City Solicitor in Saskatoon

The City of Saskatoon is seeking an experienced, strategic legal leader to serve as City Solicitor, providing comprehensive legal services and trusted counsel to City Council, the City Manager, Administration, and civic Boards and Committees. This executive leadership role oversees the City Solicitor’s Department, guides complex legal matters, and provides expertise in municipal law, litigation, legislation, bylaws, and contracts.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• The City Solicitor’s Office provides legal services to the City of Saskatoon, City Council and its Boards, Committees and other related organizations.
• As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, this professional position provides legal advice and opinions on policy and process matters to the City Manager, City Council, the Leaders, Administration, and City staff under the general direction of the City Manager.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the members of the City Solicitor’s Department, including Solicitors and Administrative Assistants, and support their professional development.
• Oversee and approve the drafting of bylaws and contracts relating to all aspects of the City’s operations, including utility operations, land transactions, municipal planning and development, construction, IT and community partnership activities.
• Provide full legal services to the City of Saskatoon, including litigation and in-house counsel services to City Council, the Administration and various civic Boards and Committees.
• Set the overall strategic direction of the City Solicitor’s Office by establishing goals and short- and long-term objectives that are consistent with the overall strategic direction of the City.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships with organizational leaders and work cooperatively with colleagues at all levels, as well as with a wide range of internal and external contacts, agencies and members of the public.
• Organize and direct the City’s legal activities.
• Supervise the provision of legal services to City Council, the Administration and civic Boards and Committees in various areas including Litigation, Municipal Law, Planning and Administrative Law, Employment Law, Prosecutions, Real Estate and Construction Law.
• Attend and provide legal advice at Council meetings and Executive Committee meetings of Council.
• Provide legal counsel and direction in a timely manner to senior management and departmental personnel on corporate matters involving legal problems/issues.
• Work closely with senior management and department personnel to assist them in achieving their goals while protecting the City’s interests from a legal standpoint.
• Manage outsourced specialised legal service providers to ensure the City’s interests are kept while managing costs.
• Proactively share information, analysis and recommendations based on legislation, court and tribunal decisions that may affect the organization and its practices.
• Represent the organization at various levels of court, and other formal and informal legal proceedings.
• Demonstrate political acumen and the ability to negotiate, mediate, facilitate and present information to a varied audience.
• Provide ongoing departmental leadership by using effective management techniques and performance management processes.
• Encourage the professional development of personnel so that employees are highly qualified, competent and provide excellent service.
• Be available for consultation with legal staff.
• Act as a member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team and represent the City at a senior level.
• Develop departmental budgets and ensure that the departmental budget is implemented in accordance with the City’s budget plan.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Who we are looking for:

• Visioning and Strategic Thinking: Thinks long-term, stretching horizons and challenging imaginations to develop an image of how to deliver innovative and creative services that meet and exceed community expectations.
• Building Organizational Effectiveness: Sets the stage and builds the culture and standards for a high performing workplace.
• Financial Leadership: Oversees the health of the corporation's finances and long term financial plans, ensuring openness and accountability exists in corporate resource allocation and collection decisions.
• Team Leadership: Builds own skills in team leadership, fosters teamwork and ensures that team members and staff are engaged.
• Political Astuteness: Able to understand and operate effectively within both the political environment of the Corporation and the community.
• Foster Change & Innovation: Champions change, demonstrates a willingness and ability to initiate, sponsor and lead change initiatives through to completion.

What we are looking for:

• A Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) or Juris Doctorate (JD) degree.
• Membership in the Law Society of Saskatchewan.
• Ten years' progressively responsible experience at a senior level providing legal services within a multifaceted setting including extensive experience practicing municipal law.
• Demonstrated team management and leadership capabilities.

The City of Saskatoon offers a wide range of benefits that support the health, well-being and financial security of our employees.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: The City of Saskatoon offers an inclusive workplace that embraces diverse backgrounds. As an equity partner with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC), the City commits to diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces.

Accommodation: The City of Saskatoon strives to provide an accessible and inclusive workplace for all, including throughout the application and selection process through reasonable access and accommodations.