ABOUT US
The Canadian Nurses Protective Society (CNPS) provides legal advice, risk management services, legal assistance and professional liability protection related to nursing practice to over 150,000 eligible Canadian nurses across all Canadian provinces and territories. With the CNPS, you will enjoy a dynamic work environment, a collegial atmosphere and a rewarding career that provides opportunities for legal contributions at the leading edge of developments in the delivery of health care services in Canada.
ABOUT THE CNPS LEGAL SERVICES TEAM
CNPS legal counsel provide legal advice to nurses and nurse practitioners across Canada. They also manage litigation, including civil proceedings, regulatory and other statutory investigations files, by providing direct legal representation or via external counsel. Additionally, the legal team creates and delivers risk-management education and conducts legal analysis of new legislative initiatives and policies that affect nursing and the delivery of care.
SCOPE OF POSITION
The Director, Legal Services oversees the activities of a team of legal professionals to ensure the quality and efficiency of CNPS legal services delivery. The Director, Legal Services also monitors trends, identify key metrics, anticipates future needs, and in collaboration with the Director, Finance, establishes appropriate reserves on all active cases. The successful candidate will have an extensive litigation experience in the field of health law and will rely on their own litigation expertise to provide strategic guidance to the team and to personally manage cases that will include the more complex litigation and regulatory investigations. The Director, Legal Services will also be called upon to effectively communicate intricate and often sensitive information, provide an analysis of legal trends, and advise on complex legal and strategic issues.
As a member of the CNPS senior leadership team, the Director, Legal Services will collaborate with colleagues across disciplines to shape the direction and growth of the organization, initiate the development of internal policies related to the provision of legal services and liaise with external stakeholders on a range of legal and regulatory matters.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead and be accountable for a team of legal professionals (in their carriage of files and manage conflicts of interest, as they arise
- Support the professional development of team members through coaching, training, and mentoring
- Support to the CEO and other members of the senior leadership team on corporate-wide initiatives and other corporate matters
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with client partners, external legal partners, ministry partners and other stakeholders
- Act as a key subject matter expert in the interpretation and dissemination of legal advice and recommendations
- Strategically manage the conduct of litigation and legal proceedings across Canadian jurisdictions
- Oversee documentation of legal services in accordance with applicable standards and employer policies
- Develop and present educational modules, workshops, and lectures on professional obligations and legal issues relevant to nursing
- Oversee the drafting of articles for publication on various health law topics relevant to nurses and nurse practitioners
- Research and provide legal opinions relating to various corporate issues
- Review and analyze legal documents, including proposed policies, legislation, and health care delivery models
- Develop strategies to promote and support safe care delivery practices and a safe practice environment
- Oversee the organization of team resources (precedents, templates, legal research)
- Oversee the education of the legal team and internal clients on legal matters through discussions and presentations
- Provide legal information, advice, and support to nursing professionals in connection with issues arising from their professional practice
- Provide advice and/or representation to nurses involved in litigation and legal proceedings
- Assume other legal and management duties as assigned
REQUIREMENTS
- Licence to practise law in a Canadian province or territory
- A minimum of 15 years of practice in health law litigation
- Proven experience leading medium-small teams in their professional development, performance, and caseloads
- Experience working with health care professionals
- Ability and willingness to relocate to Ottawa
- Ability and willingness to travel
KEY COMPETENCIES
- A confident, decisive, and self-aware leader who consistently demonstrates reliability and commitment to a high level of quality in their work.
- Collaborative, inclusive, and team focused. Understands the intricacies of managing a team in a growing organization.
- A strategic thinker with highly developed analytical and organizational skills who understands the business implications of proposed legal solutions and exercises good judgment in providing timely and practical advice.
- An excellent communicator with proven negotiation and relationship-building skills, including the ability to communicate complex legal issues in plain language.
- A creative and innovative thinker with the demonstrated ability to identify areas of change and operationalize.
- Able to thrive in a fast paced, high-pressure environment while effectively managing changing and competing priorities.
ALSO CONSIDERED AN ASSET:
- Fluency in both official languages, written and oral
- Licence to practise law from the Barreau du Québec
- Thorough understanding of the changing dynamics of the health care sector
WHY CHOOSE THE CNPS?
- Competitive total compensation package, including salary, comprehensive health & wellness benefits, and defined benefit pension plan
- Rewarding work in a dynamic, collaborative, positive team environment
- Ability to undertake meaningful work for a highly deserving client population
Please submit your cover letter and resume to hr@cnps.ca. Please address your application for the attention of Chantal Léonard, Chief Executive Officer.
We thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted.
The CNPS welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.