Counsel, Labour and Employment

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Job Summary
The Counsel, Labour and Employment (Canada) is responsible for advising on all Labour Relations (LR) and Human Resources (HR) legal issues in Canada.

The role provides general and strategic advice on labour and employment law. The position drafts policies and manages litigation and complaints to third party agencies.

The incumbent leads the Workers Compensation Group.
Main Responsibilities
General Employment Advice
· Advise and oversee third-party investigations of complaints
· Advise internal clients on any other employment-related legal matters as requested including internal investigations, performance management, discipline, leaves, occupational health and safety matters, and requirements under the Canada Labour Code
· Review and draft employment related policies
Oversight of complaints and litigation
· Advise on the company’s response to complaints and lawsuits
· Instruct external counsel handling CN’s response
· Assist external counsel in collecting relevant documentation from inside CN
· Make decisions on strategy including settlements
· Collaborate with executives and managers from other functions to ensure alignment
Oversight of Workers Compensation Team
· Lead a team that manages the Workers Compensation team in Canada
· Develop and implement strategies to achieve results
Working Conditions
The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular work week from Monday to Friday and is eligible to participate in CNs hybrid work policy of 3 days in the office and 2 days remote. Due to the nature of the role, the incumbent must be able to meet tight deadlines, handle pressure and stress.

The role requires minimal travel (10%) within Canada.
Requirements
Experience
Labour and Employment Law
· Minimum 5 years of experience in labour and employment law, either as in-house or external counsel
o Experience providing general labour and employment law advice including advice related to the Canada Labour Code
o Experience advising on internal complaints as well as complaints to third-party agencies
o Experience advising a federally regulated entity with a large-unionized population*
o Experience working in the transportation, trucking, or railroad industry*
o Experience providing advice on the Official Languages Act*
*Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset
Education/Certification/Designation
· Juris Doctor or Equivalent from a recognized law school
· Member of the Bar in a province where CN has substantial operations
Competencies
· Collaborates with others and shares information
· Communicates with impact
· Demonstrates agility and drives change
· Knows the business and stays current on industry needs
· Applies critical thinking
Technical Skills/Knowledge
· General Microsoft Office skills
· Knowledge of employment laws, including the Canada Labour Code, complaints, and litigation procedures
· Fluently bilingual, both written and verbal (English, French)*
· Knowledge of CN Operations*
About CN
CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year.

As the only railroad connecting Canada’s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.

At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America’s safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates from underrepresented groups often don’t apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%.

Even if you don’t see yourself in every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please reach out to our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal employment opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only candidates under consideration will be contacted. Please monitor your email on a regular basis, as communication is primarily made through email.