Senior Employment Counsel

Individually we are people, but together we are Aviva. Individually these are just words, but together they are our Values – Care, Commitment, Community, and Confidence.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Employment Counsel to join our General Counsel Office team. This is a great opportunity to join a collaborative team working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment. You must be able to demonstrate the ability to work independently and proficiently in the full range of employment law issues.

Does this sound like your next role? Read on!

The Senior Employment Counsel role:

• You will be joining a committed and caring team who are tasked with delivering first class legal advice to our internal collaborators. The Senior Employment Counsel is a new appointment within the General Counsel Office. You will work closely and support our Human Resources team and have responsibility for handling a wide variety of both contentious and non-contentious employment matters. You will report directly into the General Counsel and are required to have first class employment knowledge and experience. This includes:

  • Providing legal advice on all aspects of employment related issues, including employment contracts, codes of conduct and related remuneration, staff benefits and pensions and responding to any employment claims, including preparation of defenses, attending mediations or other employment proceedings, including Human Rights Tribunals.

  • Leading on legal initiatives and projects (including oversight and advice on key legislative and common law developments affecting our people and our business).

  • Actively managing the relationship and instruction of our external lawyers.

  • Proactively identifying best practice and contributing to the sharing of expertise and knowledge within the Human Resources and General Counsel Office teams.

  • Proactively monitoring, mitigating and reporting internally on identified legal risks.

  • Providing immigration advice and support to our people transferring to Canada from abroad.

Skills and experience we’re looking for:

• Call to a provincial Canadian bar with a current license.

• A business minded senior employment lawyer with 5+ years post-qualifying in-house and/or law firm experience.

• Ability to work autonomously with strong drafting skills and excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively with other members of the General Counsel Office and with our Group employment law team who are based in the UK.

• Strong problem-solving skills, with ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice.

• Strong ability to take on and effectively complete new challenges.

• Ability to be a phenomenal teammate with strong collaborative and social skills.

• Ability to spot, troubleshoot and summarize legal issues and ability to effectively convey recommendations to business partners.

• Proven track record to successfully work with people at various levels within Aviva, including with our Chief People Officer and our Executive team.

• Ability to utilize initiative, work efficiently and handle a broad range of work matters.

• Ability to deliver high client satisfaction levels.

• Sound governance and risk management experience.

Hybrid Working Model:

Aviva offers a flexible working model which allows this role to be split between working remotely and working at Aviva’s Markham or Toronto offices.

What you’ll get:

• Compelling rewards package including base compensation, eligibility for annual bonus, retirement savings, share plan, health benefits, personal wellness, and volunteer opportunities.

• Outstanding Career Development opportunities.

• We’ll support your professional development education.

• Competitive vacation package with the option to purchase 5 extra days off per year.

• Employee driven programs focused on gender, LGBTQ+, origins, diversity and inclusion.

• Corporate wellness programs to support our employees’ physical and mental health.

Aviva Canada has an accommodation process in place to provide accommodations for employees with disabilities. If upon commencement of employment you require a specific accommodation because of a disability, please contact your Talent Acquisition Partner so that an appropriate accommodation can be arranged. This process applies throughout your career with Aviva Canada.

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