Senior Legal Counsel

To learn more about the College of Pharmacists of BC (CPBC) mandate and core values, please visit our Who We Are and Our Values page. Information regarding our diversity, equity and inclusion commitment can be found here.

About the Role

Based in the BC lower mainland, CPBC is seeking a skilled practising lawyer with broad expertise in regulatory investigations to serve as Senior Legal Counsel, Inspections and Investigations . Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this permanent, full-time role provides expert legal advice, strategic and tactical investigative guidance, and procedural oversight to staff employed as investigators under CPBC’s governing legislation. The position works to ensure CPBC’s post-licensing inspection, monitoring, investigation, and conduct remediation processes for pharmacy professionals, pharmacies, and pharmacy owners are lawful, efficient, procedurally fair, defensible, timely, evidence-based, risk-based, trauma-informed, and aligned with CPBC’s mandate to protect the public from harm and discrimination. This position is dedicated primarily to supporting the programs and activities of the Conduct, Inquiry and Remediation (CIR), Special Investigations (SI), and Inspections and Practice Monitoring (IPM) Departments, at all stages of their respective departmental processes.

Essential Duties

• Generally, provides advice and recommendations to the Registrar, responsible Deputy Registrar, and staff of the three departments throughout the inspection/investigation lifecycle.
• Provides day-to-day advice and recommendations for triaging of administrative matters, regulatory complaints, and regulatory reports, to determine jurisdiction, urgency and appropriate investigative pathways.
• Provides day-to-day advice and recommendations on the planning and conduct of inspections and investigations of pharmacy professionals, pharmacies and pharmacy owners for the purposes of case-finding of non-compliance or responding to regulatory complaints or information received.
• Advises investigators on conduct of interviews including interview planning, privilege issues, questioning strategies, and dealing with represented parties.
• Advises investigators on managing chain of custody for evidence collected in inspections or investigations.
• Advises on privacy and FOI matters related to the three departments, such as breach response and privacy requirements arising out of inspections, investigations, or related proceedings or matters.
• Reviews and advises on content and form of draft inspection or investigation reports, and reviews or drafts other inspection or investigation-related documents.
• Serves as primary legal advisor to CPBC’s Investigation Committee (except when the committee requires independent legal advice).
• Advises and represents CPBC in all matters involving interaction with the Director of Discipline and/or the Discipline Panels under the Health Professions and Occupations Act (HPOA).
• Advises and represents CPBC in all timeliness reviews and complaint disposition reviews conducted by the Health Professions Review Board (HPRB).
• Advises and, as applicable, represents CPBC in respect of internal reconsiderations and reviews arising from the work of the three departments.
• Consults with Chief Legal Officer on retention of external counsel for judicial review proceedings arising out of the work of the three departments, and instructs external counsel retained for that purpose.
• Advises on activities conducted as part of CPBC’s unauthorized practice monitoring program.
• Advises on and supports CPBC’s responses to oversight processes conducted by the Superintendent of the Health Professions and Occupations Regulatory Oversight Office, as they relate to the three departments.
• Reviews or drafts bylaws and departmental and Investigation Committee policies and procedures to ensure legal compliance and best practices.
• Provides legal training and information to staff and Investigation Committee members.
• Liaises and collaborates with government and other regulatory bodies and law enforcement agencies on issues of legislation, professional regulation, compliance, monitoring and enforcement.

Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge

• Bachelor of Laws or Juris Doctor degree.
• Member of the Law Society of British Columbia, in good standing and holding a practising certificate.
• At least seven years of recent, relevant work experience as a practising lawyer in administrative, regulatory, Crown Counsel/criminal, or human rights settings, with some experience in related areas such as enterprise risk management or FOI/privacy.
• Anti-racism and/or diversity, equity and inclusion training or equivalent self-directed training.
• Indigenous Cultural Safety training or equivalent self-directed training.
• Experience working in government or a professional regulatory organization.
• Experience representing public bodies before courts or administrative tribunals.
• Experience conducting professional disciplinary hearings or prosecuting criminal trials.
• Experience advising investigators on the legal aspects of planning and conducting sensitive, complex regulatory investigations.
• Alternative dispute resolution and facilitation/mediation education and experience is an asset.
• Advanced knowledge of Canadian administrative law jurisprudence and professional regulation processes.
• Working knowledge of provincial and federal legislation relevant to pharmacy practice and regulation.
• Broad knowledge of the health care system.
• Understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion, and cultural humility as they apply to health care is an asset.
• Understanding of distinctions-based legal principles and legal pluralism is an asset.
• Knowledge of Canadian colonial impacts on Indigenous Peoples in social and health contexts, including social, economic, political, and historical realities impacting Indigenous communities and knowledge of Indigenous-specific anti-racism and accompanying reports (e.g. The Truth & Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action (2015), and the In Plain Sight Report (2020)), is an asset.
• Capacity to demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in an evolving work environment.
• Ability to use initiative, problem-solve, and take appropriate action when unforeseen circumstances arise.
• Exceptional written communication skills.
• Exceptional research, critical thinking and analytical skills and demonstrated proficiency in summarizing complex information and recommending solutions.
• Effective verbal communication skills, including demonstrated proficiency in delivering presentations and ability to use audience appropriate communication and language to present information and convey concepts that are confidential, complex, and sensitive in nature.
• Demonstrated knowledge of how to apply appropriate techniques to facilitate effective change management.
• Intermediate computer skills and proficient in Microsoft 365 products and Microsoft Teams.
• Strong partner engagement abilities with a commitment to building an effective and dynamic organizational culture.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with all partners.
• High level of emotional intelligence with an ability to be understanding and manage own emotions.
• Ability to maintain objectivity and fairness.
• Ability to be approachable and actively listen.
• Ability to maintain tact when dealing with diverse groups of people with different personalities.
• High level of integrity, diplomacy and discretion when working with confidential/sensitive information.
• Strong detail orientation and drive for accuracy.
• Ability to use a common-sense approach and demonstrate sound judgement.
• Superior organizational skills, experience in managing a high volume of work and large caseload, and the ability to handle diverse situations as they arise.
• Ability t…