Vista Services is more than just a financial partner – we are helping communities, the people that live within them and the local contractors that service the area. Our dealers are experts in the water heater, HVAC, and residential infrastructure sector. Having both ownership from local management and an infrastructure fund managed by an award-winning investment manager, we are a well capitalized company looking to grow organically, geographically and by acquisition.

Job Purpose / Mandate

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer the Internal Counsel will act as a business and legal partner to the executive team. The individual will be responsible for assessing and improving our overall legal framework and compliance with various laws and regulations.

The individual will play a key role in the development and deployment of our legal documents, contracts, and corporate records. The incumbent will bring vision and passion to the development and execution of contracts and legal agreements. The internal counsel will provide in-house expertise and support to all legal facets of the organization. The team member will be a crucial player in supporting corporate partnerships, mergers and acquisitions.

You have demonstrable talent in implementing high-level, results-oriented legal strategies that support and enhance current operations while taking a comprehensive view of how legal and contract decisions will affect longer-term performance and the overall risk framework. You will have a pro-active approach to developing and maintaining in conjunction with other senior leaders’ efficient and effective legal documents. You view legal as a partner to other business functions that enable them to drive and align business objectives and achieve performance targets. You will manage some work yourself and arrange through outside firms, other projects.

You are able to balance near and longer-term priorities, which support the short and long-term health of the organization. You bring a strong skill set in legal management, an appetite for learning, and the ambition and capabilities to grow with the organization. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a growing organization that is well capitalized and supported by a private equity shareholder.

Duties and Responsibilities

Board Reporting

- Provide meaningful information to management to enable them to make business decisions, track progress and measure performance;

- Attend board meetings, oversee the preparation of minutes of the meetings of the Board and any committees, including tracking action items and Board workplans

- Provide timely legal updates to the Board identifying key business risks; and

- Support assembly of meaningful packages and information to the Board of Directors.

 Legal Framework

- Own the development of the company’s legal framework applying a team oriented cohesive approach with all company stakeholders, balancing business risks with contractual information;

- You will outline and complete an ongoing review of our standard legal documentation and make updates to support business growth and pursuits in new markets;

- You will support the business in ensuring that business agreements are well documented, and arrangements are appropriately captured; Draft, review and negotiate contracts with customers, suppliers, and other third parties, including rental contracts, leases, NDA’s, and M&A documents; and

- Support the Company in any transaction related activity including acquisition of portfolio accounts, new business lines as well as larger scale acquisition activity, including financial due diligence.

Member of the Senior Management Team

- Function as a legal partner to the executive team supporting operations, business development, sales, and corporate functions;

- Assess and improve business strategies and oversee their execution;

- Provide recommendations for procedural and structural improvements;

- Ensure smooth operations of the company through legal support provided by you and outside legal firms to the Company; and\Accountable for ensuring rapid action is initiated when faced with urgent challenges or issues, mitigate any potential risks, and ensure that the Leadership Team is kept informed.

Accountable for ensuring rapid action is initiated when faced with urgent challenges or issues, mitigate any potential risks, and ensure that the Leadership Team is kept informed.

Knowledge and Skills

- JD/LLB, and member is good standing of the Ontario Law Society and ability to work in Canada on a permanent basis;

- A minimum of 7 years professional experience;

- Experience within the context of a variety of industries and companies with the ability to quickly grasp new concepts, office cultures and systems;

- Experience with the Consumer Protection Act;

- Experience with presenting clearly and concisely complex information;

- Ability to analyze complex issues, diagnose multi-dimensional problems, and devise appropriate recommendations; and

- In depth practical and relevant knowledge and experience.

- Dynamic, with a true entrepreneurial spirit along with practical corporate controls and processes, a passion for growth, and equipped to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

- Personal contributor, having the strong desire and energy to roll-up their sleeves and make things happen.

- Expresses thoughts, ideas, and vision in a clear and compelling manner both written and orally.

- Analytical and practical approach/mindset.

- Ability to lead and motivate teams to produce quality work within tight deadlines while multitasking.

- Exceptional planning and execution, with the ability and confidence to have candid discussions and feedback with peers.