Assistant General Counsel

Port of Portland; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The Port of Portland is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to partner with our Legal Department on contracts and procurement activities that drive regional progress. You will draft, negotiate, and advise on complex agreements spanning construction, professional services, goods and services, and technology within a public agency framework.

You will lead cross‑functional initiatives, improve contracting processes, and provide practical legal counsel to senior leaders while ensuring compliance

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible legal experience.
• 5+ years of leadership, supervisory, and advisory experience.
• Experience with complex contracting and procurement, including construction, professional services, goods and services, technology, or other commercial‑style agreements, strongly preferred.
• Expertise in legal operations and innovation, contract lifecycle management and process improvement preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior‑level legal counsel throughout the procurement process, including sourcing, solicitation strategy, RFPs, awards, protests, and contract administration.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements across construction, professional services, goods and services, technology, licensing, and intergovernmental contracting.
• Develop practical legal strategies that balance risk, operational needs, and organizational goals.
• Advise business leaders and senior executives on complex legal issues, risk assessments, legal interpretations, and organizational recommendations.
• Lead special legal initiatives and cross‑functional projects requiring senior‑level legal judgment.
• Provide legal guidance on public agency requirements, policies, and other matters affecting Port operations.
• Support the Deputy General Counsel in improving legal workflows, technology, playbooks, policies, and other tools that strengthen how the Legal Department serves the Port.
• Lead departmental and cross‑functional initiatives, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Legal research

Analytical thinking

Communication

Leadership

Stakeholder mgmt

Problem solving

Education

JD, accredited law school

Job description

The Port of Portland is hiring an Assistant General Counsel!

At the Port of Portland, the work we do moves our region forward. Our Legal Department plays an important role in making that work possible. This team provides practical, thoughtful legal guidance while helping the Port manage risk, navigate public-sector requirements, and deliver on its mission of shared prosperity.

As Assistant General Counsel, you’ll be a hands‑on legal partner focused on the contracts and procurement work at the heart of the Port’s operations. You’ll dig into the details of complex agreements, draft and negotiate terms, advise on solicitations and public contracting requirements, and work alongside business partners to find solutions that work. The work spans construction, professional services, goods and services, technology, and other commercial‑style agreements, all within the unique legal landscape of a public agency. In addition, you’ll continuously look to improve and streamline Port contracting processes, including creating toolkits, playbooks and incorporating technology solutions.

This is a role for a lawyer who likes getting into the details: reading the fine print, asking the right questions, spotting issues, and turning complexity into clear, workable agreements. You’ll join a highly collaborative Legal Department and work closely with Port teams and senior leaders to deliver practical legal counsel and continuously improve how we contract.

Contracting & Procurement

• Provide senior‑level legal counsel throughout the procurement process, including sourcing, solicitation strategy, RFPs, awards, protests, and contract administration.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements across construction, professional services, goods and services, technology, licensing, and intergovernmental contracting.
• Develop practical legal strategies that balance risk, operational needs, and organizational goals.

Legal Counsel & Strategy

• Advise business leaders and senior executives on complex legal issues, risk assessments, legal interpretations, and organizational recommendations.
• Lead special legal initiatives and cross‑functional projects requiring senior‑level legal judgment.
• Provide legal guidance on public agency requirements, policies, and other matters affecting Port operations.

Legal Operations & Collaboration

• Support the Deputy General Counsel in improving legal workflows, technology, playbooks, policies, and other tools that strengthen how the Legal Department serves the Port.
• Lead departmental and cross‑functional initiatives, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement.

Education & Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, with demonstrated expertise across relevant legal practice areas.
• 5+ years of leadership, supervisory, and significant advisory experience.
• Experience with complex contracting and procurement, including construction, professional services, goods and services, technology, or other commercial‑style agreements, strongly preferred.
• Expertise in legal operations and innovation, contract lifecycle management and process improvement preferred.

License & Certification

• License to practice law in the State of Oregon.

Demonstrated Skills & Abilities

• Advanced contract drafting and negotiation, legal research, analytical, problem‑solving, communication, negotiation, and judgment skills.
• Ability to provide practical, solutions‑oriented legal guidance and influence decisions across a complex organization.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage competing priorities, resources, and deadlines in a high‑stakes public‑sector environment.
• Strong relationship‑building skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with internal departments, external agencies, partners, and stakeholders.
• Experience identifying and executing on opportunities to improve legal or business processes, technology, and ways of working.

Working Conditions

The Port supports a flexible hybrid work schedule, with work performed in both office and remote environments based on business needs. Regular in‑office work is required; currently, members of the Legal Department are expected to work onsite Tuesday through Thursday, with flexibility to work remotely on other days.

Selection Process (dates subject to change):

1. A minimum qualification evaluation of education, training, and experience of submitted application packets will take place by Human Resources the week of October 19th.

2. A Subject Matter Expert (SME) Panel will perform an evaluation of experience and training taken from your employment application materials including any responses to the supplemental questionnaire.

3. Our goal is to schedule initial remote screening interviews with candidates that successfully passed the SME evaluation week of October 26th. Successful candidates will then be invited to in‑person panel interviews the week of November 2nd.