Legal Aid Saskatchewan

Location: Saskatchewan (province-wide mandate; Saskatoon or Regina)

Position: Director, Immigration and Refugee Services

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Objective and Scope

Legal Aid Saskatchewan is building something that matters. This is a newly created leadership role with a transparent mandate: to design, implement, and lead immigration and refugee legal services across the province.

As Director, Immigration and Refugee Services, you will bring together legal expertise and business leadership to build a service model that ensures access to justice for immigrants and refugees in Saskatchewan. This includes developing a centralized service (IRSO – Immigration and Refugee Staff Office), establishing a high-quality roster of service providers, and creating a system that is efficient, sustainable, and client-focused.

This role goes beyond operations. You will contribute to shaping policy, strengthening advocacy efforts, and influencing how justice is delivered to some of the most vulnerable communities. It is an opportunity to build, lead, and make a meaningful impact at a system level.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

- Develop and execute a provincial Immigration & Refugee strategic plan aligned with organizational priorities
- Provide analysis and insight to inform decision-making and long-term direction
- Support the CEO in broader organizational strategy and planning

Operations & Service Delivery
- Design and implement a service delivery model combining staff and panel service providers
- Oversee delivery of immigration and refugee legal services, ensuring quality, efficiency, and strong client outcomes
- Monitor performance metrics, case outputs, and service effectiveness
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting in collaboration with finance
- Identify and mitigate operational and organizational risks

Stakeholder & Government Relations
- Build and maintain relationships across a complex political and regulatory landscape
- Prepare reports, briefing notes,



and materials for executive leadership, the Legal Aid Commission, and government stakeholders
- Contribute to policy analysis, legislation review, and advocacy efforts

Communication
- Translate complex legal, financial, and policy information into clear, actionable insights
- Present to senior leadership and external stakeholders with clarity and confidence

Team Leadership
- Build and lead a multidisciplinary team, setting clear direction and expectations
- Provide mentorship, performance management, and development opportunities
- Foster a culture grounded in accountability, respect, and inclusion

Roster (Panel) Management
- Recruit and onboard qualified service providers
- Ensure quality and consistency of services delivered by roster members
- Address service delivery issues and maintain standards in collaboration with Panel Services

Requirements

Education and Experience

- LL.B with eligibility for membership with the Saskatchewan Bar, with experience in immigration and refugee law
- Experience representing clients at tribunals and courts
- Minimum 5 years of people leadership experience, ideally within a unionized environment
- Strong business and operational acumen, experience leading change, building programs, or scaling services
- Ability to analyze financial, statistical, and performance data to guide decisions

Skills and Competencies
- Skilled in stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and relationship-building
- Clear and effective communicator across diverse audiences
- Strong judgement, problem-solving ability, and decision-making capability
- Understanding of the legal aid system and barriers faced by immigrants and refugees
- Commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging

Compensation
- Salary Range: $145,829.39 – $203,233.84 plus management supplement and relocation costs
- Health Benefits: Health, Dental, Optical (all premiums paid by LAS except Life & Disability), Health Care Spending Account
- Pension at 6.35% with an employer match at 6.35%
- Legal Aid pays for skilled fees/insurance for time employed by Legal Aid.

Application Deadline Sept 13, 2026

📌 Director, Immigration and Refugee Services (Saskatoon)
🏢 Essence Recruitment
📍 Saskatoon