Senior Legal Counsel

 Reference Number : 1235 

Status : Permanent - Full-time  

Annual Salary / Hourly Rate : $118 641 -  $146 557

Number of positions to be filled : 1 

Application Deadline : 04/13/2026

Did you know that VIA Rail is carrying out ambitious projects to modernize its services and infrastructure? From our new ultramodern train fleet to ongoing improvement of our infrastructure, we’re building the future of transportation in Canada. Working for VIA Rail is being a part of a collective effort in sustainable mobility. 

The person holding this position plays a key role in the implementation of the governance framework aimed at ensuring the Corporation's compliance with the laws and regulations applicable to it, in order to protect its interests in a dynamic and constantly changing business environment.The person will be responsible for managing the Corporation's regulatory governance program, particularly in terms of legal and regulatory monitoring and compliance, official languages, access to information, privacy, information management and intellectual property, while contributing, as required, to internal governance issues, including support to the Corporation's decision-making bodies, including the Board of Directors.The person will also provide legal support and strategic advice to certain business units, including the information technology, business affairs, marketing and communications teams.In this context, the Corporation is looking for versatile person with great intellectual curiosity, a real interest in working on a variety of cases and areas of law and motivated by the exploration of new legal and organizational issues.

Responsibilities

• Actively participate in the development and evolution of the Corporation's compliance management strategy and support the efforts of the business units in the implementation of the strategy;
• Participate, when required, in regulatory operational discussions with internal and external stakeholders, including the business units responsible for the operational implementation of compliance, the industry as well as the various authorities regulating the Corporation's activities, including but not limited to, Transport Canada, Environment Canada, etc.;
• In conjunction with the business units, identify potential regulatory/legal risks in order to develop a risk mitigation strategy and implement mitigation measures for the various regulatory/legal risks associated with the Company's activities;
• Ensure continuous monitoring of legislative and regulatory developments likely to influence the organization's business practices and inform stakeholders of changes to be made to such practices to ensure the organization's continued compliance with the laws and regulations applicable to it;
• Provide expertise to the various stakeholders on issues relating to legal and regulatory monitoring and compliance and recommend solutions to improve the organization's business practices in this regard;
• Develop and draft various Company policies associated with regulatory requirements for the Company's activities;
• In conjunction with business units, take part in regulatory audits;
• Organize training sessions for the Company's staff on legal and regulatory compliance and monitoring issues;
• Prepare regular reports on the status of compliance and submit them to management;
• Identify and make recommendations on the need for the development of policies, procedures, processes and guidelines for the continuous improvement of access to information, privacy and information management activities;
• Provide expertise to various stakeholders on access to information, privacy and information management issues and recommend solutions to improve the organization's business practices in this regard;
• Ensure that a framework is in place for managing privacy breaches, and managing privacy breaches within the established framework;
• Collaborate with the organization's various business units on various projects and coordinate privacy impact assessments of new or significantly modified programs or activities that require the creation, collection and processing of personal information;
• Organize training sessions and workshops to raise staff awareness of access to information, privacy and information management issues;
• Prepares certain reports to senior management and various regulatory bodies related to access to information, information management and privacy;
• Ensure the implementation of the official languages governance program within the organization;
• Overseeing the processing of complaints filed with the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages; 
• Organize training sessions and workshops to raise staff awareness of official languages issues;
• Provide expertise to the various stakeholders on official languages issues and recommend solutions to improve the organization's business practices in this regard;
• Prepare certain reports to senior management and various regulatory bodies related to official languages;
• Develop tools to allow certain departments to develop their autonomy in the handling of certain types of files and their understanding of the issues surrounding the management of reputational, contractual and legal risks;
• Provide legal support to certain teams, including but not limited to information technology, business affairs, marketing and communications teams;
• Manage the organization's portfolio of official marks and trademarks;
• With the support of external lawyers specializing in the field, manage intellectual property proceedings, including those filed with trademark offices in Canada and internationally;
• Participate in their continuing education in order to always be on the lookout for best practices associated with their area of responsibility;
• Ensure the development of the tools or processes necessary for the effectiveness of his/her work;
• Ensure the maximization of the efficient use of one's time;
• Perform any other professional development tasks required by VIA Rail or its manager.

Requirements

• Member of the Quebec Bar for at least 8 years;
• Excellent written and verbal proficiency in both official languages (English/French). 
• Experience in a similar role, more specifically in the implementation of regulatory governance frameworks and the management of ethics issues;
• Experience in a company operating in the transportation sector or in a federal Crown corporation is an asset;
• In-depth knowledge of the laws and regulations governing the business world, including the regulations surrounding the Canadian railway sector
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written) and negotiation;
• Flexibility for occasional travel within Canada as part of the duties.

At VIA Rail, we are proud to be an employment-equity employer and we strive to form teams that reflect the diversity of Canadian society. We aim to remove barriers to employment accessibility and aspire to provide an inclusive and equitable work environment where everyone is valued, regardless of their identity or differences, to enable them to reach their full potential.

If you need assistance in making the recruitment process or the position you are applying for more accessible, please let us know. Alternate arrangements may be offered to individuals who request them at any stage of the recruitment process. All information received in relation to arrangements will be kept confidential.

Note that we will only contact those who are selected for an interview.

Join our 3,000 other employees in helping provide Canadians with a safe, accessible, environmentally sustainable way to travel!