Director, Legal Services (Real Estate)

Infrastructure Ontario • Toronto, ON

23h • CA$164,700 - CA$210,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Infrastructure Ontario (IO) is seeking a Director, Legal Services (Real Estate) to provide high-quality, commercially prudent legal advice and services to internal clients and senior management. This role focuses on commercial real estate transactions, asset management, and corporate matters relevant to the Government’s General Real Estate Portfolio and Development initiatives. As a senior member of the Legal team, the Director will play a key role in supporting IO's mission to modernize and maximize the value of public infrastructure and realty in Ontario.

Requirements

• University degree in Law (LLB or J.D.)
• Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Knowledge of legislation relevant to the business of Infrastructure Ontario.
• Significant, sustained experience practicing commercial leasing, particularly with a focus on asset management, realty operations, lease management, development procurement, planning, and development related to the construction of master-planned communities.
• Proven strategic and innovative thinking and demonstrated experience, drafting, negotiating, and executing complex commercial lease agreements and ancillary contracts.
• Demonstrated people management experience or demonstrated experience acting as the functional or team lead for complex transactions and initiatives.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills, ability to communicate complex legal issues in a clear manner to non-legal audiences and effectively represent Infrastructure Ontario in a variety of fora.
• Strong consultation and influencing skills to resolve issues.
• Strong negotiation skills to ensure positive outcomes for Infrastructure Ontario.

Responsibilities

• Providing Legal Advice to Infrastructure Ontario Executives and Business Units to Support Decision Making, including verbal and written advice, opinions, and support on complex legal matters concerning internal and external Infrastructure Ontario operations in the areas of commercial leasing, asset management, development, real property litigation, corporate/commercial contracts, procurement, and policy development.
• Drafting Infrastructure Ontario legal documents to ensure maximum protection of its legal rights and compliance with all applicable laws.
• Managing and liaising with external counsel on issues, interpreting and disseminating legal advice and recommendations to the senior management team to support business decision-making.
• Providing advice in the drafting and revision of corporate policies and highlighting potential implications or risks to the corporation and its businesses.
• Providing advice on all areas of law relevant to Infrastructure Ontario.
• Providing Legal Support to Internal Stakeholders on Commercial Leasing, Asset Management, Contract Management, Development, and Corporate/Commercial Transactions.
• Conducting due diligence on commercial leasing transactions, including drafting and negotiating complex offers to lease, leases, renewals, amendments, and related documents, and providing advice on deal structuring.
• Drafting legal documents, contracts, and agreements in support of Infrastructure Ontario Asset Management business units in the planning and execution of commercial transactions.
• Providing advice and support in managing contract administration issues for assigned lines of business.
• Providing negotiation support to business units on assigned transactions.
• Providing advice on the legal aspects of risk management, including commercial leasing transactions, asset management, and procurement.
• Managing procurement of external legal services for assigned transactions and obtaining final approval from the General Counsel.
• Supervising the Leasing & Contract Management Legal Team, including managing legal counsels, clerks, and staff; assigning and supervising work assignments; coordinating and balancing workloads across team members.
• Establishing annual initiatives and objectives and conducting annual and interim performance reviews.
• Supporting the development of team members through coaching and mentoring.
• Providing direction and holding team members accountable for results.
• Leading regular team meetings.
• Supporting the development and management of templates and processes across workstreams.
• Assisting in the development of team structure, workflow coordination, and staffing requirements.
• Supervising a Team of Lawyers and Clerks, including managing, training, mentoring, and developing legal counsels, clerks, and staff.
• Assigning and supervising work assignments while coordinating and balancing workloads across team members.
• Establishing annual initiatives and objectives, managing performance expectations, and conducting annual and interim performance reviews.
• Supporting the professional development of team members through coaching and mentoring.
• Providing direction and holding team members accountable for results.
• Leading regular workstream meetings.
• Assisting in the development of team structure, workflow coordination, and staffing requirements.
• Developing, overseeing, and implementing strategic programs, systems, processes, tools, and strategies for the team to drive business results.
• Assisting in Developing Legal Strategy for Infrastructure Ontario Litigation Matters, including coordinating with the VP, Legal Services (Real Estate Management and Litigation) to provide direction to external counsel with respect to real property litigation, arbitrations, and mediations, and reviewing all documents prepared by external counsel.
• Reviewing file documents, considering external advice, developing viable legal strategies, and obtaining required approvals.
• Advising and supporting Infrastructure Ontario senior management and staff regarding their roles in litigation, arbitrations, and mediations.

Benefits

• Commitment to creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive culture that promotes a sense of belonging and represents and reflects the needs of the communities we serve.
• A defined contribution pension plan, where IO contributes the equivalent of 5% of a full-time employee’s annual salary, with an option for IO to match an additional 5% contribution made by the employee. IO also offers a Group Retirement Savings Plan and Group Tax Free Savings Account, designed to help IO colleagues plan and save for their future.
• A comprehensive package that covers health, dental, vision, out-of-country care, paramedical services, and more.
• A pregnancy and parental leave program that offers expecting, eligible employees a top-up to 95% of their annual base salary for 31 weeks, and our parental leave program offers eligible employees a top-up to 95% of their annual base salary for 15 weeks.
• Access to our $1000 Healthcare Spending Account to top up expenses not covered in the benefit program and a Lifestyle Account that expands the eligibility of health and wellness options and can include coverage for gym memberships and fitness equipment, nutrition counselling or financial planning.
• Support for professional development opportunities for all colleagues through a broad range of learning programs that include in-person and online training, leadership development, and support for colleagues’ well-being. IO will also cover the costs associated with up to two membership and license fees per year for eligible colleagues if directly related to the employee’s role.
• Access to a suite of virtual healthcare options to support non-urgent medical needs.
• A convenient, central location at 1 Dundas St West, easily accessible by public transit.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director