Union/Affiliation:

Administrative Professional Excluded Staff

Pay range:

$153,779 to $198,996 annually

SFU Department Descr:

Office of the General Counsel

Position Grade:

17

of openings:

1

Biweekly Hours:

72

Who We Are

Simon Fraser University is a leading research university, advancing an inclusive and sustainable future. Our purpose – the essence of SFU – is to create and connect knowledge, learning and community for deeper understanding and meaningful impact. We are committed to fostering excellence, innovation, belonging and community in all that we do.

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) has conduct over, and is accountable for, all legal matters arising at the university and for protecting the university’s legal interests. The OGC maintains operational responsibility for University Legal Counsel, Archives and Records Management, and the Policy Office.

About the Role

SFU is seeking an experienced and collaborative lawyer to join its Office of the General Counsel as Legal Counsel, specializing in employment and labour law. The role provides strategic and practical legal advice on a broad range of workplace matters involving unionized and non-unionized employees, including employee discipline and termination, workplace investigations, accommodation and human rights issues, disability management, workplace policies, and labour relations matters. Working closely with Human Resources and Labour Relations, Faculty Relations, senior leadership, and other stakeholders, the successful candidate will support the university’s academic mission while managing legal risk and promoting respectful and legally compliant workplaces. The role also includes drafting and reviewing employment agreements and policies, supporting litigation and administrative proceedings, managing external counsel, and monitoring legal developments to provide proactive guidance and training.

The ideal candidate is a good standing member of the Law Society of British Columbia with at least 4-8 years of experience in employment and labour law. They possess strong knowledge of labour relations, human rights, privacy, occupational health and safety, and administrative law principles, and are skilled at delivering practical, solutions-oriented legal advice in complex environments. Experience advising public sector or post-secondary institutions is considered an asset. The successful candidate demonstrates excellent judgment, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills, and is comfortable working collaboratively with senior leadership, Human Resources, Faculty Relations, and external counsel. They are proactive, collegial, and able to manage competing priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Full