Location:
Dublin, IE
Company: Canada Life Group Services
Description:
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Role Overview
What you will need to have / to be for success in the role
Key Competencies
CLGS supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Full Time Permanent position
Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
Hybrid role based in our City Centre offices
What we offer
We have embraced a hybrid working model for most of our positions, which means that you can enjoy a balanced approach of working from home for part of the week and working from the office for the remainder of the week.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including competitive salaries and bonuses, robust Learning and Development support, excellent Defined Contribution pension and comprehensive Wellbeing initiatives and support to name but a few.
Role Overview
We are seeking an experienced, strategic and commercially minded Head of Legal to lead and manage the legal function of our reinsurance operations.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for providing legal advice across all areas of the business, managing legal risk and supporting strategic initiatives, transactions and corporate governance matters. The successful candidate will play a key role in advising the executive team and interfacing with regulators, clients, opposing counsel and other stakeholders.
As Head of Legal, you will have responsibility for leading a high-performing global team through the coordination of functional and business activities to support the delivery of Canada Life Reinsurance (CLRe)’s ambitions for revenue generation, operational effectiveness and talent management.
The role reports to the CEO of CLRe with dotted line reporting to the SVP Global Corporate Transactions.
This role requires a combination of strong leadership, business acumen and excellent analytical skills. The individual will have a growth mindset and strong emotional intelligence with the ability to adapt to changing priorities as they arise.
This is a permanent role and will involve international travel. The role may be based in Ireland, Canada or the U.S.
What you will help us to achieve
Legal Leadership and Strategy
- Lead the team to fulfil the strategic mandate while providing legal guidance to the executive team
- Translate the business strategy and vision into tangible deliverables that are cascaded down to the team
- Advise on legal aspects of company strategy, operations, and risk management within reinsurance
- Act as a key legal advisor on reinsurance transactions, contracts and business development initiatives
- Maintain a strong, collaborative network across CLRe’s global operations
- Support process improvement initiatives across all locations
Contracting and Transactions
- Ensure contracts are written to preserve the rights of the company given the desired outcome of the pricing and marketing teams
- Work with legal and treaty staff to discuss any issues that arise regarding existing contracts
- Work with business development teams to develop new contracts based on terms agreed and prepare legal documents that properly bind the business intentions of the team
Legal and Compliance Team Leadership
- Ensure the company’s vision and values are communicated regularly and continue to guide the behaviours of the team
- Develop and enhance the operational effectiveness of the team with a focus on accountability and empowerment
- Manage the complexities of a hybrid office environment placing importance on effective leadership, communication, openness and in-person collaboration
- Oversee day to day operations of the team ensuring workload is distributed appropriately
- Ensure appropriate frameworks are in place to enhance the long-term sustainability of the function including succession planning and resource planning to meet the future needs of the business
- Develop, mentor and coach team members to reach their full potential
- Ensure that brilliant basics are in place in all facets of the business
- Challenge the status quo in the matrix environment and identify opportunities to streamline inefficiencies
- Oversee performance management and bonus discussions with continuous two-way feedback
- Oversee any international opportunities to support strategic initiatives and business growth
Dispute Resolution
- Manage and resolve legal disputes, litigation, and arbitration
- Primary point of contact and advisor for any potential legal disputes arising within the company
- Coordinate with Claims, Underwriting and Finance departments regarding legal/compliance matters
- Lead and manage external counsel relationships and determine when external legal advice is required
Governance and Risk
- Support the Board of Directors and executive team on corporate governance and legal risk
- Oversee corporate secretarial matters, including board minutes, filings and statutory records
- Identify and manage legal risks across the business and develop risk mitigation strategies
- Promote a culture of compliance and ethical standards across the organisation
Compliance
- Lead the Compliance Function for the Division in accordance with the compliance mandate
- Provide independent oversight of all Compliance activities through implementing, maintaining and overseeing the Regulatory Compliance Management (RCM) Framework in line with OSFI Guideline E-13
- Monitor and assess the effectiveness of Regulatory Compliance Management (RCM) controls across our operations
- Advise the senior leadership team and the Lifeco CCO on compliance matters, emerging issues, the effectiveness of controls and regulatory trends impacting the business
- Ensure compliance with relevant insurance, reinsurance, and financial regulatory frameworks (e.g. Solvency II, local insurance laws, sanctions, anti-bribery laws etc.)
