Job Description

At CN, everyday brings new and exciting challenges. You can expect an interesting environment where you\'re part of making sure our business is running optimally and safely-helping keep the economy on track. We provide the kind of paid training and opportunities that long-term careers are built on and we recognize hard workers who strive to make a difference. You will be able to thrive in our close-knit, safety-focused culture working together as ONE TEAM. The careers we offer are meaningful because the work we do matters. Join us!

Job Summary

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the environment and helping a dynamic company navigate complex legal terrain? CN\'s Counsel, Environment role offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of environmental and health and safety legal matters. As our Counsel, you\'ll provide strategic guidance, legal expertise, and unwavering support to CN\'s U.S. subsidiaries. Collaborate with diverse teams, influence sustainability efforts, and ensure CN remains a responsible corporate citizen. This role isn\'t just about practicing law; it\'s about shaping the future of environmental responsibility within a leading transportation company.

Main Responsibilities

Advise on Legal Questions Relating to Environmental, Health and Safety Law

• Act as the go-to expert, offering invaluable legal counsel to various CN departments, including Environment, Real Estate, Sales and Marketing, and Operations.
• Be the shield against environmental risks stemming from our operations, ensuring CN\'s compliance with environmental regulations.
• Navigate the intricacies of permits, jurisdictional issues, environmental rulemakings, and environmental aspects of corporate and commercial matters.
• Skillfully negotiate cleanup orders with state and federal environmental authorities, safeguarding CN\'s interests.
• Lead in environmental cost recovery and contribution matters, managing external legal counsel.
• Defend CN in both judicial and administrative environmental enforcement actions, demonstrating our commitment to responsibility.
• Support internal environmental compliance audits, promoting a culture of accountability.
• Rapidly respond to CERCLA 104(e) and similar government information requests.
• Play a pivotal role in environmental due diligence for proposed acquisitions and mergers, ensuring a sustainable future.
• Draft template environmental provisions and masterfully negotiate these provisions in various commercial, real estate, and operating agreements.
• Address and resolve OSHA citations and complaints with efficiency and expertise.

Advise Internal Clients and Stakeholders During Emergencies

• Offer critical advice on applicable regulations during emergency situations, ensuring swift and informed decision-making.
• Prepare comprehensive reports for submission to relevant agencies, showcasing CN\'s commitment to transparency.
• Collaborate closely with the Environment team on remediation strategies and actions.

Partner with CN Departments on CN Sustainability Strategy and Public Reporting

• Join forces with CN departments to shape our sustainability strategy and help us achieve our emissions reduction targets.
• Review disclosures and provide invaluable insights.
• Facilitate the exchange of information and data for reporting purposes to relevant individuals across CN, including Sustainability, Public Affairs, and Corporate Secretary.
• Collaborate with internal clients on compliance programs, ensuring we uphold specific regulations with precision.

Working Conditions

Embrace a flexible hybrid schedule, fostering work-life balance by working in the office on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday and remotely on Wednesday and Friday. While minimal travel within the central U.S. is required (10%), be prepared to be available on-call 24/7 to respond to critical incidents.

Requirements

Experience

• Possess a minimum of 5-10 years of hands-on experience handling environmental matters at a prestigious law firm, federal or state prosecuting agency, or in a corporate in-house capacity.
• Valuable experience in environmental litigation and real estate transactions will be considered strong assets.

Education/Certification/Designation

• Hold a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited Law School.
• Maintain active membership in the Bar of a jurisdiction where CN conducts business, with preference given to Illinois or the District of Columbia.

Technical Skills/Knowledge

• Possess a deep understanding of U.S. environmental laws, including state and federal regulations on air and water pollution, solid waste disposal, hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal (RCRA), contaminated site cleanup (CERCLA), leaking underground storage tank (LUST), and wetlands protection and permitting statutes and regulations.
• Familiarity with OSHA regulations and transportation regulations will be considered valuable assets.
• Join us in leading the way toward a greener, more sustainable future. As CN\'s Counsel, Environment, you\'ll be at the heart of our commitment to environmental responsibility and safety excellence. Make your mark in a role that blends legal expertise with environmental stewardship, and help us shape a better world, one strategic decision at a time.

About CN

CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. 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. As the only railroad connecting Canada\'s Eastern and Western coasts with the Southern tip of the U.S. through a 19,500 mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. At CN, we work as ONE TEAM, focused on safety, sustainability and our customers, providing operational and supply chain excellence to deliver results.

CN is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is our policy to fill vacant positions with qualified candidates without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, assuming an individual can perform the essential functions of the job with or without accommodation. Only qualified candidates under consideration will be contacted. Please monitor your email on a regular basis, as communication is primarily made through email.

Canadian National Railway