CANADA SOCCER Chief Operating Officer, with direct access to the CEO on strategic and governance matters.

Executive / Legal Location: Toronto, Ontario Employment Type: Full-time Canada Soccer is seeking a General Counsel to be responsible for providing strategic legal guidance to the Executive Team overseeing all legal affairs of the organization, and managing key legal responsibilities, including the drafting, review, and support of negotiation of contracts. The role ensures Canada Soccer operates within applicable laws and regulations, manages legal risk, and supports sound governance and ethical decision making across the organization and its member associations. Serve as the primary legal advisor to the organization, including the Executive Team and Board of Directors, on a broad range of legal, commercial, regulatory, and governance matters.

Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice that supports the organization’s strategic plan, commercial activities and sport development objectives. Monitor legal developments affecting sport and not-for-profit entities and recommend policy or operational changes. Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks across the organization.

Governance, Board and policy support Provide legal and governance support to the Board of Directors, Board Committees, and Corporate Secretary, including advising on governance procedures, fiduciary obligations, bylaws, policies, committee mandates, and delegations of authority. Contracts and commercial matters Lead the drafting and review and advise on the negotiation and ongoing compliance of commercial agreements, including sponsorship, marketing, broadcast, event hosting, licensing, technology, and vendor agreements. Develop and maintain standard contract templates and contractual risk-management practices.

Employment, human rights and member relations e on employment, human rights, and labour relations matters, including agreements, investigations, terminations, and compliance with applicable legislation. Advise on and support the administration of the players’ collective bargaining agreement, including interpretation, compliance, disputes and amendments. Oversee protection and management of the organization’s intellectual property, including trademarks, logos, and digital assets,



and advise on licensing and brand use by partners and member organizations.

Review key public-facing materials (e.g., major communications, campaigns, and position statements) for legal and reputational risk. Provide legal advice on complex or escalated disciplinary, complaint, and appeal matters related to safe sport, ethics, anti-doping, and competition integrity, in collaboration with the Director, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs. Support the Director, Compliance & Regulatory Affairs in managing high-risk compliance and integrity issues, and ensuring alignment with applicable legislation, sport policies and regulatory expectations.

Law degree (LL.and membership in good standing with a Canadian law society. ~4 - 7 years of progressive legal experience, ideally including in-house counsel experience within a multi-stakeholder organization (e.g., national sport body, public sector, not-for-profit, or corporate environment). ~ Demonstrated experience advising on corporate/commercial law, governance, and regulatory compliance. ~ Experience with employment and labour relations matters, policy development, and dispute resolution. ~ Experience working with boards of directors and senior executives, including in a public, not-for-profit, or regulated environment. ~ Experience with labour relations matters, including the interpretation, administration, and negotiation of collective bargaining agreements, particularly in a professional sports or similarly complex setting, is considered a strong asset ~ Experience in the sport sector or with national/provincial sport organizations is considered a strong asset. Strong knowledge of Canadian corporate, not-for-profit, employment, privacy, and administrative law. Excellent judgment, with the ability to balance legal risk with organizational objectives and stakeholder expectations.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts in clear, practical terms to non-lawyers.



Bilingual (English/French) preferred; additional languages considered an asset. On occasion, work staggered hours, evenings, and weekends Periodic travel within Canada and, at times, internationally to attend meetings, competitions, and conferences.

This full-time, permanent role has a competitive salary, with a comprehensive perks package. This is a new position and offers flexibility to work either fully on-site in Toronto or in a hybrid arrangement out of the Toronto Office. Joining the organization provides an opportunity to contribute to programs that create meaningful pathways, strengthen participation, and support the continued growth of soccer communities across the country.

In partnership with its members, Canada Soccer promotes the growth and development of soccer in Canada, from grassroots to high performance, and on a national scale. Soccer is the largest participatory sport in Canada and continues to grow across communities nationwide.

Canada

Soccer provides equal opportunity for all applicants and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences pardoned or suspended, marital status, family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. In partnership with its members, Canada Soccer promotes the growth and development of soccer in Canada, from grassroots to high performance, and on a national scale.

Canada

Soccer offre l'égalité des chances à tous les candidats et ne fait aucune discrimination fondée sur la race, l'ascendance, le lieu d'origine, la couleur, l'origine ethnique, la citoyenneté, la croyance, le sexe, l'orientation sexuelle, l'identité de genre, l'expression de genre, l'âge, le casier judiciaire d'infractions graciées ou suspendues, l'état civil, la situation de famille, le handicap ou toute autre caractéristique protégée par la loi applicable. L'auto-identification par les candidats dans le processus est entièrement volontaire. Nous accueillons et encourageons les candidatures des personnes en situation de handicap.

📌 General Counsel / Avocat(e) général(e)
🏢 Canada Soccer
📍 Toronto