Senior Legal Counsel (Contract)

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Trans Mountain Corporation operates Canada’s only pipeline system transporting oil products to the West Coast. We deliver approximately 890,000 barrels of petroleum products each day through a dual pipeline system of more than 1,150 kilometres of pipeline in Alberta, British Columbia and Washington state.

Trans Mountain also operates a state-of-the-art loading facility, Westridge Marine Terminal, with three berths providing tidewater access to global markets. As a federal Crown corporation, Trans Mountain continues to build on more than 70 years of experience delivering operational and safety excellence through our crude oil pipeline system. With our expanded pipeline system now in place, Trans Mountain provides enhanced direct access for Canadian crude oil to world markets. The expansion realizes a world-class system for oil transport, developed to Canada’s high standards within one of the most stringent regulatory regimes in the world, creating long-term economic benefits, enhanced marine protection, enhanced safety and emergency management capabilities, and enhanced skilled-worker capacity building in communities and Indigenous groups.

Our Core Values

Trans Mountain’s core values – Safety, Integrity, Respect and Excellence – guide our every step. Each obstacle we’ve overcome or success we’ve experienced has been the result of a shared commitment to living these values every day. Together, we’re focused on doing the right thing for each other and our communities. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your strengths in an environment that encourages Safety, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us!

Location : Calgary Head Office

Reports to : Chief Legal Officer

Worker Type : Contract

Schedule Type : Full-time

Work Setting : In-office

Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative, motivated, and values driven individual to join our dynamic team as Senior Legal Counsel. The Senior Legal Counsel leads complex legal transactions and contracting matters, advises senior and executive leaders and governance bodies, and works across multidisciplinary teams to protect Trans Mountain’s interests while enabling timely, defensible decisions. The Senior Legal Counsel strengthens legal governance, contracting discipline, issue resolution and organizational capability, and escalates material matters with clear options, consequences and recommended actions.

The successful candidate will be assigned to support strategic project-related work, and other business priorities as organizational needs evolve.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Strategy and Decision Support

• Provide strategic legal advice across development, execution, operational readiness, technology, licensing, confidentiality, regulatory interfaces and the full delivery lifecycle.
• Advise senior and executive leaders and governance bodies on legal options, material risks, decision requirements and consequences, translating complex issues into clear, practical recommendations.
• Integrate legal considerations into business cases, stage-gate decisions, execution strategies, delivery plans, governance processes and readiness assessments.
• Identify matters requiring escalation and provide concise advice on available pathways, residual risk, accountable owners and required approvals.

Agreements and Transactions

• Lead the structuring, drafting, review, negotiation and execution of complex agreements, including development, engineering, professional services, construction, technology, licensing, confidentiality, interface and other related arrangements.
• Develop transaction and negotiation strategies, establish appropriate legal positions and advise on non-standard terms, risk allocation, contractual remedies and departures from approved standards.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary input and required approvals to ensure agreements accurately reflect scope, accountabilities, interfaces, delivery expectations and risk ownership.
• Provide sustained legal support across the agreement lifecycle, including interpretation, amendments, claims, disputes, renewals, termination, close-out and lessons learned.

Legal Risk, Claims and Issue Resolution

• Identify, assess and communicate legal, contractual, regulatory and reputational risks and recommend mitigation strategies that protect Trans Mountain’s interests and support organizational objectives.
• Provide timely legal advice on emerging issues, changes, delays, performance concerns, claims and disputes, preserving rights and supporting disciplined resolution.
• Lead or support privileged reviews, legal risk assessments and dispute strategies, coordinating internal subject-matter experts and external legal counsel as required.
• Maintain a forward‑looking view of legal exposures, interdependencies and decision points across functions and workstreams.

Governance, Compliance and Assurance

• Advise on compliance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, company policies, delegated authorities, legal standards and governance requirements.
• Strengthen legal and contracting governance through clear standards, templates, approval pathways, decision records, escalation protocols and practical guidance.
• Provide legal assurance at key delivery milestones and identify corrective action where legal documentation, approvals, controls or readiness are insufficient.
• Promote complete, accurate and defensible legal and contract records to support governance, audit, regulatory, claims and long‑term operational requirements.

