ASSOCIATE COUNSEL / ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL

Southern California Public Power Authority; Glendora (CA); On-site; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) seeks highly qualified applicants for Associate Counsel or Assistant General Counsel to join its Legal team. The successful candidate will handle complex legal matters, report to the General Counsel, and support SCPPA’s energy projects and public agency operations.

The role requires strong analytical, negotiation, and writing skills, with experience in public agency and energy law highly desirable.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited institution.
• Experience in energy/public agency law is highly desirable.
• Active license to practice law in California and good standing with the California State Bar.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to SCPPA Board of Directors, members, Executive Director and staff.
• Advise on compliance with federal, state and local laws and policies.
• Draft, review, negotiate and analyze contracts and project-related agreements.
• Provide legal services regarding SCPPA's energy projects and assets.
• Advise on public agency matters including the Brown Act, Public Records Act, and related laws.
• Draft Board resolutions, policies, and legal memoranda; review agenda materials for legal content.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication

Negotiation

Legal research

Legal writing

Education

Juris Doctor (ABA-accredited)

Job description

The position may be filled at the Associate Counsel or Assistant General Counsel based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and the selection process.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) is seeking highly qualified applicants to join the SCPPA Legal team in the role of Associate Counsel or Assistant General Counsel. The successful candidate will be appointed at the level commensurate with their experience, qualifications, and demonstrated ability to independently handle complex legal matters. This position reports to SCPPA's General Counsel.

ABOUT SCPPA

SCPPA is a joint powers agency, a government agency created in 1980 by Southern California cities and an irrigation district to jointly finance, manage, operate, and own electric generation and transmission projects. SCPPA has twelve member agencies: the cities of Anaheim, Azusa, Banning, Burbank, Cerritos, Colton, Glendale, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Riverside and Vernon, and the Imperial Irrigation District. Together, SCPPA's members serve electricity to more than two million residential and business customers throughout Southern California.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice and services to the SCPPA Board of Directors, SCPPA members, Executive Director and staff.
• Advise on compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and policies.
• Draft, review, negotiate and analyze contracts and project-related agreements, including power purchase agreements, purchase and sale agreements, professional services agreements, goods and services agreements, contract amendments, transmission agreements, interconnection agreements, and other energy-related transactions.
• Provide legal services and advice regarding SCPPA's existing and proposed energy projects and assets.
• Advise on public agency matters, including procurement requirements, the Ralph M. Brown Act, California Public Records Act, conflict of interest laws, and other laws applicable to joint powers authorities and publicly owned utilities.
• Review Board agenda reports and related materials for legal content and draft Board resolutions, policies, legal memoranda, and other legal documents.
• Assist with public records requests and administrative legal matters.
• Collaborate with SCPPA member attorneys, consultants, and outside counsel.
• Advise on transactional, real property, contracting, financing, regulatory, environmental, litigation and other matters affecting SCPPA.
• Represent or serve as counsel to SCPPA at Board, committee and working group meetings, as assigned.
• Attend and participate in professional group meetings; maintain awareness of new trends and developments in the field of energy law; incorporate new developments as appropriate.

For the full scope of duties, please see Job Descriptions, attached.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical, communication, negotiation and legal research and writing skills; exercise sound judgment; manage multiple assignments effectively; and provide practical, timely, ethical, and solution-oriented legal advice. Experience in one or more of the following areas is highly desirable:

• California public agency / municipal law
• Joint Powers Authority law
• Public power / electric utility law
• Energy transactions / power purchase agreements
• Renewable energy / project development
• Public contracting / procurement
• Environmental law/ CEQA
• Real property / leases / easements
• Transmission / interconnection agreements
• Public finance / tax/ regulatory matters

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Associate Counsel - Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited institution. Prior experience with, and demonstrated interest in, energy law and/or public agency law is highly desirable.

Assistant General Counsel - Juris Doctor degree and a minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience practicing law in California, with demonstrated experience independently handling complex transactional, public agency, electric utility, regulatory, or related legal matters.

Required Licenses:Applicants for both Associate Counsel and Assistant General Counsel positions must have an active license to practice law in California and be in good standing with the California State Bar throughout employment.

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.