Manager, Legislative and Legal Services

This position is responsible for the leadership of the County’s Legislative and Legal Services function including governance and parliamentary supports, Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy, Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) and Assessment Review Board (ARB) bodies, legislative projects (including census and election administration, ward boundary reviews, etc.), and coordinating external legal services.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

People Leadership (10%)

• Creates an open, positive working environment to stimulate open discussion, which includes both in office, remote, or hybrid employees.  
• Invests time in managing and developing people through career planning and professional development. Provides insightful, motivating, and constructive feedback, coaching, and guidance.  
• Sets clear expectations, monitors, evaluates, and conducts annual performance reviews. 
• Sets and delegates broad work responsibilities for direct reports, managing through general oversight of direct reports.  
• Provides rewards and recognition in alignment with the County’s policies and procedures.  
• Follow HR policies and procedures when addressing performance or disciplinary or investigations and considerations.  
• Measures and reports on capacity and diversity to meet current and future needs of County within departmental program areas. 
• Makes hiring decisions within approved roles, working in collaboration with the HR team. 
• Provides leadership and advice to technical staff within the department while occasionally assisting with technical tasks as required.  
• When necessary, undertakes transactional activities and provides coverage for direct reports.  

Leadership & Management (10%) 

• Provides leadership, vision, and direction to align with corporate strategies in order to maximize service delivery. 
• Develops and manages operational plans and the longer-term direction for the legislative function and activities of the department, as well as participates in the development of policies and standards, in accordance with the priorities of the organization.
• Develops and prepares annual operating and capital budgets in accordance with the objectives and policies of Sturgeon County. Monitors and controls the expenditure of funds in accordance with the approved budgets. 
• Undertakes process reviews, documents processes, and communicates processes with intent to achieve improved Operational Excellence.
• Maintains effective public relations with the public and presents a positive image. 
• Ensures compliance with safety legislation and County Health and Safety Management System.  

Legislative and Governance Leadership (25%) 

• Leads the development and update of Council Governance Bylaws and Policies through workshops and consultation. 
• Primary governance advisor to Council and Administration, relying upon knowledge of parliamentary procedure, municipal / election / access and privacy legislation, and administrative law.
• Oversees Council agenda preparation and scheduling of public presentations in accordance with the Procedure Bylaw.
• Oversees the experience of Council and Committee meetings, including access, tools, processes, and other related matters.
• Oversees the scheduling of Council Meeting agenda items and follow up action lists. 
• Leads the review of agenda items for Council and Administration, on the frequency established.
• Guides and supports the development of policies and bylaws by operating departments, ensures policy conflict is minimized, and compliance with the Municipal Government Act and other legislative requirements are met. 
• Oversees recruitment of public members to Council Committees. 

Legislative Support to Quasi-Judicial Tribunals (15%) 

• Serves as Clerk of the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board, overseeing the receipt of appeals, preparation of hearing notices, preparation of hearing records, preparation of agenda, and issuance of Board decisions. 
• Serves as Clerk of the Assessment Review Board, overseeing the receipt of assessment complaints, preparation of hearing notices, preparation of hearing records, preparation of agenda and issuance of Board decisions.

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (15%)

• Leads the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) program within the County. 
• Ensures the delivery of effective processes, application of best practices, and provision of advice consistent with the FOIP Act. 
• Reviews and approves Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) where the County intends to collect, use, or disclosure personal information in new or different ways.
• Leads the implementation of the Proactive Disclosure of Council Meeting Closed Session Reports Policy and other policies and procedures that seek to promote accountability and transparency.

Legislative Projects (15%)

• Serves as the County’s Returning Officer, responsible for planning and administering elections, by-elections, and plebiscites. 
• Receives and prepares reports to the Chief Administrative Officer on the sufficiency of petitions. 
• Serves as Municipal Census Coordinator and is responsible for administering municipal censuses as directed by Council. 
• Provides advice on and leads the review of municipal ward boundaries as directed by Council.
• Liaises with provincial government departments on legislative related projects.  

Legal Services Coordination (10%) 

• Serves as the primary liaison with the County’s external legal counsel, ensuring a positive relationship is maintained and that external legal services are offered in an effective, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
• Implements and oversees processes for departments to request and document the receipt of legal advice.
• Coordinates external legal service invoicing and tracking to monitor the overall cost-effectiveness of the provision of external legal services and forecasting against approved budgets.

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION, QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EXPERIENCE 

Required:

• Comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in the following areas:
  • Dealing with public policies and procedures as well as key functions and operations of municipal government;
  • Municipal Government Act (MGA) and regulations, including the Municipal Census Regulation and Matters Relating to Assessment Complaints Regulation (MRAC);
  • Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
  • Local Authorities Election Act;
  • Municipal governance; and Parliamentary Procedure, Administrative Law, and Robert’s Rules of Order.
• Post-secondary degree in Law, Commerce, Business, Public Administration or Political Science
• 7-10 years of progressive experience in a municipal environment, including experience supervising Legislative Services in a municipality and experience working with Council, Boards, and Committees. 
• Experience working with meeting management software.
• Subdivision and Development Appeal Board Clerk certification
• Assessment Review Board Clerk certification
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills with a proven ability to effectively influence others, with the ability to discuss and reach an agreement on issues in an objective, logical and sensible manner.  
• Ability to proactively identify and analyze complex situations/issues and in a large multi-stakeholder organization to recommend sound solutions to that are based on experience, research and understanding of the organizational goals and priorities. 
• Ability to regularly engage and collaborate with stakeholders to facilitate open and thought-provoking discussions to address current and future needs of the County.
• Ability to manage and work within a political legislative framework. 
• Strong understanding of privacy legislation and FOIP regulations.
• Excellent public relations, written and verbal communication skills; and expertise in dealing tactfully and courteously with the public and elected officials.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a visionary leader that develops and fosters a community of collaboration and teamwork promoting innovation and continuous improvement. 
• Strong interpersonal, relationship-building and communication skills with a proven ability to effectively influence others, with the ability to discuss and reach an agreement on issues in an objective, logical and sensible manner.  
• Ability to proactively identify and analyze complex situations/issues and in a large multi-stakeholder organization to recommend sound solutions to that are based on experience, research and understanding of the organizational goals and priorities. 
• Ability to regularly engage and collaborate with stakeholders to facilitate open and thought-provoking discussions to address current and future needs of the County.
• Ability to manage and work within a political legislative framework. 
• Strong understanding of privacy legislation and FOIP regulations.
• Excellent public relations, written and verbal communication skills; and expertise in dealing tactfully and courteously with the public and elected officials.
• Demonstrated ability to act as a visionary leader that develops and fosters a community of collaboration and teamwork promoting innovation and continuous improvement. 

Assets:

• Detailed knowledge of administrative and municipal law. 
• Completion of the National Advanced Certificate in Local Authority Administration Level 1 and 2
• Certified Municipal Clerk designation
• Registered Parliamentarian designation
• Certificate in Information Access and Privacy
• Certificate in Tribunal Administrative Justice
• Experience working in a rural municipality
• Proficiency with escribe meeting management software

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