Stakeholder and External Counsel Management

• Serve as a trusted senior legal advisor to leadership and multidisciplinary teams, building effective relationships and aligning legal advice with organizational objectives, organizational values and accountabilities.
• Work effectively with contractors, consultants and external stakeholders while maintaining clear legal positions, confidentiality, decision rights and Trans Mountain accountabilities.
• Select, instruct and oversee external legal counsel and specialist advisors, ensuring clear scope, quality, cost discipline, knowledge transfer and alignment with organizational priorities.
• Facilitate constructive resolution of complex issues across legal and non-legal stakeholders.

Legal Capability and Information Stewardship

• Contribute to Legal function priorities through mentoring, knowledge sharing, precedent development, practical training and continuous improvement of legal practices.
• Capture and apply lessons learned to improve legal advice, agreement quality, governance, issue resolution and organizational knowledge across the lifecycle.
• Use contract lifecycle, matter management and document management systems to support reliable information, reporting, traceability and legal service delivery.
• Promote a collaborative, pragmatic and inclusive legal culture focused on sound judgment, accountability and timely outcomes.

Qualifications and Professional Experience

• Post‑secondary education of Bachelor of Laws, Juris Doctor or equivalent law degree from a recognized institution.
• Active member in good standing of the Law Society of Alberta, or eligible for membership.
• 10 or more years of progressively responsible legal experience, including significant experience supporting complex capital initiatives, infrastructure, energy, construction, operations or another regulated industry.
• Demonstrated experience independently structuring, drafting and negotiating complex, material and higher‑risk transactions and agreements.
• Previous in‑house legal experience within a large, regulated, infrastructure, energy, capital delivery or operational organization is preferred.
• Advanced expertise in contract law and legal issues affecting development, execution, construction, technology, regulatory interfaces and transition to operations.
• Advanced capability in transaction structuring, legal drafting, contract interpretation, negotiation, claims assessment, and dispute resolution.
• Strong business judgment, with the ability to assess material risk, balance legal and organizational priorities, recommend practical mitigation and escalates appropriately.
• Credible and influential advisor with strong stakeholder management, relationship‑building and communication skills across legal and non‑legal audiences.
• Ability to independently manage complex, sensitive, and time‑critical matters, coordinate multidisciplinary input, and deliver high‑quality advice across competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, organizational and attention‑to‑detail capabilities, supported by a collaborative, pragmatic and continuous‑improvement mindset.
• Familiarity with contract lifecycle, legal matter and document management systems.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from varied backgrounds and levels across the organization.
• Commitment to inclusive practices and a willingness to contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive workplace culture.

Working Conditions

• Willingness and ability to travel as required.
• May need to provide support outside of regular business hours and/or on the weekend.

At Trans Mountain, we believe in an inclusive, accessible, and barrier free recruitment and selection process for all applicants. If you require an accommodation at any point in the process, please contact us at: View email address on publisher.sourcingsquare.com or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy or the designated Talent Acquisition Advisor. Accommodation requests will not affect the assessment of your application or candidacy.

We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last

Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take. Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.

We offer:

• Valuable experience providing opportunity for professional development and career advancement;
• An opportunity to engage with and learn from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business;
• Competitive compensation;
• Comprehensive benefits programs including flexible benefits, pension and savings plans;
• A place to share a sense of purpose and build relationships;
• Meaningful work that makes a difference;
• An opportunity within the Canadian energy industry.

We value:

• The health, safety and wellness of everyone working in our company;
• Meaningful participation from Indigenous and local communities;
• The commitment and resilience of our people;
• Collaboration and achieving success together.

In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.

In Alberta, the pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).

In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.

Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)

Trans Mountain is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day. We strive to create an environment that is free of barriers to promote full participation in the workplace.