General Counsel, Office General Counsel

General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel

Competition Number: E21.26

Department: Office of the General Counsel

Position Category: Full-Time, Continuing

Location: Winnipeg, MB

Job Type: Continuing

Date Posted: 06/12/2026

Closing Date: 07/02/2026

As a member of UWinnipeg’s senior executive leadership team, the General Counsel (GC) advises and provides supports to the President and Vice-Chancellor, senior executives and administrators, the Board of Regents and Senate, and various others across the institution. The GC provides strategic legal leadership across a broad range of legal and governance matters, helping to safeguard the University’s interests and support effective and responsible management at the University.

• Works with the Chair of the Board of Regents, Board Officers, and committees, providing advice and support including legal compliance and liability reporting to the Board Audit & Risk Committee.
• Works with the President and Vice-Chancellor as Chair of the Senate and other members of Senate Executive leadership providing advice and support
• Works with the Senior Executive Management team, administrative and academic managers, and executives and members of the Board of Regents and Senate, to protect the university from legal challenges, defend the University from legal actions when appropriate and necessary, and limit the University’s exposure to legal liability, through preventative as well as responsive and objective advice and decisions.
• Seeks independent legal advice in situations where there is potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
• Ensures that the University is in compliance with all applicable legislation, regulations, internal policy, and principles of good governance.
• Participates in University events to honour University traditions and nurture positive relationships between the University, external communities, and the public.
• Provides effective leadership of legal matters through consultation and cooperation with the University community.
• In collective bargaining provides input and guidance to representatives of University employees and provides input and support to the development of the bargaining mandate in collaboration with the Board Officers and Senior Executive Management.
• Acts as the delegated head of the University for the purposes of FIPPA, and works closely with the Executive Director, Data Privacy and Compliance, to ensure the University’s compliance, and protect the access to information and privacy interests.
• Supports effective governance through participation on the Senior Executive Management team, in the development and monitoring of the budget process, development of strategic objectives and annual priorities and the provision of relevant information and legal advice to the Board of Regents and Senate on policy and other matters within the purview of the governing bodies.
• Contributes actively at the executive level within the University and serves as University representative, both internally and externally.
• Advocates for the University to faculty, students, staff, government, other universities and the communities that the University serves.
• Stays current with changes in the law by participation in professional development activities.
• Serves as one of three University appointees to the Pension Board of Trustees including regular membership on Standing Committees.
• Manages the Office of theGC and provides guidance and leadership to the office staff, supporting and fostering their professional growth and career aspirations.

• Must possess an L.L.B./ J.D. and practiced for a minimum of 10 years in a Canadian common law jurisdiction i.e. not civil law, combined with experience and achievements that will command respect within and outside of the University community.
• A practicing member of, or eligible to be, a practicing member of the Law Society of Manitoba. Any candidate who is not, at the time of application, currently a member shall be made an offer conditional upon obtaining membership within 3 months of the start date.
• Have general knowledge and experience in a wide range of areas of the law including:
  • contracts
  • intellectual property
  • liti…