Do you want to be part of a team helping to strengthen every community across Ontario? Are you interested in seeing the importance of your work firsthand?
Become a Associate General Counsel - Litigation with MPAC
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) is made up of a team of experts who understand local communities and assess every property in Ontario. What we do provides the very foundation that municipalities use to base the property taxes needed to pay for the services we use every day. Learn more.
Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism
MPAC is committed to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism. We are taking important steps towards ensuring that all voices are respected, valued and being heard. MPAC is dedicated to fostering an environment where employees can bring their full, unique and authentic selves and are inspired to do their best work.
What makes you great for this role?
You are an astute leader who can provide strategic direction to the Legal, Policy and Compliance branch, assist the VP & General Counsel in the management of the legal division and practice leadership, focusing on assessment appeal advocacy and litigation strategy.
We have:
- A team of highly skilled, dedicated, and collaborative staff to work with
- Leadership that supports you
- An enterprise that embraces change
- A work environment that has flexible work locations (including remote), hours of work and overall employee wellness support
You have:
- Professional degree in Law (JD, L.L.B or equivalent) with membership in good standing in the Law Society of Ontario
- At least 6 years demonstrated progressively responsible related legal experience
- Familiarity with property assessment terminology, the Assessment Review Board Rules of Practice and Procedure, MPAC policies and procedures, valuation theory, appraisal methodologies, and related legislation such as the Assessment Act, City of Toronto Act, Municipal Act, Municipal Freedom of Information Protection of Privacy Act and the MPAC Act
- Demonstrated expertise with the ARB, the Divisional Court and the Superior Court of Justice; with an understanding of the court application process (pursuant to Section 46 of the Assessment Act)
- Experience with administrative law, legal research, tribunal advocacy and drafting memos, pleadings and written submissions
- Crucial problem-solving skills to evaluate legal issues quickly and thoroughly offer expert advice
- Proven leadership skills, with ability to direct and engage professional staff to achieve department and corporate objectives
- Excellent research, analytical, problem solving and decision-making skills to recommend solutions and changes to existing policies and procedures
What you will do:
- Support the VP & General Counsel on overall department strategy, key performance indicators and work collaboratively with management to achieve strategic objectives
- Represent MPAC in assessment appeals, appeals to Divisional Court, tax exemption applications, and in general litigation matters
- Work with and provide support to Assessment Advocacy and Legislative Interpretation and Litigation Strategy (LILS) in responding to legal interpretation requests, general legal enquiries, assessment appeals to the ARB
- Provide leadership in the development of policy and procedures governing the provision of legislation and policy support services to municipalities, municipal associations, property taxpayers and professional associations and other jurisdictions
- Provide assessment policy advice and legislative interpretation services to MPAC staff to ensure MPAC’s compliance with the Assessment Act, MPAC Act and other relevant Acts;
- Work with the Director, Assessment Litigation and Dispute Resolution, and the Director, Legislative Interpretation and Litigation Strategy to oversee all assessment-related litigation at the ARB
- Approve the use of external counsel, including selecting, retaining and negotiating services, as required
- Liaise with the Ministry of Finance, ARB, property tax agents and lawyers, rate payers on an ongoing basis, managing relationships as a representative of MPAC; advocate for legislative and regulatory change
Additional Information:
- Requisition ID: 1822
- Job Type: Non-Union Staff
- Closing Date: April 3, 2024
Ready to apply?
Click on the URL provided, followed by the “Apply Now” icon once within the posting. Create your candidate profile and upload your resume and cover letter by April 3, 2024. Please note, only applications submitted through the Applicant Tracking System will be accepted.
Successful candidates will be required to undergo a background verification with Mintz Global Screening. By applying to this job posting, you are providing your consent to MPAC to share your name, email address and phone number with Mintz, to conduct the criminal and driver abstract check and for Mintz to disclose the results to MPAC, should you be the successful incumbent.
MPAC is committed to fostering an inclusive, accessible environment where all employees and members of the public feel valued, respected and supported. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflect the diversity of the public and communities we serve.
Persons with disability who need accommodation in the application process or those needing job postings in an alternative format may email their request to careers@mpac.ca.
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Job advertisements for positions that have been designated bilingual will be posted in both English and French on our website. Positions that are not designated bilingual are not translated and are only posted in English on the English version of our website.