Legal Counsel Jobs

Location: Toronto, Canada

Thales people architect solutions that support 85 million mainline and suburban passenger journeys, worldwide, every day. Our Rail Signalling and Communication systems are used on metro lines across major cities, and 72,000 kms of route, 52,000 trains per day in 16 countries are controlled by our Traffic Management Systems. Together We deployed the first-ever nationwide ticketing system which processes over 50 million ticketing transactions in 100 cities daily.

Thales provides world-leading Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) and interlocking for mass rail transit applications globally. The Centre of Competence for Urban Rail Signalling is located right before you at mid-town Toronto. As the largest office in Canada, we house a department for every step of the Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC)! This includes Software, Hardware, Systems Design, Verification & Validation, Operations, etc. The supporting corporate shared services teams in Finance, Human Resources and IT is also located at the office. Our office space was designed to provide a sustainable, healthy workplace that expresses TRSS’s brand while increasing collaboration. Features include Greenguard furniture, EnergyStar appliances, low-emitting adhesives, sealants, and sliding glass doors on internal offices provide daylight and views to the outside. Come join the big Transport family, here in Toronto!

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to provide legal support to the business, in particular in the areas of contract law, intellectual property law, information technology law, corporate law and regulatory matters.

The Legal Counsel is required to manage the bids and proposals cycle for the Legal and Contracts team to be responsible for risk identification, risk mitigation recommendations, preparation of compliance statements and sales contracts and related agreements. To ensure compliance and governance procedures are implemented in the bids and proposals cycle. To draft and negotiate terms and conditions to ensure protection of company interests and the preservation of project profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

• To review RFP's and customer contracts to identify and prioritize legal and commercial risks
• Manages risk associated with each contract and ensures all risks associated with operations is anticipated, identified and managed
• Leads negotiation of complex contracts and sensitive matters, leading multi-Business Line and multi-unit bids for Legal & Contracts team while interfacing with different levels of senior management at local and global levels with respect to governance/ positions
• Oversees large, complex contracts held both locally with the Canadian government and/or Canadian business, as well as internationally
• Able to adapt to different contractual and commercial approaches, and navigate cultural norms, to arrive at negotiated compromises within approved parameters
• To ensure compliance with Thales governance policies for new business contracts
• Able to identify key commercial and legal risks, assess degree of severity and probability and articulate clearly to senior management in both written and presentation form, together with proposed mitigations
• Able to work independently as well as part of a team environment
• Liaise directly to Bids & Proposals team, Finance, Legal and other departments
• To draft and negotiate contractual documentation including preliminary agreements, intra-unit agreements and customer and/or supplier contracts
• Works positively with other specialist groups (Finance, Bids, Legal, Tax etc.) within a matrix organization to develop complex bids and proposals as part of a multi-functional bid team with the common objective of winning new and profitable orders
• Able to perform detailed analysis and drafting as well as appreciate the broad business and strategic context
• To prepare contract compliance matrices, risk assessment questionnaires and other pre-bid documentation
• Resolves legal points of contention with the customer
• To manage the development and implementation of a negotiation strategy for contract negotiations, from pre-award to execution
• Liaise directly with Risk Management analysts, Brokers and Sureties in connection with all contract bonding and insurance related matters
• To develop contractual positions and provide contract interpretation to the bids and proposals team, project team and senior management
• Participates in negotiations as required
• International travel to Customers’ facilities as required representing Contracts in the discussion and negotiation of commercial/contractual issues
• Able to represent the company professionally and with competence in negotiations with international clientele

Required Skills and Experience:

• Admitted to practice law in Ontario (a member in good standing in this jurisdiction)
• Able to travel internationally if necessary

Preferred Skills and Experience:

• Admitted to practice law in British Columbia or Quebec (a member in good standing in one or both of these jurisdictions) would be an asset
• Demonstrated experience in negotiating commercial agreements, contract management
• Demonstrated experience in and knowledge of technology contracting and/or competition law would be an asset
• Additional language skills preferred (French or other languages)
• 2- 5 years experience

Thales is required to follow mandatory customer policies as well as Federal and Provincial legislation, now and in the future. This includes, but is not limited to, vaccination mandates and travel requirements. This role requires you to work on a customer site and/or travel. Therefore, you must follow all mandatory customer policies, Federal, and Provincial legislation as a condition of employment.

Thales is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. Thales is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the interview process. Applicants selected for an interview who require accommodation are asked to advise accordingly upon the invitation for an interview. We will work with you to meet your needs. All accommodation information provided will be treated as confidential and used only for the purpose of providing an accessible candidate experience.