Associate Director, Legal Services - Construction

Oxford Properties Group
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nov 12, 2026

Full time Lawyer (In House Counsel)

Job Description

Step into a global organization where talent flourishes—a workplace that champions diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and shared passion, empowering you to shape your own career path and perform at your peak.
As a premier global real estate investor, developer, and manager, we pair strategic capital with operational excellence to build properties that uplift both economies and neighborhoods. By putting people, partnerships, and places at the center of what we do, we deliver lasting returns for OMERS pension members, drive value for our capital partners, and create better spaces for our customers.
Join us to fast-track your professional growth, prioritize your well-being, forge meaningful relationships, and give back to the communities where we live and work.
Don’t settle for just any job—come shape the future alongside us.
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The Opportunity: Associate Director, Legal Services (Toronto)

We are seeking a driven, proactive lawyer to join Oxford’s Canadian Legal Services team in Toronto.
In this role, you will provide hands-on legal counsel and oversee legal support for construction and development initiatives across our Canadian portfolio. You will manage outside counsel, collaborate with external advisors, and guide our Development, Asset Management, Operations, and Investment teams through every phase of the development lifecycle. You will also contribute to Oxford’s risk and compliance framework, including regulatory monitoring and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols.
As a trusted legal partner to our Toronto real estate group, you will join a high-performing, collaborative team defined by mutual respect, cognitive diversity, and a commitment to long-term professional growth. Driven by strong investment performance and sound risk management, our ultimate mission is to safeguard the financial future of our pension plan beneficiaries.
Hybrid Work Model: Because in-person collaboration strengthens our culture, our people, and the results we deliver for our members, this role follows a hybrid schedule requiring at least 4 days per week in the office.

Key Responsibilities

Construction & Commercial Contracting: Lead legal support for design and construction activities—including RFPs, architectural agreements, professional services contracts, and CCDC documents. Draft, review, and negotiate a broad spectrum of commercial contracts, such as building service, operational, and consultant agreements, ensuring practical, business-minded outcomes.
Strategic & Operational Counsel: Advise internal business groups on ongoing operational, regulatory, and compliance issues. Review contracts, weigh in on emerging disputes and litigation, and offer legal insights on internal reports and development strategy documents.
Coaching & Mentorship: Provide guidance, training, and mentorship to legal clerks, managers, and members of the design and construction teams.
Relationship Building: Cultivate strong working partnerships with external law firms and advisors, as well as fellow legal and business colleagues across Oxford and OMERS.
Governance & Processes: Navigate and leverage Oxford’s internal organizational framework and approval workflows effectively.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Construction & Development Law: Extensive background in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating construction and development contracts (CCDCs, RFPs, professional services, and building service agreements) across the full project lifecycle.
Commercially Minded Risk Management: Proven skill in delivering pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice on operational, compliance, regulatory, and dispute matters—effectively balancing commercial goals with risk protection.
Collaboration & Influence: Exceptional communication and interpersonal abilities, enabling you to partner seamlessly with internal teams, direct external counsel, and align diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience

Licensed to practice law in Ontario (Toronto-based), with at least 3 years of relevant experience in-house or at a law firm specializing in construction contracts.
Hands-on experience negotiating and drafting CCDCs, building service agreements, professional service agreements, and RFP documentation.
Sound judgment, strong communication skills, and the confidence to lead initiatives while engaging with professionals across all disciplines.
Intellectual curiosity, adaptability, and a collaborative, team-first mindset.
High integrity, a strong work ethic, and a proactive, positive approach to delivering timely legal solutions.

Compensation & Recruitment Details

Vacancy Status: This posting is for an existing open position.
Base Salary Range: $138,000 – $188,000 CAD annually.
Total Rewards: Eligible for annual awards under our Short-Term Incentive Plan and, where applicable, our Long-Term Incentive Plan, alongside comprehensive group benefits and retirement plans (full details provided in formal offer letters).

Our Commitment to Inclusion Oxford’s mission is to strengthen economies and communities through real estate, and our people-first culture thrives when our team mirrors the diversity of the communities and customers we serve. From recruitment through retirement, we are an equal opportunity employer dedicated to an accessible, barrier-free hiring process. Across our global enterprise, belonging is championed through executive-sponsored Employee Resource Groups, our Purpose@Work committee, and dedicated employee recognition programs.
Use of AI in Hiring OMERS utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with specific stages of our recruitment workflow. While technology helps streamline our process, human evaluation and judgment remain at the core of all hiring decisions.