Senior Legal Counsel - Montreal - BRP

Description

The Senior Legal Counsel plays a critical leadership role in helping oversee commercial legal matters for Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) and its subsidiaries, with a focus on supporting BRP's Technology Division, advising senior leadership and business partners on complex legal matters. The qualified candidate must be able to complete assigned tasks in a demanding environment with high-level direction and limited supervision. This position requires strong expertise in Quebec civil law, familiarity with US, Canadian, and international legislation, and the ability to operate in a bilingual (French/English) business environment.

YOU'LL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

As a member of the Commercial Team within the Legal Department, your main responsibilities will be to support the BRP Technology Division's commercial legal matters, including direct and indirect purchasing/supply contracts, R&D and EV development and services contracts, government bids and contracts, managing a legal counsel team member based in Montreal who is focused on information technology and AI matters. You will contribute to strategic initiatives at BRP including transformation of its direct supply chain to more of an automotive model and continuing IS-IT transformation projects and will work closely with legal department colleagues, internal business teams, sourcing professionals, service providers, and outside law firms (less frequently), to provide legal solutions in support of the business. You will have the responsibility of ensuring that the interests of BRP are protected in the best way possible, while minimizing the financial and legal risks associated with business decisions and strategies.

More precisely you will:

Legal Advisory & Strategy:

• Provide expert legal counsel on commercial and regulatory matters under Québec civil law and applicable Canadian federal laws with an understanding of international laws, e.g., US, EU/EEA.

• Lead development and implementation of legal strategies.

• Advise executives and business partners on legal risks, contracts, and regulatory issues.

• Assist the organization in developing and implementing a new automotive-style supply chain process and structure.

Contract Management:

• Structure, draft, review, negotiate, and interpret commercial agreements, including purchase agreements, engineering and development agreements, services agreements (including consulting, outsourcing, sales of engineering/R&D services, software/technology licensing, and managed services).

• Respond to external/internal comments while ensuring required legal, financial, and performance terms are reflected in the contract.

• Maintain contract governance and templates - monitor and assist in revising and updating standard agreements, templates, and tools.

• Mitigate contractual risks.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance:

• Ensure compliance with Quebec Civil Code and provincial regulations, and applicable US, Canadian, and international laws.

• Understand and stay current with industry trends and the legal and regulatory landscape of the business.

• Support corporate governance practices.

Risk Management:

• Identify and mitigate legal and reputational risks.

• Advise business units on risk controls.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution:

• Support the Litigation team on Commercial litigation files.

• Participate as needed in dispute resolution efforts on contracts/projects under your scope.

Team Leadership:

• Lead and mentor a legal counsel team member based in Montreal.

• Manage workload and priorities.

• Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture.

Cross-functional Collaboration:

• Work with Direct and Indirect Sourcing, Operations, HR, Compliance, Corporate, and Finance teams to support business initiatives.

• Lead or support process improvement and other projects, many of which are multi-departmental.

• Provide training on policies and legal updates.

YOU'LL THRIVE IN THIS ROLE IF YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING SKILLS AND QUALITIES:

Education & Accreditation:

• Bachelor of Law (LL. B) or J.D. Degree required.

• Member of the Barreau du Québec or a current member of the appropriate bar.

• LL.M. or certificate is an asset.

• 5-8+ years progressive legal experience as a lawyer in-house or in the commercial practice of a large law firm.

• Leadership or management experience required.

• Expertise in commercial law and contract drafting.

Skills:

• Strong knowledge of Quebec civil law (Common Law an asset) with knowledge of international laws and the legal environment applicable to the US and its laws and regulations.

• Leadership and proficient communication skills in French and English, both verbal and written.

• Ability to manage complex matters and stakeholders.

• Ability to work independently while managing multiple work assignments and competing priorities under tight timeframes in the midst of changing circumstances.

• Excellent judgment; shows curiousness, discipline, autonomy, and initiative in his or her work.

• Interest in business with ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical, actionable advice to business partners.

• Organized, capable of working under pressure and multi-tasking while meeting dedicated deadlines.

• Outstanding interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.

• Ability to travel between BRP offices in Quebec periodically and other BRP locations as required.

Beneficial Additional Attributes:

• M.B.A. or strong focus/experience in manufacturing, sales and distribution company commercial matters, research & development, commercial litigation or contracts.

• Experience with complex supply contracts or automotive-style procurement systems.

• Experience with data privacy, cybersecurity, and professional services agreements.

• Experience leading collaborative projects.

• Proficiency in other languages, e.g., Spanish, German.

The position is based in Quebec, Canada, and can be located at either BRP's downtown Montreal office or in Valcourt at BRP's headquarters in the Eastern townships of Quebec.

ACKNOWLEDGING THE POWER OF DIVERSITY

BRP is dedicated to nurturing a culture that invites, connects, and propels the ambitions of people of all backgrounds, profiles, beliefs and experiences. Ultimately, the diversity and uniqueness of our people fuel our ingenuity and set the course for the path ahead

For this reason, we value diversity and we strive to always push each other forward to build an inclusive workplace where every employee feels like they belong, where they can grow and find meaning.

AT BRP, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BENEFITS, WE GO ALL IN.

Let's start with a strong foundation - You want it, we have it:

• Annual bonus based on the company's financial results

• Generous paid time away

• Pension plan

• Collective saving opportunities

• Industry leading healthcare fully paid by BRP

What about some feel good perks:

• Flexible work schedule

• A summer schedule that varies by department and location

• Holiday season shutdown

• Educational resources

• Discount on BRP products

WELCOME TO BRP

We're a world leader in recreational vehicles and boats, creating innovative ways to move on snow, water, asphalt, dirt and even in the air. Headquartered in the Canadian town of Valcourt, Quebec, our company is rooted in a spirit of ingenuity and intense customer focus. Today, we operate manufacturing facilities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Finland, Australia and Austria, with a workforce made up of close to 16,500 spirited people, all driven by the deeply held belief that at work, as with life itself, it's not about the destination: It's about the journey.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-AL1