- Offer guidance and constructive challenge to the business, promoting a strong risk culture
- Manage the relationship with regulators and ensure timely reporting and engagement as necessary
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment with Lifeco’s compliance strategy and risk appetite
- Ensure all entities are properly licensed to enter all contracts - includes review and licensing of new jurisdictions
- Ensure all entity board meetings comply with internal and external governance processes
- Work with HR to reply to any compliance related complaints (internal or external)
Other
- Discharge such other duties as may be required from time to time by the Board
- Prepare and present insightful, concise management reporting to enable the Board and its Committees to discharge their responsibilities effectively
- Represent the business in third party interactions with regulators, government and business partners
- Represent CRS at industry meetings where legal topics are discussed (e.g. ACLI, NAIC)
What you will need to have / to be for success in the role
o Qualified solicitor or barrister
o Minimum of 15 yrs PQE working in financial services specifically life assurance, pensions or reinsurance market, ideally international experience (reinsurance experience preferred)
o Experience of M&A, structured financing and asset transactions
o Strong knowledge of financial services sector, PRA/FCA/CBI regimes and US reinsurance regulation
o Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) with strong networking skills
o Experience in a senior leadership role dealing with clients and stakeholders
o Experience dealing with complex financial statements and/ or risk management on complex business
o Excellent analytical skills with the ability to process information quickly
o Experience in a regulated role and presenting at committee and Board level
o Experience of leading a complex and multi-functional team in a matrix environment
o Financial qualification beneficial
o Minimum of 15 yrs PQE working in financial services specifically life assurance, pensions or reinsurance market, ideally international experience (reinsurance experience preferred)
o Experience of M&A, structured financing and asset transactions
o Strong knowledge of financial services sector, PRA/FCA/CBI regimes and US reinsurance regulation
o Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) with strong networking skills
o Experience in a senior leadership role dealing with clients and stakeholders
o Experience dealing with complex financial statements and/ or risk management on complex business
o Excellent analytical skills with the ability to process information quickly
o Experience in a regulated role and presenting at committee and Board level
o Experience of leading a complex and multi-functional team in a matrix environment
o Financial qualification beneficial
o Strong emotional intelligence and a high level of self-awareness
o Strategic thinker who welcomes diversity of thought and challenges the status quo
o Creative and pragmatic problem solver
o Acts with integrity and upholds the highest ethical standards, consistently demonstrating honesty, accountability, and sound judgment in decision-making and professional interactions.
o Displays tenacity and professional courage, consistently pushing through challenges, making tough decisions when needed, and standing up for what’s right—even in the face of resistance or uncertainty.
o Influential and forward-thinking, with a proven ability to drive positive, sustainable change across teams and functions.
o Strategic thinker who welcomes diversity of thought and challenges the status quo
o Creative and pragmatic problem solver
o Acts with integrity and upholds the highest ethical standards, consistently demonstrating honesty, accountability, and sound judgment in decision-making and professional interactions.
o Displays tenacity and professional courage, consistently pushing through challenges, making tough decisions when needed, and standing up for what’s right—even in the face of resistance or uncertainty.
o Influential and forward-thinking, with a proven ability to drive positive, sustainable change across teams and functions.
Key Competencies
Drive Business Growth & Resilience - Focus on areas of growth, applying an enterprise mindset and considering the external environment to seize emerging opportunities and address challenges.
Stakeholder Focused - Considers key stakeholder needs, to make timely decisions that drive superior and sustainable business and financial results.
Develop High Performing Teams - Build a diverse winning team through role modeling authentic leadership and creating an inclusive environment where people can thrive.
Build Collaborative Relationships - Able to foster relationships which encourages diversity of thought, and facilitates cooperation that improves customer and business outcomes.
Deliver Performance and Value - Leads with operational excellence to most efficiently and effectively drive the delivery of results.
Lead The Way Forward - Inspire a vision, articulate meaningful expectations and clear pathways to desired outcomes. Quickly adapts to new realities even in the face of ambiguity and uncertainty.
About us
Canada Life Reinsurance (CLRe) is a division of Great-West Lifeco Inc. (Lifeco) and a leading provider of client focused reinsurance solutions in the United States, Europe and, more recently, Asia. CLRe offers a range of innovative risk and capital management solutions covering mortality, longevity, health, lapse and investment risk for insurers, reinsurers, and pension funds. CLRe is continuing to expand the reinsurance solutions it offers to new and existing clients in many global markets.
CLRe has offices in Dublin, Toronto, Philadelphia, Bermuda, Barbados, and Regina. We are comprised of approximately 390 reinsurance professionals, including 110 actuaries and trainee actuaries generating C$900M earnings per year.
At CLRe we offer a collaborative, open and friendly environment where high performance and hard work are recognised and rewarded. We have created an environment where diversity of thought and perspective is embraced and where everyone can bring their full selves to work and feel valued, respected and supported to reach their full potential.
Lifeco and its companies have approximately $2.8 trillion in consolidated assets under administration.
As a Company we are committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace where employees can thrive and reach their full potential.
The company reserves the right to draw up a shortlist as part of the selection process. Where Agency assistance is required the Canada Life Recruitment Team will engage directly with suppliers. Unsolicited CVs / profiles supplied to Canada Life Reinsurance by Recruitment Agencies will not be accepted for this role.
Canada Life Group Services is proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. We have created an environment of inclusion and growth to help people achieve their potential, to ensure they can bring their whole selves to work and to feel valued. We celebrate diversity of thought and perspective and want all of our employees to feel valued, respected and supported. We have built a culture that promotes equality and inclusion for all of our current and future employees and strive to ensure that our behaviours, processes and practices are aligned to this culture.
If you require any accommodations during the recruitment process please contact Lifecareers@irishlife.ie and we will be delighted to ensure you are fully supported to be your best.
CLGS supports Equal Opportunity and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.