Town of Midland – Job Posting

Position Title:Director of Corporate Services/Town Solicitor

Openings:One (1)

Status:Regular Full Time

Hours:35 hrs per week (attendance at evening meetings will be required)

Wage Range:*salary is currently under review

Closing Date:February8, 2017no later than 4:30pm

The Town of Midland is a dynamic waterfront community of 17,000 located in “the Heart of Georgian Bay.” As a lower tier municipality within the County of Simcoe, Town of Midland delivers a full range of municipal services. Midland offers quality affordable living in a desirable part of the province. Work/life balance includes easy access to Georgian Bay along with four season recreational pursuits. If you are interested in taking your career to the next level, this opportunity may be for you!

The Town of Midland is currently seeking an experienced Director of Corporate Services/Town Solicitor. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer this role will provide overall leadership to the Clerks department and acts as corporate legal counsel.

As our ideal candidate, you will hold a license to practice law from the Law Society of Upper Canada with five (5) to ten (10) years of experience and strong working knowledge of municipal legislation and regulations. You have demonstrated leadership skills with astrong capacity to communicate effectively and engage with your staff, your colleagues as well aswith leaders within the community. Your ability to be both innovative and creative in your approach to problem solving will serve you well in thispolitical and customer centric environment. Being both a strategic thinker and change agent will allow you to make effective and positive changes across the organization and in the community.

A detailed job description is attached.

APPLY IN CONFIDENCE TO:

Human Resources

575 Dominion Avenue, Midland, ON L4R 1R2Email:

Phone: (705)526-4275Fax: (705)526-9971

The Town of Midland is committed to an inclusive, barrier-free environment. Accommodation will be provided in all steps of the recruiting process. Please advise the Human Resources Department if you require any accommodations to ensure you can participate fully and equally during the recruitment and selection process. The Town of Midland is a scent sensitive environment and we ask all applicants to refrain from wearing scents should they attend our offices.

Note: We thank all applicants that apply and advise that only those to be interviewed will be contacted.In accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, personal information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Act 2001, S.O. 2001, c. 25, and will be used for the purpose of candidate selection.

Town of Midland – Job Description

Position Title: Director of Corporate Services/Solicitor

Department:Clerks (Administration)

Reports to:Chief Administrative Officer

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Corporate Services/ Solicitor will be responsible for the execution of various statutory responsibilities in accordance with provincial legislation and for the development and general management of the Corporate Services/Clerk’s Department which includes Special Events/Tourism and Communications. This role is also responsible to act as corporate legal counsel and providing the Town (Council and Administration) with legal advice.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Services Activities

  • Attends Council meetings and acts as primary corporate legal advisor by providing legal counsel and direction to council, standing committees, agencies, boards, commissions and departments on corporate matters involving legal issues.
  • Works closely with council and senior management to advise the Town of its legal responsibilities by providing guidance and legal support services, providing information respecting amendments to legislation, regulations and court decisions and evaluates their impact on the Corporation and assists in developing the Corporation’s position on such changes.
  • Organizes and directs the Corporation’s legal activities.
  • Develops corporate-wide policies on legal matters; recommends Town’s policy position on legal matters and for defining the parameters of programs and services to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and legal requirements.
  • Provides policy or expert advice on legal issues to all business units of the Corporation and its related entities to assist decision-makers at all levels in making decisions regarding their service/program delivery.
  • When necessary and authorized, retains and supervises external counsel, liaising between external counsel and the Town; appraises performance of external counsel and ensures that external legal fees are appropriate, reasonable and consistent with Town policies and requirements.
  • Provides guidance, direction and advice to by-law enforcement personnel as well as to prosecution staff in court services pursuant to prosecution of cases in the Ontario Court of Justice or with appeals to higher courts.
  • Provides guidance and advice to town management/staff on matters related to litigation, insurance claims, as well as property expropriation.

Clerk’s Services Activities

  • Oversees the statutory duties of the Municipal Clerk pursuant to the Municipal Act, Municipal Election Act, Planning Act, and all other acts necessary to accomplish the duties of the clerk, including organizing and maintaining records of council and official documents of the Corporation. Attends all council and general committeemeetings. Oversees the accurate recording of the proceedings of council and committee meetings and the provisions of council secretariat and administrative support functions. Supervises and as required reviews associated records management issues to ensure compliance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; issues statutory notifications as required under the Municipal and Planning Acts. Acts as commissioner of oaths and affidavits, oversees the administrative process associated with the issuance of business/lottery/marriage licenses, the maintenance and reporting of vital statistics, and the various appointments to local boards and committees.
  • Performs the statutory duties as “Head” under the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) including promoting access to public information, receiving requests for information under the Act, authorizing or denying release of information/records in accordance with provisions of the Act.
  • Ensures the integrity of the municipal election through the formal supervision of the “Returning Officer” as prescribed by the Municipal Elections Act. Reviews and approves the process established by the Returning Officer for the successful conduct of municipal elections, recounts and applicable records retention requirements.
  • Oversees clerk’s services, including but not limited to corporate agreements, records management, FOI requests, reports, by-law and land transfers, acquisition and disposal of surplus town lands, vital statistics, communication related activities, and municipal elections.
  • Ensures that the clerk maintains and safeguards all official and legal documents, records, reports; custody of the official Seal of the Corporation; files statements and information as required by Town by-laws, Federal and Provincial legislation and regulations.

