Legal Counsel - Land Use Planning and Development Law

Job Summary

Service Area: Corporate Services Department: Legal and Court Services Work Location: City Hall, 1 Carden Street Work Mode: Hybrid Job Type and Duration: Permanent, Full Time Vacancy Position Availability: 1 existing vacant position Salary Range: $121,204.72 - $151,505.90 Affiliation: Non-Union Posting Period: August 27, 2026 to September 30, 2026 11:59 p.m.

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

Position Overview

Resumes are being accepted for the position of Legal Counsel – Land Use Planning and Development Law in the Legal and Court Services Department within the Corporate Services service area. Qualified candidates with five (5) or more years of relevant experience may be considered for the position of Legal Counsel. Candidates with a minimum of three (3) but less than five (5) years of relevant experience may be considered for the position of Junior Legal Counsel.

Reporting to a senior leader within the Legal Services department, this role will provide legal representation and advice to City Council and City Departments related to land use planning and development law, including providing strategic legal advice with respect to legislative and policy frameworks related to housing.

Key duties and responsibilities

General

• The incumbent will provide high quality and effective legal advocacy, advice, and services to the management and staff of the City in areas of land use planning, development law, development charges and agreements, as well as advocacy on behalf of the City before administrative tribunals including the Ontario Land Tribunal.

Advocacy

• Assume carriage of (or assist in) a variety of Ontario Land Tribunal matters on behalf of the City, including preparation of pleadings and other documents, and appearing before the Tribunal.
• Conduct preparatory work including file review, research, verifying and investigating facts, interviewing witnesses, compiling and drafting documentation.
• Anticipate probable and possible legal outcomes and present solutions to staff and Council (or provide assistance in such matters).

Advice and Legal Documents

• Conduct legal research and prepare memoranda and legal opinions on a variety of legal matters relevant to the municipality and the legal implications of matters of law on operational and strategic decisions.
• Deliver competent and timely oral and written legal advice on the Municipal Act, 2001, Planning Act, Development Charges Act, and other relevant municipal legislation.
• Draft (or contribute to the drafting of) and review municipal agreements, by‑laws, and other legal documents relating to municipal land use planning and development.
• Prepare (or contribute to the preparation of) and review Council and Committee reports.
• Attend (or contribute to preparations for) Council and Committee meetings and other public meetings, as required.

Negotiate

• Protect the City’s interests and advance the City’s objectives by discussion and negotiation (or in an assisting capacity) with external groups, lawyers, government bodies and others.

Knowledge and Expertise

• Stay abreast and provide advice relating to changes in legislation, regulation and case law impacting the City.
• Maintain current knowledge and provide strategic legal advice on land use planning-related matters in a manner that is responsive to the needs of City Council and City departments.

Other

• Undertake or contribute to special projects within the Legal Services department or with other City departments in furtherance of the Corporation’s strategy and objectives.
• Work in multi-disciplinary teams, both in leadership and support roles as required.
• Work in accordance with the provisions of applicable Health and Safety legislation and all City of Guelph corporate and departmental policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.
• Contribute to organizational culture of service, inclusiveness, wellness and learning.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Modification of Duties for Junior Legal Counsel

• A Junior Legal Counsel would have the duties above, primarily under supervision of the City Solicitor or the senior Legal Counsel, Land Use Planning and Development Law.
• A Junior Legal Counsel would also have an opportunity to work closely with the City Solicitor and other senior Legal Counsel in the Legal Services department to gain experience in a variety of areas of municipal law

Qualifications and requirements

• Completion of an undergraduate degree and law degree.
• Five (5) or more years practicing land use planning and development law, preferably at a municipality or a law firm representing municipalities. Exceptional candidates with an undergraduate degree, law degree, and some practice experience in land use planning and development law, as well as other applicable work experience, may be considered for the position of Junior Associate Solicitor.
• Licensed to practice law in Ontario and a lawyer licensee in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
• Excellent legal research and analytical skills and strong ability to explain and present complex ideas in a clear and understandable fashion.
• Excellent oral advocacy with the ability to clearly and persuasively communicate and influence.
• Considerable knowledge and understanding of municipal legislative framework, planning statutes, regulations, and by‑laws.
• Demonstrated awareness and understanding of recent legislative changes impacting municipalities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the key industry trends and legislative changes and the ability to develop legal strategies accordingly.
• Understanding of municipal obligations, objectives, and challenges.
• Excellent organizational skills and time‑management with the ability to manage multiple assignments in order to meet deadlines in a very demanding environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including senior lawyers, all levels of City staff, and City Council and external stakeholders as required.
• Ability to work well both independently and in a team environment, under tight deadlines, and the ability to adjust to changing priorities in a busy and demanding environment.
• Creative and innovative problem solver with the ability to handle complex and sensitive issues.
• Ability to accurately scope out length and difficulty of issues and set priorities.
• Excellent customer service skills with the ability to resolve inquiries in an effective manner.
• Active listener, approachable and composed under pressure.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook) and familiarity with Microsoft Teams, Webex and SharePoint.
• Experience working on matters before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal would be an asset.
• Experience in environmental law, construction law or real estate law would be considered an asset.
• Candidates with an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Notes Applicants are required to demonstrate in their application how their qualifications match those specified above. Assessments based on all of the objectives and qualifications listed above will be a part of the interview, written and/or practical test and reference checking.

Hours of work 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m and 4:30 p.m. This position is eligible for hybrid and flexible work arrangement options (as per current corporate policy).

Hiring Process Transparency The City of Guelph is committed to fair and transparent recruitment practices. Candidates who participate in an interview for this position will be notified of the hiring decision within 45 days of their interview. Notifications will be provided in writing, or through technology.

Commitment to Diversity & Accessibility The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Privacy Notice Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.