Managing a vital trade gateway on Canada’s west coast, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) operates within the traditional territory of the Ts’msyen speaking people who have lived and traded in the area for thousands of years.
Over the past decade, the volume of goods moving through the Port of Prince Rupert and the number of people employed in Port activity have doubled, making it Canada’s third-largest port. The Port of Prince Rupert drives economic growth across northern British Columbia, with 3,700 people working in jobs that directly support the movement of goods, generating $360 million in annual wages.
PRPA is responsible for the overall planning, development, marketing, and management of the commercial port facilities within the Port of Prince Rupert. This includes ensuring competitive, efficient, and timely responses to customer needs and business opportunities. It also means ensuring that PRPA facilitates these opportunities in a manner that is safe, responsible, and sustainable.
Through careful stewardship, PRPA creates sustainable prosperity for its communities, partners, province, and country. The result is a growing gateway that supports an extensive workforce, a robust system of environmental safeguards and marine safety, and maintains its commitment to building stronger communities in northern British Columbia.
PRPA is expanding its in-house legal team and is recruiting a Senior In-House Counsel to help ensure continued delivery of high quality legal support across the organization. Reporting to the Director, Legal Services, the Senior In-House Counsel provides a broad range of legal services to the organization, working closely with corporate, planning, and operational departments and advising all levels of the organization — including executives, directors, and managers — with a goal of achieving effective decision-making and appropriate risk management.
In this role, you will review, negotiate, and draft a wide variety of commercial agreements — including leases, licences, construction contracts, contribution and feasibility agreements, project development and service agreements, procurement documents, and purchase and sale agreements. You will provide guidance on regulatory compliance under legislation such as the Canada Marine Act, the Access to Information Act, and the Privacy Act; track and assess the impact of new and changing legislation; anticipate legal issues and advise on strategies to mitigate risk; and prepare legal opinions on matters of significance to PRPA. You will also advise on corporate governance matters, including by-laws, corporate policies, and the preparation of Board materials. Working under the direction of the General Counsel, you will help oversee Indigenous files — including advice on Indigenous consultation and the negotiation and implementation of benefit and protocol agreements, in collaboration with the Indigenous Affairs department — and assist with employment law and litigation matters.
The preferred candidate is a practicing lawyer with a minimum of seven years of broad corporate/commercial experience gained in a law firm or a mid-to-large size corporation, including experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating contracts. Experience in regulatory, aboriginal, real property, and environmental law is preferred, and experience in employment law and/or litigation would be considered an asset. Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Law degree and be admitted and in good standing with a Canadian law society, with the ability to obtain membership in the Law Society of British Columbia prior to commencement of employment. The successful candidate must also be able to obtain security clearance under Transport Canada’s Marine Transportation Security Clearance Program.
Prince Rupert is home to amazing wildlife and wilderness adventures, rich with unique history and cultural experiences, and the spectacular scenery of the rugged Coast Mountain Range and the Great Bear Rainforest. Relocation to Prince Rupert is a requirement for this position and PRPA will offer a competitive relocation package for the right candidate.
This role offers a unique opportunity to be directly involved in PRPA’s business, contributing to high impact commercial, regulatory, and strategic initiatives within a dynamic and growing organization, while benefiting from a flexible and progressive work environment.
This is an exclusive search.
To apply or inquire about this opportunity, please contact Jeremiah Hunter at jeremiah@smithlegalsearch.com or Warren Smith at warren@smithlegalsearch.com.