Senior Legal Counsel

Senior Legal Counsel



McMaster University is actively seeking a strategic and highly skilled individual to serve as their Senior Legal Counsel to be the lead on a variety of legal matters across the university. The Senior Legal Counsel will join McMaster University at an exciting time, as it continues to work toward its 2021 Strategic Plan with a vision to create impact, ambition and transformation through excellence, inclusion and community, and an overall goal of advancing human and societal health and well-being.

Founded in 1887 and recognized as Canada’s most research-intensive University, McMaster has achieved an international reputation as a centre of excellence for teaching and learning, innovation, and creativity. Consistently ranked among top 5 universities in Canada, McMaster is a member of the U15 group of Canadian universities. McMaster is a research-intensive, student-centred university focused on preparing its students to be engaged and thoughtful citizens, equipped with the skills, knowledge, resilience, and understanding needed to make a positive and effective contribution to the world. In addition to providing an outstanding, personalized learning environment for their students, the University has the ability and the creativity, across all six Faculties, to partner and collaborate on the knowledge, discoveries and innovation that are needed to make a positive and decisive impact on our society and world.

The Senior Legal Counsel is accountable to the University Counsel with functional reporting responsibilities to the Provost & Vice-President, Academic. The primary area of accountability of the Senior Legal Counsel will be providing legal advice and support to the academic administration of the University, in particular, the Provost’s Office. Key responsibilities will include providing advice and counsel on academic human resources matters and legal issues related to student learning and human rights matters. In particular, the Senior Legal Counsel will work closely with the Manager, Faculty Relations, staff in the Provost’s Office and Human Resources business partners dedicated to academic affairs.

As the ideal candidate you have a Juris Doctor (JD) along with ten to twelve post-call years of experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered. You are a member a Canadian provincial law society or be eligible for membership. You bring a varied work background to have the ability to understand highly technical, scientific, and legal issues that relate to work and work processes at McMaster University; as well as the ability to interpret and comprehend complex legislation combined with excellent inter-personal and written skills. You exemplify exceptional leadership skills with proven ability to guide staff to achieve success while having knowledge or experience regarding legal issues that relate to some or all of the following: legal issues in the academy, faculty relations, business and collaborator transactions, labour & employment, privacy & records management, land & facilities use, student conduct, research and commercialization, advancements & trusts, human rights & accommodation, copyright & Intellectual property, health law, occupational health & safety.

If you’re interested in this opportunity, please apply online at www.kbrs.ca/Career/16371. For more information, contact Katherine Frank (kfrank@kbrs.ca) or Mark Gillis (mgillis@kbrs.ca).

McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the “Dish With One Spoon” wampum agreement.


The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity.

The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, Métis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+.


All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.


As part of McMaster’s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey as part of the application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requires voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. The entire survey will take approximately two minutes to complete. All information collected is confidential and will be used to support efforts to broaden the diversity of the applicant pool and to promote a fair, equitable and inclusive talent acquisition process. The survey link will be provided at the time of application.


McMaster University and KBRS will provide support in the recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation in order to participate as a candidate in the recruitment process, please contact accommodate@kbrs.ca or communicate your needs to the recruitment professional named in the job description.