Senior Legal Counsel-Alternative Delivery and Construction

GHD Group Pty Ltd • Waterloo, ON

8d • CA$134,629 - CA$223,781 • Hybrid

About The Position

GHD has a new and exciting opportunity for a Senior Legal Counsel -Alternative Delivery and Construction. We are seeking a seasoned Senior Legal Counsel to join our in-house legal team and serve as the primary legal advisor on major alternative delivery projects across the country. This is a high-impact role for an experienced construction lawyer who thrives in a dynamic, project-driven environment and who brings demonstrated expertise in the full spectrum of alternative project delivery models, including public-private partnerships (P3/PPP), alliance contracting, integrated project delivery (IPD), design-build (DB), and progressive design-build (PDB).

Reporting to the Assistant General Counsel, the successful candidate will work closely with leadership, project leaders, business groups, risk management, and commercial teams across multiple service lines and geographies. The role demands a strategic thinker and pragmatic advisor who can manage legal risk on large, complex mandates while supporting business development and team growth.

THIS POSITION CAN BE BASED IN MOST MAJOR OFFICE LOCATIONS ACROSS CANADA.

OUR HYBRID WORK MODEL:

BE PART OF THE DYNAMIC CULTURE! OUR WORKPLACE THRIVES ON A HYBRID MODEL, COMBINING IN-OFFICE COLLABORATION AND FLEXIBILITY. JOIN US IN OFFICE, THREE DAYS A WEEK TO CONTRIBUTE, CONNECT AND EXCEL IN OUR VIBRANT ENVIRONMENT.

IN AN EVER-CHANGING WORLD, IT REQUIRES CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION TO STAY AHEAD.

WE’RE SEEKING THE CURIOUS, THOSE WHO ARE STIMULATED BY FRESH THINKING AND A DESIRE TO SHAPE OUR COMMUNITIES IN NEW, POSITIVE WAYS. SEE WHAT THE POWER OF COMMITMENT CAN DO FOR YOU!

WORKING WITH AN ENERGETIC AND HIGH PERFORMING TEAM, THIS POSITION OFFERS A VARIETY OF WORK AND WILL SEE YOU INVOLVED IN THE FOLLOWING:
The Senior Legal Counsel will be responsible for providing day-to-day legal support and strategic advice on the firm's most significant alternative delivery pursuits and projects across Canada. This includes reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts, joint venture agreements, teaming agreements, subconsultant agreements, and other project-related commercial arrangements. The successful candidate will advise project teams on risk allocation, liability, indemnification, insurance, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution provisions in the context of major infrastructure and building projects.
A core aspect of the role involves leading the legal analysis and negotiation of project agreements under P3/PPP, alliance, IPD, DB, and PDB delivery frameworks, including advising on the unique risk profiles and contractual structures associated with each model. The Senior Legal Counsel will support proposal and pursuit teams during the procurement phase, including reviewing requests for qualifications (RFQs) and requests for proposals (RFPs), advising on commercial terms, and assisting in the preparation of compliant and competitive submissions.
The role also requires building and mentoring an existing team of legal professionals to support the growing volume and complexity of alternative delivery work. The successful candidate will develop and maintain precedent documents, contract playbooks, risk matrices, and other tools to improve consistency and efficiency across the legal function. They will also collaborate with external counsel where required, managing outside legal spend and ensuring alignment with the firm's commercial objectives and risk tolerance.
In addition, the Senior Legal Counsel will provide guidance on claims management, dispute avoidance, and dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation support as needed. They will monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the construction and infrastructure sectors and advise the business on emerging legal risks and opportunities. The role includes contributing to the firm's broader legal and compliance functions, including corporate governance, privacy, employment, and insurance matters, as required.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree from a recognised Canadian law school.
• Member in good standing of a provincial law society, with the ability to obtain membership in additional jurisdictions as needed.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of post-call legal experience.
• A substantial portion of that experience focused on construction law and major project delivery.
• Demonstrated, hands-on experience advising on alternative delivery projects is essential.
• Proven track record of working on P3/PPP, alliance, IPD, DB, and PDB projects, ideally from the perspective of an engineering consultant, design professional, or constructor.
• Strong leadership skills and a demonstrated ability to build, develop, and manage legal teams in a corporate environment.
• A collaborative, business-oriented mindset and a willingness to engage directly with project delivery teams and clients are essential.

Nice To Haves

• Experience across multiple service lines — such as transportation, transit, water and wastewater, energy, buildings, and environmental.
• Bilingualism in English and French is important for this role, given the firm's national presence and the volume of projects and clients in Québec. The ability to review, draft, and negotiate contracts in both official languages is a significant asset.
• Experience working in-house at a consulting engineering firm, construction company, or infrastructure developer is preferred, though candidates with significant private practice experience in construction and infrastructure law will also be considered.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day legal support and strategic advice on the firm's most significant alternative delivery pursuits and projects across Canada.
• Review, draft, and negotiate contracts, joint venture agreements, teaming agreements, subconsultant agreements, and other project-related commercial arrangements.
• Advise project teams on risk allocation, liability, indemnification, insurance, limitation of liability, and dispute resolution provisions in the context of major infrastructure and building projects.
• Lead the legal analysis and negotiation of project agreements under P3/PPP, alliance, IPD, DB, and PDB delivery frameworks, including advising on the unique risk profiles and contractual structures associated with each model.
• Support proposal and pursuit teams during the procurement phase, including reviewing requests for qualifications (RFQs) and requests for proposals (RFPs), advising on commercial terms, and assisting in the preparation of compliant and competitive submissions.
• Build and mentor an existing team of legal professionals to support the growing volume and complexity of alternative delivery work.
• Develop and maintain precedent documents, contract playbooks, risk matrices, and other tools to improve consistency and efficiency across the legal function.
• Collaborate with external counsel where required, managing outside legal spend and ensuring alignment with the firm's commercial objectives and risk tolerance.
• Provide guidance on claims management, dispute avoidance, and dispute resolution, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation support as needed.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments affecting the construction and infrastructure sectors and advise the business on emerging legal risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to the firm's broader legal and compliance functions, including corporate governance, privacy, employment, and insurance matters, as required.

Benefits

• Support and empower all our people to make a positive impact
• Accelerate your career
• Empower you with the right technology and training
• Professional development
• Continuing legal education
• Active participation in industry associations
• Competitive compensation
• Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment and selection process

What This Job Offers

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