Counsel Environment & Indigenous Affairs

Main Responsibilities

Advise on Legal Questions Relating to Indigenous and Environmental Law

• Provide strategic legal advice to internal clients across CN (including Environment and Indigenous Affairs, Real Estate, P&SM, Sales and Marketing, and Business Development), and collaborate with other members of CN's Legal team

• Review documentation and conduct legal research and analysis to develop informed recommendations and legal opinions

• Engage and liaise with external counsel, as appropriate, to obtain specialized legal advice.

• Draft and review a variety of internal and external legal correspondence and related materials

• Advise on permitting strategies for construction and customer projects, jurisdictional considerations (provincial and federal), capacity expansion initiatives, emerging regulatory requirements, and related corporate, commercial, and real estate matters

• Support the objectives of CN's Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan and provide legal advice on all Indigenous law matters, including historical and legacy issues

Manage and Collaborate with External Counsel

• Consult and coordinate with CN counsel responsible for litigation, regulatory, and commercial law matters to ensure alignment of legal strategy

• Gather, review, and organize relevant facts and documentation in support of litigation and advisory files

• Identify and coordinate witnesses and participate in meetings related to legal proceedings and investigations

• Provide input and advice on legal strategies in consultation with internal and external stakeholders

• Instruct, manage, and oversee external counsel to ensure effective delivery of legal services

Advise Internal Clients and Stakeholders During Emergencies

• Provide timely legal advice on applicable regulatory requirements during emergency situations (e.g., derailments, blockades)

• Advise on reporting obligations to regulatory authorities and Indigenous communities

• Communicate mandates to consultants and collaborate closely with internal teams on remediation and response activities

Partner with CN Departments on Public Reporting

• Review environmental and sustainability disclosures to support accuracy, compliance, and risk mitigation

• Provide legal input, information, and data to relevant internal stakeholders, including Sustainability and Corporate Secretary teams, for public reporting purposes

• Collaborate with internal clients on compliance programs, including internal reviews of compliance with specific environmental and Indigenous regulatory requirements

Working Conditions

The role has standard working conditions in an office environment with a regular workweek from Monday to Friday. The role requires minimal travel (10%) mainly within Canada. The role requires being available to provide legal advice to CN employees responding to critical incidences, which may occur during evenings or on weekends.

Requirements

Experience

Environmental and Indigenous Law
• Minimum 10 years of experience with environmental and Indigenous law
o Previous experience in CN's Legal Department
Any experience for these above would be considered as an asset

Education/Certification/Designation

• Bachelor's Degree in Law in a related field
• Member of the Barreau du Quebec or another provincial bar

Competencies

• Shares timely information within and across functions to get things done effectively
• Collaborates with key internal stakeholders to enable higher productivity
• Fosters diverse representation, and diversity of thought and experience as a strategic advantage
• Inspires others with impactful communications and adapts to the audience
• Makes well-informed, timely decisions to advance work objectives
• Influences by translating expertise into practical business outcomes
• Deals with pressure and change by staying calm to quickly adapt to changing circumstances
• Fluently bilingual both written and verbal (English, French)
• Political acumen

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Environmental and aboriginal laws in Canada
• Legal regulatory environments (federal and provincial in Canada)
• Constitutional law
• Transportation regulations
Any knowledge for any of the above would be considered as an asset

About CN
CN is a premium railroad that sustainably generates value for our customers, shareholders, employees, and stakeholders with an unwavering commitment to safety and service. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. CN's network connects Canada's Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 20,000-mile rail network. CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN powers the North American economy and is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship.
At CN, we are dedicated to building North America's safest, most inclusive and sustainable railroad, which includes reflecting the communities in which we operate. Research shows that candidates often don't apply unless they feel they fit the job posting at 100%. To all potential applicants, even if you don't meet every job requirement listed in a posting, we still encourage you to apply. If you require an accommodation for the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials, accessible meeting rooms or other accommodations), please get in touch with our team at cnrecruitment@cn.ca.
As an equal opportunity employer, qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.
Please monitor your email on a regular basis as communication to applicants is done via email.

Client-provided location(s): Varennes, Canada

Job ID: CN-16850

Employment Type: OTHER

Posted: 2026-04-11T18:45:18