Counsel - Loyalty

Belonging to Air Canada is akin to belonging to a Canadian symbol, Air Canada recently voted Best Airline in North America. Take your career to new heights by joining our innovative and diverse team at the forefront of passenger air transportation.

Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline, the country's flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network. Air Canada's scheduled passenger service directly serves more than 180 airports in Canada, the United States and internationally on six continents. Air Canada holds a four-star ranking from Skytrax. Air Canada's Aeroplan program is Canada's premier travel loyalty program, where members can earn or redeem points on the world's largest airline partner network of 45 partners, plus retail, hotel and car rental partners. Through Vacances Air Canada, the Corporation offers more choices than any other Canadian tour operator for hundreds of destinations worldwide, with a wide selection of hotels, flights, cruises, tours and car rentals. Air Canada Cargo, Air Canada’s freight division, provides lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger flights and all-cargo flights. Air Canada’s climate ambition includes a long-term goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from all its operations by 2050.

With an innovative spirit, our Legal Affairs team enjoys the trust and respect of its colleagues, and its members act as true business partners to support the strategic objectives of Air Canada and Aeroplan. By joining Air Canada and Legal Affairs, you will become an essential member of a team of dynamic professionals who, every day, fly our flag high and showcase the best of Canada to the world.

responsibilities :

Air Canada is looking for a Counsel - Loyalty to join its team of professionals in Toronto. The successful candidate will assist the Senior Legal Counsel - Loyalty on a variety of matters. As a member of the Loyalty team, the candidate will:

• Work on a variety of projects and initiatives related to commercial operations dealing with all aspects of loyalty activities and operations.
• Provide advice on contractual matters, program terms and conditions and other legal issues, and draft, review and comment on complex commercial agreements and other documents.
• Play an important role in negotiations with the "client," supporting them through each phase of a project, from conception to the drafting of the letter of intent, execution of the document and determination of terms and conditions until launch.
• Contribute to the maintenance and improvement of the team's governance framework, policies and procedures.
• Support compliance through the review and monitoring of applicable law by the company.
• Conduct research and benchmarking analysis.

Qualifications

• Law degree.
• Membership in the Bar of a Canadian province is essential, and training in common law and civil law is an asset. At least five years of relevant experience in a top-tier law firm or a recognized in-house legal department.
• Solid experience and expertise in commercial law, in particular in drafting and negotiating a variety of complex commercial agreements, especially in at least one of the following areas (which would be an asset): marketing, payments and privacy.
• Outstanding degrees and credentials and a track record demonstrating past performance.
• Excellent knowledge of consumer law and marketing law.
• Passion for learning and acquiring a deep understanding of the business, in order to better support strategies and objectives.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, business judgment, strategic sense, pragmatism, thoroughness and ability to assess legal and business risks.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills, excellent analytical skills, leadership, attention to detail, task-oriented, highly motivated to take on challenges and assume responsibilities, and comfortable working in a dynamic, constantly evolving environment, within a highly cohesive team of professionals.
• Understanding of governance principles and procedures.

The successful candidate must demonstrate, with supporting professional history, that they possess the following qualities or abilities:

• Keen attention to detail and a rigorous approach to legal work.
• Strong organizational sense and ability to establish priorities.
• Strong talent for time management, including the ability to work independently and successfully manage multiple projects simultaneously. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships, at all levels of the organization, with internal and external counsel.
• Results-oriented, eagerness and motivation to achieve objectives.
• Ability to understand and anticipate "client" needs and respond to them, communicate effectively and remain aware of related risks.
• Deep desire to work within a team and willingness to contribute to a common direction.
• Analytical, strategic and creative mindset to consider, specify and merge different approaches in order to find practical solutions through strong skills and great resourcefulness.
• Disposition to show initiative, proactivity and ingenuity.
• Support for innovation, ability to adapt in a rapidly changing environment, and willingness and ability to seize opportunities to learn and develop.
• Rigor, tenacity and resilience to persevere to achieve objectives, despite challenges and obstacles, while showing enthusiasm.
• Proven punctuality and reliability to support the overall success of the team in a fast-paced environment.

The successful candidate must have the willingness to go beyond the defined role and consider the big picture before deciding on the actions to take to achieve the desired result. They will evaluate the financial, operational and strategic impacts of all actions and decisions, and ensure that these factors are adequately taken into consideration.

It is essential to have the ability to communicate messages and ideas clearly, concisely, persuasively and in a targeted manner, to listen and ask appropriate questions in order to fully understand, to adapt the message to the audience and to transmit information, ideas and feedback in a timely manner. The incumbent will be recognized for their integrity (including a strict work ethic, high personal standards, an ability to exercise discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information, a willingness to respect their commitments, an open mind and honesty in communications, and respectful behavior). They will be proud of their role as a representative of Canada's national carrier.

Conditions of employment :

Candidates must be eligible to work in the country concerned at the time an offer of employment is presented and are responsible for obtaining work permits, visas or other necessary authorizations. Proof of eligibility must be provided before the start date.

Linguistic Requirements

All things being equal, preference will be given to bilingual candidates.

Diversity and inclusion

Air Canada is resolutely committed to diversity and inclusion and aims to create a healthy, accessible and rewarding work environment that highlights the unique contribution of our employees to the success of our business.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage the most diverse applications so that we can have a diverse workforce representative of our customers and the communities where we live and offer our services.

Air Canada thanks all candidates for their interest, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.