IA Financial Group

Strategic Legal Counsel and Practice Leader, Privacy and Information Security

IA Financial Group$150K — $180K *
Legal & Accounting
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Law degree (LL.B.) with provincial bar membership;
  • Minimum of 15 years of experience in privacy or information security;
  • Strong strategic thinking and business acumen;
  • Ability to influence and build relationships at all levels;
  • Advanced English proficiency for cross-border communication and training;
  • Leadership qualities coupled with excellent organizational skills.
  • Established industry network for trend identification.

Responsibilities

  • Act as a senior legal expert providing strategic vision and advice;
  • Support business areas with legal advice on contracts, M&A, and product development;
  • Lead legal support for incident responses related to cybersecurity and data protection;
  • Monitor and communicate regulatory trends in privacy and information security;
  • Coordinate projects and maintain quality service delivery;
  • Facilitate a community of practice among legal team members;
  • Ensure compliance with legal standards while promoting continuous improvement.

Benefits

  • Flexible group insurance
  • Competitive pension plan
  • Employee share purchase plan
  • Vacation and wellness/personal development days
  • Telemedicine services
  • Employee and family assistance program
  • Access to ergonomic furniture program
  • Performance bonuses
  • Discounts on iA products
  • Supportive hybrid work environment with innovative workspaces.
Full Job Description
Job Description

The Legal Services team is seeking a seasoned legal expert in privacy and information security, including cybersecurity, with strong leadership, excellent organizational skills, and a natural ability to mobilize and influence.

In this strategic role, you will be instrumental in elevating and advancing our practice while keeping the team and the organization at the forefront of emerging developments. The person we are looking for will be called upon to:
  • Act as a key resource within Legal Services, as well as for our partners and Senior Management;
  • Provide strategic legal and business guidance on privacy and information security to all sectors of the organization to support key decision-making and advance the organization's vision in a context of innovation and transformation.


What you'll accomplish with us

As Strategic Legal Counsel, Privacy and Information Security, you will be called upon to:
  • Act as a senior legal expert and provide a market-aligned strategic vision to the team and our partners in the relevant areas of expertise;
  • Provide strategic legal advice to business areas, including mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts, sales and product development, distribution, technology, human resources, crisis management, and data-driven business strategies;
  • Develop a global and forward-looking understanding of the organization's legal needs in your areas of expertise and contribute to the development of strategic initiatives;
  • Lead and coordinate legal support for incident response, including cybersecurity, fraud, and data protection matters, in collaboration with internal teams, Senior Management, and external experts;
  • Monitor, analyze, and proactively communicate emerging legislative and regulatory trends in privacy and information security;
  • Provide legal support for the implementation, review, and updating of policies, standards, guidelines, and programs in collaboration with governance and risk management teams;
  • Harmonize Canadian and U.S. legal approaches in collaboration with the relevant legal counsel;
  • Work closely with other Practice Leaders within Legal Services, including Contracts and Innovation, to ensure cross-functional alignment;
  • Actively participate in industry meetings and forums related to your areas of expertise.


As Practice Leader, you will also be responsible for:
  • Serving as the primary point of contact for key partners to support quality, efficiency, and consistency in the delivery of services under your responsibility;
  • Overseeing and coordinating projects involving multiple team members;
  • Establishing, facilitating, and maintaining a community of practice, such as technical meetings, DMS initiatives, and forums;
  • Influencing and promoting best practices across internal teams;
  • Coaching and developing team members while fostering teamwork and knowledge sharing;
  • Ensuring compliance with legal processes, standards, and guidelines while contributing to continuous improvement.


What could accelerate your success in this role

We are looking for someone who:
  • Holds a law degree (LL.B.), is a member in good standing of a provincial bar, and has a minimum of 15 years of experience in privacy, information security, or related fields;
  • Is recognized for strategic thinking, strong business acumen, and the ability to tackle complex issues head-on;
  • Demonstrates a proven ability to influence, mobilize, and build trusted relationships at all levels of the organization;
  • Maintains a strong industry network that enables them to identify emerging trends and market practices and stay ahead of developments;
  • Demonstrates natural leadership, excellent organizational skills, and strong autonomy;
  • Stands out through interpersonal skills, collaboration, and professional rigor;
  • Has an advanced level of English proficiency, as the role requires interacting with and training colleagues, including managers and senior leaders, particularly on cybersecurity-related matters, across offices in Canada and the United States. As the successful candidate will play a key role in harmonizing our Canadian and U.S. approaches, this requirement is essential.


Why you'll love working with us
  • A work environment where learning and development merge with a collective pursuit of excellence;
  • Artificial intelligence is in everyone's hands, empowering employees to increase their personal effectiveness while supporting organizational growth;
  • A healthy, safe, equitable, and inclusive environment where potential can be freely expressed and developed;
  • The opportunity to work in a hybrid environment, supported by flexibility and access to inspiring and innovative workspaces.


Competitive benefits
  • Flexible group insurance
  • Competitive pension plan
  • Employee share purchase plan
  • Vacation and wellness/personal development days
  • Telemedicine
  • Employee and family assistance program
  • Ergonomic furniture program
  • Performance bonus
  • Discounts on iA products
  • And much more!


Apply now and get ahead of your career, where your talent truly belongs!

Still unsure about applying?

At iA, we believe in potential and value diverse experiences. If this role inspires you, go ahead and apply. Your place might be with us, and we want to get to know you!

Location(s)
Quebec / 1080, Grande Allee West

Other Possible Location(s)
Montreal / 1981 McGill College Avenue

Company

iA Financial Group

Posting End Date
2026-09-29

About IA Financial Group

IA Financial Group is a Canadian insurance and financial services company. The company offers a wide range of products and services including life and health insurance, mutual funds, securities, auto and home insurance, mortgages, and loans. IA Financial Group has been in business for over 125 years and has over 5,500 employees. The company is committed to sustainability and has been recognized for its efforts in this area. IA Financial Group is also committed to giving back to the community and has a strong corporate social responsibility program.
Learn more about IA Financial Group
Size
5,500 employees
Industry

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