Assistant Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel

Who we are

SCC is a small but impactful Crown corporation that reports to Parliament through Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. Using our expertise and vast network, SCC helps organizations by opening a gateway to possibilities, both at home and abroad. We bring people together, foster collaboration and expand their horizons in trade, sustainability, and global connectivity. We represent and advance Canada’s interests on the international stage in ways no other organization can.

As Canada’s national standardization body, SCC offers more than a few pieces of the standards development and conformity assessment puzzle. We provide comprehensive strategies that allow Canadian businesses and innovators to contribute to shaping established and emerging markets. We help knock down trade barriers and create opportunities for businesses to innovate and expand into new markets by laying the foundation for their success.

SCC’s work also helps drive Canada’s health, well-being, and economic prosperity. Whether it’s the food we eat, the products and technologies we use, or how we get to work, every aspect of our lives is touched by standards. Standards and conformity assessment not only provide confidence in the quality and safety of products and services, but they also play an integral role in improving the overall health and safety of Canadians, and of their environment. At SCC, everything we do is aimed at improving Canadians’ quality of life and economic prosperity.

Our culture

A recipient of Waterstone’s Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Cultures award in 2023, 2024, and 2025, we foster a culture grounded in our core values of respect, professionalism, and integrity. Our culture continues to evolve as we adapt to new ways of working, strengthening our ability to collaborate, remain agile, and support one another. This sustained recognition reflects a workplace defined by compassion, flexibility, and a shared commitment to excellence.

A Day in the Life of an Assistant Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel

The Assistant Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel provides legal and governance expertise to support SCC’s operations, with a particular focus on contracting, commercial and operational legal matters, and corporate governance. The role provides practical legal advice on contracts, agreements, and business activities, helping ensure that SCC’s operations are legally sound, well-managed, and aligned with applicable legislation, policies, and organizational requirements. The position also supports corporate governance activities and provides legal guidance on matters affecting SCC’s day-to-day operations and strategic objectives.

Your background

Requirements

Security clearance: Secret

Language: Bilingual Imperative (SISS)

Education

• Law degree from a recognized institution
• Eligible to practice law in Canada and a member in good standing of a Canadian law society.

Experience and Skills

• Five to seven (5-7) years post-call of experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Proven ability to analyze, negotiate, draft, and provide practical legal advice on commercial agreements, contracts, procurement matters, and other corporate legal issues, while identifying legal and operational risks and providing clear, defensible recommendations.
• Familiarity with the Standards Council of Canada Act, other applicable laws, and regulations.
• Extensive proficiency in researching, interpreting, and applying legislation, regulations, policies, jurisprudence, and governance requirements to provide sound legal advice and support effective corporate decision-making.
• Advanced legal research and drafting skills.
• Ability to exercise tact, discretion, and diplomacy to effectively communicate and perform the position's requirements.
• Experience providing clear and insightful legal advice to corporate partners (internal)
• Provides support to the Quality Management System (QMS) and Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) functions, working closely with the respective teams to provide legal guidance, support compliance requirements, and ensure alignment with applicable legislation, policies, and corporate practices.

Key Activities

• Provides research, policy and advisory services to SCC, with respect to procedural and governance issues so that the Council can function ethically, credibly and effectively in the execution of its mandate.

• Supports and coordinates the delivery of Council and associated committee meetings, ensuring all governance requirements, materials, and logistics are effectively managed.
• Prepares high-quality briefing notes, presentations, reports, agendas, and other supporting materials to facilitate informed discussion and decision-making.
• Responds to incoming legal requests by providing legal opinions and information.
• Provides legal advice and interpretation in French and English on corporate matters to including but not limited to corporate law, intellectual property, employment law, employer policies and applicable legislation, commercial, contracting and procurement matters. 

• Conducts research and provides advice and opinions on legal issues concerning SCC. Analyzes and conducts research as it relates to jurisprudence, applicable legislation to establish merit of legal proceedings.
• Reviews and advises on commercial matters including agreements, memoranda of understanding and contracts.

• Monitors and analyzes relevant legal developments, including legislation, jurisprudence, and legal precedents, and translates their implications for SCC.
• Prepares and delivers briefings, training sessions, and information materials to support senior management and employees in understanding and responding to legal matters affecting the organization.
• Assists in ensuring that appropriate policies, procedures, systems, and practices are in place to achieve an efficient and effective Council and committee structure, including statutory committees. 
• Assists with implementing appropriate governance procedures, to meet or exceed all legislated and regulatory requirements in all applicable jurisdictions.
• Ensures that the corporate records are properly maintained and safeguarded, according to legislated requirements, corporate by-laws, and records management standards, to fully protect the corporation.

• Participates in the maintenance of a centralized information resource of a legal nature, updating legal opinions, precedents, analysis to the legal services information management system.
• Participates in initiatives to increase knowledge sharing among staff on legal issues applicable to SCC.  Works on special projects in support of the Corporate Secretariat and Legal Services.