:

•Bachelor of law degree or equivalent degree. Seven (7) years of recent related experience as a practicing lawyer or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

•Practicing member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia.

•Sound working knowledge of the laws and extensive transactional experience related to the acquisition, disposal and administration of real property interests.

•In-house legal counsel experience, particularly in the local government context is an asset.

•Professional member of The Real Estate Institute of British Columbia or Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute (AACI) designation with the Appraisal Institute of Canada is an asset

•Extensive knowledge of commercial real property law; ability to provide objective opinions, options and alternatives that are clear and responsive to staff and client issues and needs. Demonstrated ability to provide sound legal advice on real property and legal issues in connection with the acquisition and disposal of a wide range of real property interests and the administration of a substantial and diverse portfolio of real property interests and real estate development.

•Sound working knowledge of the law in a broad range of areas and ability to interpret and provide competent advice with respect to legislation applicable to the mandates, functions and services provided by Metro Vancouver.

•Ability to work under broad direction without formal guidelines or precedent and use sound independent judgment to provide advice to staff and clients on issues of major consequence for the organization. Ability to meet challenging timelines and objectives and demonstrate persistence in overcoming obstacles.

•Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external contacts under circumstances that may be highly politicized and sensitive. Ability to establish clear expectations and provide effective guidance in adversarial situations while maintaining a strong ability to effectively resolve disagreements and propose relevant and practical solutions.

•Superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to effectively listen, persuade and resolve complex problems using a high degree of independent judgment. Experience drafting and revising various documents such as complex contractual and ancillary documentation and bylaws.

•Demonstrated ability to identify areas of opportunity or risk and propose solutions to resolve issues in the best interests of the organization and understands and evaluates the long-term impact of decisions. Ability to analyze and interpret complex issues where considerable variation in interpretation is possible.

•Demonstrated supervisory skills including the ability to develop and monitor workgroup plans and budgets and mentor, coach and guide direct reports while enhancing individual and team effectiveness. Sound understanding of, and ability to consistently apply, labour and employee relations principles and practices including applicable collective agreements and corporate policies.

•Proficiency using Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel and Outlook.

Additional Information

Our Vision:

Metro Vancouver seeks to achieve what humanity aspires to on a global basis – the highest quality of life embracing cultural vitality, economic prosperity, social justice and compassion, all nurtured in and by a beautiful and healthy natural environment.

Contact Information

Please follow this link: http://www.metrovancouver.org/about/careers/ to our Careers page where you can submit your application by July 2, 2019.