Head of Legal, Canada

Vanguard is seeking an experienced legal professional to join our legal team in the Toronto office as Head of Legal, Canada. This role serves as a strategic legal advisor to the business, providing counsel across a broad range of investment and enterprise matters to Vanguard Canada, an asset manager which specializes in manufacturing and distributing exchange traded funds whose core purpose is to take a stand for all investors, to treat them fairly, and to give them the best chance of investment success.

The successful candidate will partner closely with senior business leaders, compliance, risk, and external counsel while helping manage legal and regulatory risk across the organization. This position also includes leadership responsibilities, including mentoring legal professionals and overseeing outside counsel relationships.

• Provide practical and strategic legal advice to business leaders on a broad range of legal, regulatory, and commercial matters.
• Advise on securities law, investment management, asset management, and regulatory compliance issues affecting Vanguard's business.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a variety of legal agreements, corporate documents, regulatory filings, and governance materials.
• Monitor and interpret legislative and regulatory developments and advise on potential business impacts.
• Support corporate governance initiatives and provide guidance on board and committee matters, as applicable.
• Manage and direct external counsel on specialized legal matters and oversee legal spend.
• Represent Vanguard in interactions with regulators, government agencies, and other external stakeholders when appropriate.
• Partner with compliance, risk, and business teams to develop solutions that balance regulatory requirements with business objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop members of the legal team while fostering a collaborative, high-performing culture.
• Contribute to strategic initiatives, business projects, and organizational priorities across the Canadian business.

• Minimum 8 years of relevant legal experience, preferably within asset management in an institutional financial services organization
• Juris Doctor (JD/LLB) and membership in good standing with a Canadian law society preferred
• Demonstrated experience advising asset managers, investment fund managers, wealth management firms, banks, or other regulated financial institutions
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
• Blend of hands-on and strategic level execution
• Ability to work collaboratively across cross functional teams
• Ability to manage complex legal and regulatory matters independently
• Prior people leadership experience is preferred

Vanguard does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision-making tools in its recruitment process. All application reviews and hiring decisions are made by our recruitment team.

Vanguard is committed to fostering an accessible and inclusive workplace. We are committed to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the Ontario Human Rights Code. If you require accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process, please inform us. We will work with you to meet your needs and you can reach us at  [email protected], quoting the job ID and job title.

How We Work

Vanguard has implemented a hybrid working model for the majority of our crew members, designed to capture the benefits of enhanced flexibility while enabling in-person learning, collaboration, and connection. We believe our mission-driven and highly collaborative culture is a critical enabler to support long-term client outcomes and enrich the employee experience.