Senior Legal Counsel - Privacy

Please note this role will work in a hybrid environment. The successful candidate must be located near a Canadian Blood Services site, with preference being 1800 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa, Ontario, and will be working a mixture of on-site and off-site work based on the parameters for our operations to meet the needs of our donors, our staff and our communities. Currently, employees are expected to have an in-person presence for at least 40% of their work time. This requirement may vary depending upon circumstances.

Job category: Legal
Job posting ID: 7956

​Employment status: Regular full-time
Position's anticipated start date: 2026-01-05 

Classification: PTS/MGT/IT B
Salary/Rate of pay: $108,000 - $145,000

Application deadline: Until Filled 

• This external job posting may close earlier than the advertised deadline. We recommend applying as soon as possible.

Application requirements:

• Your up-to-date resume.
• Cover letter.
• We recommend you save a copy of the job posting for reference throughout the recruitment process.

Do you currently work for Canadian Blood Services? All employees must apply via the internal career page.

 Together, we can make all the difference in the lives of others.

Be part of a dynamic, collaborative and caring organization committed to saving and improving lives. Thousands of patients depend on us every day for reliable access to safe blood, plasma, stem cells and organs and tissues. 

If you are looking for a rewarding experience with a values and mission-driven team, join Canada’s Lifeline and make a meaningful difference.

We acknowledge that the work of Canadian Blood Services spans many Territories and Treaty areas across the country, and we are grateful for the Traditional Knowledge Keepers and Elders who have guided us in this important work. We recognize the land and waters that have inspired our work and offer gratitude to those Indigenous peoples on whose territory we work, live and play.

About the role

Canadian Blood Services is looking for a Regular Full-time Senior Legal Counsel - Privacy to join our dynamic Legal division.

The Legal division provides legal, privacy, ethics, governance, policy, and risk leadership across Canadian Blood Services’ product and service areas.
 

Reporting to the Chief Privacy Officer, you will play an integral role in  providing proactive and practical legal advice to support  Canadian Blood Services’ compliance with privacy and access to information relevant laws, regulations, policies/procedures. Leveraging your subject-matter expertise in privacy and access to information, you will act as a trusted advisor across the organization, providing professional, practical, timely legal guidance and support.
As the Senior Legal Counsel - Privacy you will perform all functions in alignment with Canadian Blood Services’ values and operate with the highest level of integrity and ethical standards.

Formula for success

• Leveraging your skills in providing accurate, relevant, and timely legal advice, you will advise on a wide range of legal matters, including key issues and risks related to legal developments, regulators’ orders and findings.
• Negotiating and drafting, you will prepare data sharing agreements and other related privacy and/or legal documents.
• Monitoring evolving legal, regulatory and policy developments in privacy, access to information, artificial intelligence and other emerging areas, you will advise the business regarding risks, implications, and best practices while maintaining current knowledge of applicable privacy and access-to-information laws at the international, federal and provincial/territorial level.
• Guiding strategic direction, you will advise on strategy for the management of Canadian Blood Services’ privacy and access to information programs, and ensure legal risks are identified and mitigated to protect the organization and its assets.
• Conducting and/or advising on privacy risk evaluations, privacy impact assessments, and investigations of privacy/access complaints or incidents, you will support informed, timely and appropriate decision-making.
• Collaborating with cyber-security, data analytics and ethics teams, you will support joint initiatives in cross-functional areas such as incident management, AI and data governance.
• Drawing on your experience engaging with regulatory bodies, you will provide advice regarding, and/or participate in, engagements and consultations with applicable regulatory agencies and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Advising senior leadership, internal client groups, and working with subject-matter experts, you will provide professional, practical, timely legal advice and support on complex matters with organization-wide implications.
• Contributing to a positive, proactive culture, you will support continuous improvement, high performance, collaboration, and the educational development of students and other team members.

Desired education and skills

• Required completion of a law degree from a recognized academic institution.
• Required Membership in good standing in a law society for a Canadian province or territory.
• Minimum 7 years of legal experience (privacy, health law, and/or compliance)
• Certification by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) – CIPP/C.
• Substantial knowledge of relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks and jurisprudence  in a pan-Canadian setting.
• Ability to practice law with a high degree of autonomy and professional expertise.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to translate complex issues and to provide practical legal advice to clients, communicating in a clear and accessible manner and incorporating all relevant business risks.
• Ability to understand and think critically about business needs and tailor advice accordingly.
• Ability to provide responsive client service in the context of competing demands.
• Other legal, ethics, risk, compliance and/or other privacy related credentials are an asset.

What we offer you

• 4 weeks' vacation.
• Annual performance award up to 10%.
• Comprehensive group health, dental and vision benefits for you and your family.
• Defined benefit pension plan.
• Employee discounts, wellness program, professional resources.

What you can expect

• This role will work in a hybrid environment with requirements to be onsite at Canadian Blood Services location at least 40% of the time/2 days of the week.
• If you are located outside of Ottawa, you may be required to travel to the Head Office in Ottawa 2-4 times a year to attend dept. meetings.  This requirement is subject to change at Canadian Blood Services’ sole discretion.

Diversity and inclusion play a vital role in ensuring health equity for patients across Canada. We are committed to reflecting Canada’s population in our organization and fostering an environment where all employees can be their authentic selves, with equal opportunities to succeed and contribute.  

If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply by providing your up-to-date resume. This could be your first step towards a meaningful and inspiring career. Come to work each day knowing that you save lives. 

We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only those considered for an interview or those invited to participate in an assessment will be contacted. Emails are sent directly from our system, to ensure you receive them please add donotreply@blood.ca and system@successfactors.com to your safe senders list. 

Applicants who require accommodation should discuss their needs with us.

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