Join Empowered Futures as a Legal Director and use your skills to help support and empower young adults to realize their full potential. Empowered Futures is dedicated to creating confident, emotionally intelligent, and resourceful adults through self-empowerment, business mentorship, and unwavering support to help them build their capability and reap their full potential.
Position Summary
The Legal Director serves as the organization’s senior legal advisor, responsible for providing strategic counsel, managing legal and regulatory risk, and ensuring compliance with applicable Canadian laws. This role works closely with the Executive Director, senior leadership, the Board of Directors, and external counsel to safeguard the organization’s legal interests while supporting mission‑driven growth. The Legal Director provides guidance across governance, operations, employment, contracts, and policy development.
Key Responsibilities
Legal Strategy & Executive Counsel
- Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Executive Director, senior leadership, and Board of Directors.
- Provide strategic guidance on legal issues affecting operations, partnerships, and organizational growth.
- Assess legal implications of strategic initiatives, policies, and program development.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with federal and provincial laws applicable to Canadian nonprofit organizations, including corporate governance, charitable registration, fundraising regulations, and CRA requirements.
- Advise the Board on fiduciary duties, bylaws, conflict‑of‑interest obligations, and governance best practices.
- Oversee corporate filings, annual returns, board resolutions, and organizational recordkeeping.
Contracts & Transactions
- Draft, review, and negotiate agreements including grants, MOUs, vendor contracts, leases, partnership agreements, and service contracts.
- Provide oversight on donor restrictions, funding agreements, and government‑funded program requirements.
- Maintain standardized contract templates and approval workflows.
Risk Management & Litigation Oversight
- Identify and mitigate legal risks across programs, operations, and partnerships.
- Manage relationships with external counsel and oversee litigation, investigations, or dispute resolution when required.
- Advise on insurance coverage, liability exposure, and claims management.
Employment & Organizational Law
- Provide guidance on employment and labour law matters, including policies, compliance, accommodations, and workplace standards.
- Support HR on hiring, termination, performance management, and workplace investigations.
- Ensure compliance with employment standards, human rights legislation, accessibility requirements, and occupational health and safety obligations.
Policy Development & Training
- Develop, review, and update organizational policies to reflect legal requirements and sector best practices.
- Provide training to staff and leadership on compliance, risk awareness, privacy, and ethical conduct.
- Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the nonprofit sector and recommend necessary updates.
Qualifications
- Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent law degree from an accredited institution.
- Active license to practice law in Canada (member in good standing with a provincial law society).
- 7–10 years of legal experience, ideally with exposure to nonprofit, corporate, regulatory, or public‑interest law.
- Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership and boards.
- Strong contract drafting, negotiation, and risk‑assessment skills.
Preferred
- Experience as in‑house counsel or legal director in a nonprofit or charitable organization.
- Knowledge of CRA charitable compliance, fundraising regulations, and government funding frameworks.
- Experience managing litigation and external counsel.
Core Competencies
- Strategic legal judgment and risk management
- Nonprofit governance and compliance
- Clear, practical communication of legal issues
- Cross‑functional collaboration and influence
- Integrity, discretion, and professionalism
Benefits:
- Contribute to empowering young adults to reach their full potential
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary senior board members
- Expand your professional and leadership network
- Opportunities for future leadership roles, including potential board participation
Position Details
This is a part‑time, volunteer (unpaid) position with a recommended commitment of 8–10 hours per week.
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Required career level
- Volunteer