Attorney 3/4

N3B Los Alamos; Los Alamos (NM); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with employer matching

Medical, dental, vision coverage

Paid PTO

Job summary

N3B Los Alamos is seeking an experienced in-house counsel to provide comprehensive legal services to the General Counsel and senior management. The role focuses on government contract law, labor and employment matters, and environmental regulatory compliance for a DOE prime contractor.

Responsibilities include drafting and negotiating contracts, guiding regulatory submissions, conducting internal investigations, and ensuring compliance with FAR/DEAR and state laws. U.S.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active NM State Bar or eligible to qualify within six months of hire.
• In-house counsel for a DOE contractor is preferred.
• U.S. citizenship; eligible to obtain security clearance.
• Level 3 requires 5–8 years of related experience; Level 4 requires 9–11 years.

Responsibilities

• Assist in providing legal counsel and guidance to senior management on legal matters relevant to a DOE prime contractor, including federal procurement and government contract law (FAR/DEAR compliance, contract administration, cost allowability, performance risk, constructive change analysis, and contract communications).
• Advise on labor and employment law matters including employee discipline, investigations, terminations, accommodations, wage-hour compliance, and related issues.
• Support environmental regulatory matters applicable to legacy cleanup operations, including permits and regulatory enforcement interactions.
• Anticipate and identify legal issues and counsel management to develop practical, risk-based legal strategies.
• Review, research, interpret, and prepare written and oral legal opinions.
• Draft, review, and revise contracts, policies, procedures, regulatory submissions, and other legal documents.
• Assist in managing outside counsel and legal budgets as directed by the General Counsel.
• Provide training to Company management and staff on government contract compliance, employment law, ethics, and environmental obligations.

Skills

Government contract law

Labor and employment law

Environmental regulatory compliance

Legal counsel to executives

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Regulatory investigations

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Perform legal research, draft legal documents, and assist the General Counsel in providing comprehensive legal services to the Company to ensure maximum protection of its legal rights and to maintain operations within the limits prescribed by law. Provide strategic guidance, consultation, and support to senior management on a broad range of legal matters relevant to a contractor to the U.S. Department of Energy, including government contract law, labor and employment law, environmental regulatory compliance, and related federal, state, and local statutes and regulations. This position operates under the direction of the General Counsel and may serve as N3B Ethics Officer and/or Privacy Officer as designated.

Major Duties & Responsibilities:

Include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in providing legal counsel and guidance to N3B senior management on legal matters relevant to a DOE prime contractor, including federal procurement and government contract law (FAR/DEAR compliance, contract administration, cost allowability, performance risk, constructive change analysis, and contractually significant communications).
• Advise on labor and employment law matters, including employee discipline, workplace investigations, terminations, accommodation issues, wage and hour compliance, workplace conduct matters, and compliance with applicable federal and New Mexico employment laws.
• Support environmental regulatory compliance matters applicable to legacy cleanup operations, including interpretation and application of state and federal environmental statutes, Consent Orders, permit obligations, and regulatory enforcement interactions.
• Anticipate and identify legal issues and counsel management to develop practical, risk-based legal strategies.
• Review, research, interpret, and prepare written and oral legal opinions.
• Draft, review, and revise contracts, policies, procedures, regulatory submissions, and other legal documents.
• Support management and Human Resources in handling employee complaints, labor relations, internal investigations, discipline reviews, and responses to administrative charges or employment-related claims.
• Work closely with the General Counsel in representation of the Company in judicial and administrative proceedings, regulatory enforcement matters, investigations, and negotiations with federal and state agencies.
• Coordinate with project team members to identify customer-related actions or inactions that may result in constructive changes or contract performance impacts.
• Review project correspondence to ensure compliance with the terms of the prime contract and preservation of contractual rights.
• Assist in managing outside counsel and legal budgets as directed by the General Counsel.
• Provide training to Company management and staff on government contract compliance, employment law, ethics, environmental obligations, and related legal risk areas.
• Maintain professional relationships with internal leadership, DOE personnel, regulators, member company legal teams, and other stakeholders.
• Maintain confidentiality of classified, sensitive, and privileged information.
• Perform miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
• Assist in annual budgets for the organization and perform periodic cost and productivity analyses.

Education & Experience:

Juris Doctor from accredited law school. Active membership in good standing in the New Mexico State Bar, or active membership in good standing in another U.S. state or the District of Columbia, with eligibility to qualify within six months of hire and maintain registration as in-house/corporate counsel under NM Supreme Court Rule 15-301.2 (or successor rule).

Level 3:

5 to 8 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. At least 3 years of experience as a senior attorney for a contractor to the U.S. Government. Experience with a U.S. Department of Energy contractor is strongly preferred.

Level 4:

9 to 11 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. At least 3 years of experience as a senior attorney for a contractor to the U.S. Government. Experience with a U.S. Department of Energy contractor is strongly preferred.

U.S. citizenship; no dual citizenship. Ability to obtain and maintain required security clearance.

Knowledge, Skill, & Ability:

• Demonstrated ability to provide competent legal advice on government contract, labor and employment, and environmental regulatory matters.
• Working knowledge of federal procurement law (FAR/DEAR) and DOE contractor regulatory environments.
• Working knowledge of federal and state labor and employment laws, including workplace investigations and employee relations matters.
• Familiarity with environmental regulatory frameworks applicable to federal facilities and legacy cleanup operations.
• Strong analytical, drafting, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly and practically.
• Ability to work independently under the direction of the General Counsel.

BUSINESS ASSOCIATION:

LEVEL 3:Represents organization as a prime contact on contracts or projects. Interacts with senior internal and external personnel on significant matters often requiring coordination between organizations.

LEVEL 4: Serves as consultant to management and special external spokesperson for the organization on major matters pertaining to its policies, plans, and objectives.

IMPACT:

LEVEL 3:Exerts some influence on the overall objectives and long-range goals of the organization. Erroneous decisions or failure to achieve objectives would normally have serious effect upon the administration of the organization.

LEVEL 4:Effects of decisions are long-lasting and heavily influence the future course of the organization. Errors in judgment or failure to achieve results would result in the expenditure of large amounts of company resources.

Additional Qualifications:

• Maintains required safety, security and operational training; assure procedural and regulatory compliance; make safety, security and quality an integral part of every task; including stopping work if job is unsafe or compromises security.
• This position will ensure all activities and operations are performed in a safe and deliberate manner to include protecting the confidentiality and integrity of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).

Benefits and Salary:

N3B offers all full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes 401(k) with employer matching, medical, dental, vision, paid PTO, and more. Starting salary will be commensurate with experience and education.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we do not discriminatebased on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or age.

Newport News Nuclear BWXT Los Alamos (N3B) manages the 10-year, $2.1 billion Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract for the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management, Los Alamos Field Office.

N3B is a limited liability company owned by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) Nuclear and BWX Technologies, joined by our critical subcontractors Longenecker and Associates and Tech2 Solutions.

N3B brings operational discipline, proven approaches, and predictable results to the Los Alamos Legacy Cleanup Contract.