Corporate Secretarial Advisor

The successful candidate must reside near one of Desjardins Ontario Credit Union’s branches or service centres.

As Corporate Secretarial Advisor to Desjardins Ontario Credit Union, you support the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer and the board of directors, its committees and their chairs in matters of sound and effective governance. You ensure that governance practices are consistent with the organization’s policies and regulatory requirements. You serve as the first point of contact for the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer and the senior management team as in-house legal counsel to provide support and advice on governance issues raised. Your role involves a certain degree of complexity and risk and requires a sense of diplomacy and business priorities. You work on strategic and confidential initiatives that require knowledge of various decision-making authorities across the organization. You draw on your sound judgment to independently, promptly and efficiently resolve all requests and issues referred to the board of directors and the General Manager and Chief Operating Officer’s office. Coordination is critical. You interact with many stakeholders and governing bodies. Your ability to communicate effectively and tailor your approach as needed is key. More specifically, you will be required to:

• Lead large-scale development projects, initiatives and activities in your specialty area that have a major impact on the entire organization.

• Advise your clients and partners to help them position, plan, develop, execute and monitor strategic projects and initiatives under your responsibility.

• Identify and analyze major issues. Diagnose issues and make recommendations to decision-making bodies.

• Interpret laws, regulations, regulatory frameworks and contracts. Issue legal opinions based on the facts, the applicable law and the actions to be taken.

• Develop and update policies, standards, models and programs to support your unit’s strategic projects and initiatives.

• Monitor the industry to understand and anticipate trends in your field and make appropriate recommendations.

• Serve as a resource person for decision-making bodies.

• Enhance and coordinate governance activities and those related to Desjardins Ontario Credit Union’s corporate structure.

• Steer the governance model to be more like a subsidiary than a Desjardins caisse.

• Consider both the legal landscape in Ontario and the affiliation with the broader Desjardins Group.

• Advise governance on Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Ontario regulatory and fiduciary obligations.

What we offer*

• Competitive salary and annual bonus

• 4 weeks of flexible vacation starting in the first year

• Defined benefit pension plan that provides predictable, stable income throughout retirement

• Group insurance including telemedicine

• Reimbursement of health and wellness expenses and telework equipment

* Benefits apply based on eligibility criteria.

What you bring to the table

• Bachelor’s degree in law

• A minimum of six years of relevant experience, including five years in a related role, in the financial or commercial sector

• Please note that other combinations of qualifications and relevant experience may be considered

• Member in good standing of the Law Society of Ontario

• Experience interpreting and explaining legal issues

• Experience providing legal exposure and compliance risk management advice

• Strong communication skills in both French and English, both oral and written due to the nature of the duties or work tools or because the position involves interactions with english-speaking partners, members and/or clients

• Knowledge of Desjardins Ontario Credit Union bylaws, the Credit Unions and Caisses Populaires Act and company policies

• Significant knowledge and expertise in governance to support a board of directors

• Demonstrated knowledge of the entire regulatory framework for credit union governance in Ontario and an in-depth understanding of regulations, policies, official meeting procedures and governance

• Demonstrated knowledge of governance models and best practices, ideally in a cooperative environment

• Knowledge of the governance rules of regulatory authorities governing the financial sector in Ontario

• Understanding of the philosophy and fundamentals of financial services cooperatives

• Availability to travel 20% of the time across Ontario as needed

• Availability outside of regular work hours for participation in board, committee and governance meetings

Action oriented, Customer Focus, Differences, Interpersonal Savvy, Nimble learning, Strategic mindset

#LI-Hybrid

Trade Union (If applicable)

At Desjardins, we believe in equity, diversity and inclusion. We're committed to welcoming, respecting and valuing people for who they are as individuals, learning from their differences, embracing their uniqueness, and providing a positive workplace for all. At Desjardins, we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. We believe our teams should reflect the diversity of the members, clients and communities we serve.

If there's something we can do to help make the recruitment process or the job you're applying for more accessible, let us know. We can provide accommodations at any stage in the recruitment process. Just ask!

Job Family

Legal Affairs (FG)

Unposting Date

2025-04-17