Senior Legal Counsel

Employment Type: Full-Time Permanent

Location: Calgary, AB

Division/Department: Legal

Available vacancies: 1

About Avmax:

Avmax is a diverse company offering every product and service related to aviation. We have locations, operations, and deployment worldwide.

Our vision at Avmax Group Inc. ("Avmax") is to simplify our customers' aviation needs through dependable, globally integrated services with trusted results. Established in 1976, our locations include: Calgary (HQ) and Vancouver in Canada, Great Falls and Jacksonville in the USA, Nairobi in Kenya, and N'Djamena in Chad.

Avmax offers the following capabilities: Aircraft Leasing, Airline Operations, Avionics, Component Repairs, Engineering, MRO, Paint and Spares. Avmax's engineering division is a Transport Canada authorized Design Approval Organization (DAO). Avmax's maintenance division is a Transport Canada authorized Maintenance Repair Organization (MRO).

Why work at Avmax?

Avmax has a diverse workforce with opportunity for growth and career advancements. We offer competitive compensation and benefit packages, flexibility, work-life balance and a friendly working environment.

We are proud of our work and commitment to create one of the leading workforce, products and services in the Aviation industry.

Reporting

The Senior Legal Counsel reports directly to the General Counsel and is responsible for providing expert legal guidance on complex commercial and transactional matters across the organization, with a primary focus on aircraft purchase and sale, leasing, and related financing transactions.

Core Competencies

• Negotiation
• Transactional document drafting
• Planning and organizing
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Decision making and judgement
• Quality orientation
• Time management
• Creative and innovative thinking
• Teamwork
• Problem Solving
• Accountability and Dependability
• Research and Analysis
• Providing Consultation
• Ethics and Integrity
• Development and Continual Learning

Key Performance Indicators / Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead and manage full-cycle transactional work related to aircraft purchase and sale agreements, operating and finance leases, and related commercial arrangements.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex transaction documents, including purchase agreements, lease agreements, novations, assignments, financing documents, and ancillary agreements.
• Provide strategic legal support to the leasing, sales, and finance teams on structuring transactions to align with business objectives while mitigating legal and commercial risk.
• Manage multiple concurrent transactions across various jurisdictions, ensuring timely execution and closing of deals.
• Coordinate and oversee international transactions, including working with external counsel in multiple foreign jurisdictions and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on cross-border legal issues, including regulatory, tax, and risk considerations associated with global aircraft transactions.
• Liaise with and provide legal support in dealings with aviation regulatory authorities in various jurisdictions, with a particular focus on aircraft registration requirements and ensuring compliance with applicable aviation laws and regulations.
• Develop and maintain standard form agreements, transaction checklists, and internal processes to improve efficiency and consistency in deal execution.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate contractual and transactional risks, and provide practical, business-oriented solutions.
• Ensure compliance with applicable KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements and sanctions regimes in connection with all transactions, including coordination with internal stakeholders and external advisors as necessary.
• Support the company's interests in legal proceedings where required, including disputes arising from commercial or transactional matters.
• Ensure the company's operations comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Provide guidance and direction to legal support staff on transactional matters and documentation processes.
• Source and manage external legal advisors as required for specialized or jurisdiction-specific matters.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, clients, financiers, and counterparties.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Law (LLB) from an accredited Canadian university and current membership with the Law Society of Alberta.
• Strong commercial acumen with deep expertise in transactional and contract law.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex negotiations and manage high-value commercial transactions.
• High level of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
• Excellent analytical thinking, planning, prioritization, and execution skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to perform effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office suite.
• Must have a valid Canadian passport; occasional travel may be required.

Experience

• 7+ years of experience in corporate, commercial, or transactional law.
• Significant experience leading purchase and sale and leasing transactions, ideally within aviation, transportation, or asset-based industries.
• Demonstrated experience managing full-cycle transactions, from term sheet through closing including post-closing support and integration.
• Extensive experience in negotiating commercial agreements.
• Proven experience working on international transactions across multiple jurisdictions, including coordination with foreign counsel.
• Experience in the aviation sector is strongly preferred.
• Experience in aircraft leasing, financing, or structured transactions is considered a strong asset.
• Experience with AI legal tools is considered a strong asset.

Our recruitment commitments:

• We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
• Depending on qualifications, selected candidates may be offered a role at a more appropriate level.
• Avmax Group offers a competitive compensation package including an optimal benefits plan and pension plan.
• Avmax Group Inc. is dedicated to, and prides itself on being an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate and welcome the diversity of all of our employees. Avmax Group Inc. has specific policies in place to prevent discrimination in our hiring practices on the basis of the protected grounds dictated by Canadian legislation. We therefore encourage applications from qualified Aboriginal Canadians, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities and women.
• Avmax will accommodate the needs of applicants with disabilities throughout all stages of selection process. If you need accommodation during the recruitment process, please advise your HR Representative. Information relating to the needs for accommodation measure will be addressed confidentially.
• In order to be in compliance with the law, employees must be legally eligible to work in Canada.