Senior Manager, Risk & Compliance

Osler Hoskin & Harcourt LLP is one of Canadas leading business law firms. Advising many of Canadas corporate leaders as well as U.S. and international parties with extensive interest in Canada our more than 1000 firm members are based in offices in Toronto Montréal Ottawa Vancouver Calgary and New York.

Osler prides itself on attracting and maintaining some of the brightest talent in the legal arena. Our lawyers students management and staff have created a unique firm culture which nurtures mentoring and the exchange of ideas. Osler is a dynamic and exciting place to further your career or carve out a new path.

Reporting to the Director Conflicts & Risk Management the Senior Manager Risk and Compliance is responsible for managing the Firms national risk management processes systems and activities (with an emphasis on compliance). This includes managing the Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCGs) process managing the client questionnaire process responding to regulatory requests for information administering our annual national quality assurance program and leading the Firms Risk Analysts who support the Firms risk management processes.

Responsible for privacy compliance by supporting internal teams processes and initiatives to ensure adherence to applicable privacy laws regulations and industry standards. This role will also act as the primary operational lead for the Firms privacy program working closely with the General Counsels Office (GCO) and the Chief Privacy Officer as required for legal guidance and support.

Proactively identifies and leads implementation and testing of process improvements and best practices for the technology supporting the Firms risk related processes.

This job posting is for an existing vacancy.

Major Responsibilities

Operational

• Responsible for the management of the daily operation of the Risk Analysts manage the team to meet deadlines and achieve desired results. Responsible for determining staffing levels workflow coordination to ensure requests are handled expeditiously and accurately.
• Manage the Firms Outside Counsel Guidelines (OCG) program and the administration of the Firms Intapp Terms system.
• Manage the administration of responses to client anti-corruption due diligence and compliance questionnaires.
• Manage and respond to Regulatory requests for information ensuring responses are accurate and comply with applicable privacy laws.
• Serve as the first line privacy compliance SME for the Firms OCG review process ensuring that privacy-related obligations in client guidelines are identified assessed and addressed appropriately.
• Act as the first-line privacy SME for the Firms vendor contracting processes and assist with the preparation of privacy impact assessments.
• Assist with the development implementation and maintenance of the Firms internal privacy compliance program ensuring alignment with applicable privacy laws and regulations including but not limited to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) provincial privacy laws (e.g. Quebecs Bill 64) and international frameworks (e.g. GDPR CCPA etc.).
• Foster a culture of privacy awareness across the Firm by promoting the importance of privacy compliance and ethical data handling practices.
• Manage the Firms Annual Quality Assurance program.
• Is a key participant in meetings of the Ethics & Conflicts Committee tracking issues and action items managing meetings and circulating meeting minutes.
• Provide second level support and guidance to legal professionals legal assistants and administrative departments regarding risk related policies procedures and best practices.
• Prepare and participate in risk presentations to lawyers and assistants on aspects of risk related policies and procedures.
• Train Team members and Firm members on risk related technology systems and related processes.
• Identify issues recommend and implement processes and solutions that support compliance with regulatory requirements rules of professional conduct and Firm policies.
• Document procedures and maintain the integrity of information including OCG operational playbooks; recommend and revise related practices and procedures improve cost efficiency and effectiveness.
• Proactively identify evaluate and lead implementation of process improvements best practices and upgrades to the Firms risk technology solutions including Intapp Terms
• Act as project lead or project manager on projects for the Risk Team and collaborate with the Conflicts & Business Intake Team on related integrated NBI projects. Work collaboratively with other Firm Departments to oversee and manage system upgrades and enhancements.
• Identifies evaluates tests and makes appropriate recommendations for enhancements and upgrades to the technology used by the Risk Team and assess new technology.
• Conduct routine compliance checks on compliance with various elements of the Firms risk management policies.
• Provide expertise and input regarding departmental planning and process improvements to ensure accurate and timely service support to the Firm.
• Assist with special projects within the Conflicts & Risk Management Department; performs other duties as required.
• Monitor industry trends and standards participating in user groups and demonstrations to discover new ways to use current systems and identifying potential to improve existing processing methods.
• Analyze workflow trends and recommend changes to processes existing staff as needed.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience

This position requires a law degree or a minimum of 5 years legal or regulatory compliance experience with an emphasis on risk regulatory and compliance knowledge. Bilingualism will be considered an asset. An equivalent combination of education training and experience is acceptable.

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of risk management and regulatory compliance within an organization.
• Knowledge of conflict-of-interest processes terminology best practices and technology.
• Deep understanding of privacy and data protection principles and requirements.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Able to quickly identify and analyze complex issues to provide practical solutions.
• Strong research skills. Able to consider and analyze divergent legal positions often under time pressure.
• Strong management and leadership skills with proven experience in coaching training and developing team members
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a proven ability to deliver engaging presentations and conduct effective training sessions. Able to provide clear instructions or advice and persuasively communicating risk processes and policies to diverse groups of the Firm.
• Excellent multi-tasking skills. Able to effectively manage a range of duties and responsibilities organizing and prioritizing multiple tasks simultaneously and completing them to a high standard.
• Self-motivated highly organized with excellent time management skills
• Strong IT skills. Have exceptional computer skills and proven ability to learn new software and programs and keep up to date with developments (including enhancements to the Firms systems)
• Experience in the area of risk ethical and regulatory environment in which law firms operate and a solid understanding of the various professional regulatory bodies relevant to legal practice
• Proven ability to work as part of a team. Capable of building and maintaining effective working relationships to become a trusted advisor to lawyers assistants other firm admin departments and the Ethics & Conflicts Committee with a willingness to cooperate and share knowledge
• Proactive in taking ownership for the resolution of issues and able to work with minimal supervision ability to exercise judgment ability to work with limited direction

Compensation:

Theârange of expected compensation for this position is $155000-$185000 annually. Compensation offered will be based on a variety of factors including job-related knowledge education skills and experience.

We are currently working in a hybrid work arrangement which includes a requirement to work primarily in the office and flexibility to work remotely up to 2 days per week.

Accessibility and Accommodation

We thank all applicants for their interest in Osler; however only chosen applicants will be contacted. Osler is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment and we welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and people with diverse backgrounds identities and cultures. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates in all phases of the selection process.

Background and Reference Checks

Please note that any offer of employment will be conditional upon background and reference checks including a criminal record check credit check and employment and educational verifications.

If you have the required background with the ability to provide exceptional customer service and wish to work in one of Canadas leading law firms please reply in confidence with a cover letter and résumé by the closing date.

Please note that we use artificial intelligence to screen assess or select applicants for the position.

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Required Experience:

Senior Manager