Legal Counsel, Research Services, Office of the VP Research

Position Overview

The Research Services Office within the Office of the VP Research is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Legal Counsel, Research Services.

As a Top 5 research university, the University of Calgary is committed to sharing new knowledge and discoveries generously. Our scholars are working to address society’s challenges proactively and making a positive impact in the world around us.

Working in this context, the Office of the Vice-President (Research) (VPR) is responsible to enhance institutional research capacity, maximize opportunities for impact, measure and communicate research impact, and oversee administrative and regulatory files. Within the VPR Portfolio, the Research Services Office (RSO) supports researchers and their teams to navigate funding, contracts, ethics, compliance, and commercialization.

The Legal and IP (Intellectual Property) division within the Research Services Office is responsible for providing advice on legal and business aspects of sponsored research and commercialization that includes creating and facilitating research funding agreements with external partners. Following the continued growth and expanding reach of the University’s research mandate, there is a growing need for legal guidance in structuring research collaborations and providing advice on policy issues and regulatory compliance.

Reporting to the University’s Senior Legal Counsel, this position will work with a team that is responsible for delivering effective legal solutions in a broad range of legal and business issues related to research, innovation, and technology in a fast paced and challenging environment. This position will have a dotted line working relationship to University Legal Services.

The primary purpose of this role is to assist Senior Legal Counsel in supporting growth of the research enterprise while managing legal and reputational risk within the University relating to complex agreements and initiatives, commercialization matters and interpretation and application of internal policies and external compliance obligations relating to research.

This busy team provides legal services relating to research to university faculties, departments, and senior administration. This role works closely on a day-to-day basis with internal and external University stakeholders, as well as with members of the Research Services Office (RSO) Legal and IP team to ensure that work is completed in a timely and effective fashion.

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

• Review, draft, negotiate and advise various researchers, faculties and university departments on a broad range of research related matters including research and collaboration agreements, consortium and service arrangements, intellectual property related matters, commercialization and policy and compliance related issues
• Assist Senior Legal counsel in managing transactions with significant risk or complexity
• Assist the Legal & IP Unit staff with complex files and the interpretation of legal, policy and compliance related matters
• Act as a legal resource in all matters as delegated by Senior Legal Counsel
• Develop knowledge and expertise in specialized areas pertaining to research including intellectual property, compliance and commercialization within the University and in the context of academic and research plans
• Interpret and apply University policies and procedures and legislation affecting University research operations
• As requested by Senior Legal Counsel, assume responsibility for special projects and other initiatives
• Develop a variety of improved template research related agreements for use by RSO Legal and IP
• Develop workshops and other educational initiatives on a variety of research related legal matters affecting the University community

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Law degree (must be eligible to practice law in Alberta)
• Minimum of 5 years experience in commercial transactions
• Familiarity with intellectual property law is essential
• In-house experience with a high-volume contracting process would be desirable
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills, with demonstrated strength in risk and legal analysis
• Superior oral and written presentation skills
• Excellent judgment and the ability to address legal issues by developing solutions that are practical and mitigate risk in an acceptable manner
• A proven ability to handle multiple files successfully, working independently and proactively, with a wide variety of stakeholders and competing deadlines
• Cooperative, team player attitude and excellent interpersonal skills, with a pragmatic and collaborative approach to handling files and completing projects
• Versatility and diplomacy is essential with strong skills in negotiation, mediation and partnership building
• Experience working in a university environment would be considered an asset

Application Deadline: December 14, 2022

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is classified in theProfessional Career Band, Level 4Lof the Management and Professional Staff Career Framework. Management and Professional Staff (MaPS) Positions are currently under review as part of the Alberta Labour Relations Board exclusion review process. Visit the HR website for more information.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website.

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university - a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca.

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High, committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to theOffice of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion(equity@ucalgary.ca) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.