Salary Range: $118,923-$170,951/year. The starting salary for this position would be determined with consideration of the successful candidate’s relevant education and experience, and would be in alignment with the provincial compensation reference plan. Salary will be prorated accordingly for part time roles.

 

Role Summary

In accordance with the Mission, Vision and Values, and strategic directions of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA’s Agencies/Divisions/Services, and as such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Associate Legal Counsel reports to the Senior Legal Counsel, Executive Director Labour Employment and Medical staff at the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). PHSA is a complex organization that has responsibility at a provincial level for healthcare services across British Columbia. It includes a number of programs and services including BC Emergency Health Services, BC Cancer, BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Children’s’ & Women’s’ Hospitals, and oversees a large number of provincial programs, administered at a regional level by regional health authorities. The Associate Legal Counsel possesses strong leadership abilities to provide general legal support and advice to leaders at all levels within PHSA and its programs, agencies and affiliates. The Associate Legal Counsel reviews and drafts agreements, conducts legal research and prepares legal opinions, analyses legislation and case law, and advises on all aspects of legal risk and liability issues relevant to PHSA’s operations. The Associate Legal Counsel also represents PHSA in negotiations and disputes, and oversees external counsel, where engaged.

 

Specific Portfolios:

Labour and Employment – this position has primary responsibility to provide legal advice on matters relating to Human Resources (HR) and performance management of Medical Staff. This includes matters involving physician contracts, medical staff privileges, workplace issues involving medical and non-medical staff, administrative law and regulatory compliance, employment and labour law, and risk management related to labour and employment. This position also manages litigation and matters before administrative tribunals arising from performance management issues related to both medical and non-medical staff.

 

Key Accountabilities

• Develops an in-depth understanding of the business requirements and provides expert legal support and guidance to PHSA departments and leaders, managers and members of the in-house legal team on a wide variety of legal matters/issues to enable effective decision-making.
• Responds to a variety of legal issues that affect the healthcare industry and the clinical/business operations of PHSA.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares legal opinions that may have significant impact to PHSA, its programs, agencies and affiliates.
• Advises on new and existing legislation applicable to healthcare and impact to PHSA, programs, services and staff.
• Drafts, reviews, amends and revises legal documentation, including contracts, proposals, policies, and strategy papers, and negotiates with external parties on behalf of PHSA and its programs, agencies and affiliates. Provides guidance on implications and courses of action.
• Anticipates and identifies legal issues within complex scenarios and relationships, and advises managers and directors on legal strategies and solutions to mitigate legal risk.
• Consults and coordinates with external counsel (where retained) in drafting correspondence, legal submissions and materials for hearings and ancillary legal proceedings.
• Represents PHSA at various hearings, court and/or tribunals and presents arguments.
• Maintains partnership with senior leadership, operational areas and corporate services to ensure a coordinated and consistent PHSA response on legal matters.
• Maintains professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep up-to-date with industry trends, developments, revised legislation and new regulations.

 

Qualifications

• A level of education, training, and experience equivalent to a Law Degree from an accredited University supplemented by a minimum of seven (7) to ten (10) years of recent, related experience. C
• urrent member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia or eligible for membership within a specified period.
• Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with the legislative and regulatory framework governing healthcare.
• Broad knowledge of privacy legislation.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, plan, direct, manage and implement.
• Ability to facilitate the resolution of issues.
• Expert ability to analyze, research, evaluate and interpret legal issues.
• Exemplary ability in legal writing and drafting legal documents, and in the preparation of correspondence, summaries and reports.
• Demonstrated ability to provide legal opinions and advice taking into account and understanding the needs of others to achieve helpful results.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences, including the ability to negotiate and persuade others.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Exhibits integrity, trust and professionalism.
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking and problem solving skills.
• Computer proficiency with a variety of relevant software applications.

 

Role Specific Qualifications:

Labour and Employment – Recent experience in employment and labour issues obtained at a law firm or in a similar in-house role. Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with employment law, human rights law and administrative law. Experience advising on medical staff issues would be highly regarded.