Counsel

Port of Houston Authority; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Comprehensive benefits

Inclusive work environment

Job summary

Port of Houston Authority is seeking a legal professional to join their team. This role involves providing legal guidance, managing disputes and agreements, and advising on Texas law. The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelor’s degree and a law degree with 3-5 years of in-house or law firm experience. Strong communication skills and a current Texas license to practice law are essential.

Located at the Port Houston Administration Building, this position offers a diverse work environment with opportunities for growth and impact.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years’ experience in-house or at a law firm.
• Current license to practice law in the State of Texas.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements.
• Assist in managing disputes and litigation matters.
• Provide legal advice on Texas procurement law.

Skills

Analytical Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Negotiating Acumen

Planning and Organizational Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Law degree from an accredited law school

Job description

Thank you for considering a career at Port Houston. We appreciate your interest in joining our team. By applying, you are taking an important step toward advancing your career with an organization committed to excellence.

Port Houston offers competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and a diverse, inclusive work environment. Joining our team means embarking on a fulfilling career path with opportunities for growth and impact.

Before submitting your application, please ensure your resume is ready for upload in either .doc or .pdf format. Application must be completed in full.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate General Counsel, this team member will perform a variety of legal and regulatory tasks in support of Port Houston divisions and the Legal department. Provide proactive, business‑oriented legal guidance to support multiple functional teams and serve as a go‑to resource supporting the other members of the Legal department.

Key Responsibilities/Duties

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements, including those with clients, vendors, suppliers, and service providers.
• Assist in managing disputes, claims, and litigation matters, including collaboration with outside counsel and other consultants, strategy development, and resolution efforts.
• Assist with Texas Public Information Act requests.
• Provide substantive legal advice on a range of topics, including Texas procurement law, employment and employee relations matters, risk management, and compliance.
• Communicate effectively with all Port Houston team members, identify and analyze issues, present clear recommendations, and ensure compliance.
• Coordinate with internal and external stakeholders to advance enterprise objectives.
• Support and assist other Legal team members as needed.
• Assist the Chief Legal Officer in support of the Port Commission and its committees and task forces.
• Research legal, governmental, and business matters, formulate opinions and advice, and prepare memoranda on such matters.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree and law degree from an accredited law school required.
• 3-5 years’ experience in‑house or at a law firm.
• Current license to practice law in the State of Texas required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Behaviors

• Ability to develop and sustain strong working relationships with clients and external stakeholders at all levels.
• Knowledge of legal, governmental affairs, and business matters.
• Critical thinking, judgment, and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Solutions‑oriented mindset.
• Client, colleague, and stakeholder service skills.
• Planning and organizational skills.

Key Competencies Required

• Analytical Problem Solving
• Commitment Through Action
• Effective Communication
• Achieving Results
• Negotiating Acumen
• Technical Professional Knowledge
• Supervisor/Leadership Skills

This work site location of this job is:
Port Houston Administration Building

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but due to the open office environment the noise level may occasionally be high.

Only applications submitted through the Port Houston Careers website will be acknowledged. Port Houston is an equal opportunity employer and participates in the E‑Verify program supervised by the U.S. Government.

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this job. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Port Houston is an equal employment opportunity employer. Port Houston’s policy is not to discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Application must be completed in full.