General Management Activities

  • Participates as a member of the corporate senior management team providing input on inter-divisional/corporate planning and strategic initiatives; provides advice/opinion/counsel to CAO in corporate decision-making and on sensitive/controversial issues; leads and/or participates on corporate project teams; member of the emergency operations control group.
  • Leads and directs the general/financial management and day-to-day administration of the department which is comprised of legal, clerk’s and special events/tourism and communication.
  • Provides leadership, coordinates and directs departmental managers in the preparation of strategic and annual business and work plans, major policies and service level standards for the departments.
  • Develops, implements and is accountable for the ongoing updating of corporate policies, practices, procedures and level of service in accordance with sound management principles and relevant legislation. Collaborates with the CAO and directors to ensure consistency in the application of corporate goals and priorities while meeting specific service area goals and objectives.
  • Assesses departmental staffing needs, and reviews and recommends staffing changes and organizational structure changes, participates in recruitment processes, and makes effective hiring/organizational recommendations to the CAO. Fosters a team environment by role modeling leadership behaviours, empowering employees reporting to the manager and building team capability. Attracts, selects, nurtures and retains the best available talent, ensuring continuity in the team through development of appropriate succession planning.
  • Direct supervision of staff and oversees the supervision of all staff within the service area. Conducts performance management/review, assists staff by coaching and mentoring, recommends training for staff development, implements health and safety policies and procedures and disciplines employees as required.
  • Prepares reports/recommendations/by-laws and attends council, committee, community and other public meetings as required; makes presentations and provides advice/guidance on issues, plans, and strategies, major capital infrastructure and significant new or pending legislation and regulatory guidelines; prepares public notice as may be required. Coordinates the preparation of current operating budget and recommends longer-range fiscal forecasts for the department; administers/monitors the approved budget including authorization of expenditures and maximization of revenues; participates in development charges by-Law reviews/updates and contributes as necessary on various project teams.
  • Monitors, reviews and evaluates service delivery processes within departments supervised with a view to enhancing and adopting a “best practices” approach and takes action for performance enhancement; prepares periodic reports to the CAO and council on service delivery changes and program/performance enhancements.
  • Confers, counsels and advises internal divisions/departments, elected officials, on special studies, and corporate initiatives and other legislative matters as required; monitors and follows-up on complaints received, taking corrective action where necessary.
  • Routinely leads initiatives to monitor activities and agreements with local boards/agencies, community groups, organizations and service partners affiliated with the Town to promote and protect the Town’s interests in these organizations; undertakes representative and/or inter-board/agency relations activities to foster cooperative working relationships.
  • Undertakes representative duties as director with community/citizen’s and special interest groups, the province, trade and professional associations, and inter-municipally as required/directed; acts in the absence or on behalf of the Town’s CAO, as requested and directed.
  • Makes recommendations on the hiring of consultants (including external legal counsel) to assist with/undertake major departmental and/or corporate projects/studies/initiatives, as required; monitors their work and administers/oversees the administration of the agreements in accordance with Town by-laws, policies and procedures.
  • Assists in the development and coordination of corporate communications-related activities including preparation and distribution of statutory advertising requirements, maintenance of service area’s portion of the Town’s website “look” and content, and other communications activities as may be required.
  • Coordinates the activities and responsibilities for receiving appeals for the Ontario Municipal Board, property standards, line fences, animal control by-law, insurance claims, etc. as required under various municipal, provincial and federal legislation, scheduling of hearings and ensuring the necessary appropriate deadlines are met.
  • Undertakes special projects and performs other duties as assigned, in accordance with corporate objectives.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS

  • University degree in Law (L.L.B).
  • Licensed to practice as a Lawyer by the Law Society of Upper Canada.
  • Eligibility for membership in the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO)
  • Excellent interpersonal, project/time management, analytical, communication, presentation, facilitation, problem-solving/mediation, negotiations and coaching/supervisory skills.
  • 5-10 years of experience as a lawyer with a demonstrated working knowledge of municipal legislation/regulations including the Municipal Act, 2001, Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, Municipal Elections Act, Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and related legislation (such as the Planning Act, Development Charges Act, etc.).
  • Experience in municipal regulatory and/or government administrative environment, experience working with elected officials/boards.
  • Excellent conceptual, interpersonal, project/time management, analytical, communication, presentation, problem-solving, facilitation skills; demonstrated negotiation skills, and strong staff leadership, managerial and coaching/supervisory skills.
  • Ability to think and act strategically in a political and community service environment, to build strong and enthusiastic staff teams and external alliances/partnerships, to align departmental programs/services with divisional and corporate goals/objectives, and to champion the mission and values of the Town.
  • Thorough working knowledge of Municipal, Provincial and Federal related legislation/regulations/guidelines and contemporary issues, municipal government and operations, principles, best practices and processes, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, labour relations principles and collective agreement administration, and current leadership and management practices. A demonstrated knowledge of contemporary issues facing local government in Ontario and municipal operations in general, Council secretariat functions and rules of procedure for meetings, electoral processes and uses/opportunities for technology in a municipal environment.
  • Strong computer systems/network skills, computer literacy utilizing word-processing, spreadsheet, presentation and database software and the Internet.

Effort/physical demands

  • Physical demand requires standing, walking and extended periods of sitting.
  • Visual attention for detailed computer work, for health and safety compliance and personal safety while on the job

Working conditions

  • Work in standard indoor office environment
  • Ability to work outside of standard office hours for attendance at meetings
  • May have dealings with unpleasant or irate individuals