Deputy General Counsel

Strata Clean Energy; Durham, Northern (NC, KY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision insurance

PTO

401K with company match

Job summary

Strata Clean Energy is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel to report to the General Counsel and collaborate with all business units from Strata’s corporate headquarters in Durham, NC. The role emphasizes closing complex financing transactions, investments, and M&A while supporting project development and EPC activities.

The candidate will lead junior attorneys, manage external counsel, and drive risk management across legal functions in a fast-paced, renewable energy environment.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school with admission to practice.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. state.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience in finance, M&A, or general transactional work.
• Proven ability to lead a legal team and supervise attorneys and paralegals.
• Strong drafting, negotiating, and client communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiations and close corporate and project-level financing transactions.
• Independently evaluate, negotiate, and close investments, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures.
• Assist project development teams in site control, permitting, interconnection, and offtake agreements.
• Assist EPC teams with EPC contract negotiations and related finance/M&A activities.
• Manage junior attorneys in supporting asset management and O&M matters.
• Provide leadership on risk allocation, disputes, real estate matters, licensing, due diligence, and procurement.

Skills

Negotiation

Drafting

Client communication

Project management

Leadership

Team management

Education

JD from accredited law school

U.S. state license to practice law

Job description

Description

Strata Clean Energy ("“Strata”"), as a national developer of solar energy, battery energy storage, data center, and powered land projects, and a multi-state contractor, owner, and operator of solar energy and battery energy storage projects, provides its attorneys with a multi-disciplinary law practice. Strata’s attorneys serve as key members of the organization and assist the General Counsel and members of Strata’s executive and execution teams in executing overall strategic objectives from both legal and business perspectives. Reporting to the General Counsel, this position will work closely with personnel in all of Strata’s business units and departments. The successful candidate, in addition to being an individual contributor, will be expected to assume supervisory and managerial responsibilities for certain functions and resources within the legal department as delegated by the General Counsel.

Summary

We’re leading the industry in sustainable energy careers. We understand that our employees are the lifeblood of the company. We strive to align company goals with those of our employees. We're constantly innovating to make a difference for our customers, our employees, and our planet. Our mission is to make a difference by developing cost-efficient alternatives to traditional energy sources, without long-term dependence on government subsidies. We’re leading the industry in sustainable energy careers. We hope you’ll join us.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work alongside external counsel, and actively lead internal resources, in negotiating, drafting, and closing corporate and project level financing transactions, including project level tax equity and construction, tax equity bridge, and term debt.
• Independently evaluate, negotiate, and close investments, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and similar transactions, including those involving in-service and development-stage projects.
• Assist project development teams in all matters and phases relating to project development, including site control, permitting, interconnection, and offtake agreements.
• Assist EPC teams as needed, particularly with respect to EPC contract negotiations with third parties and in connection with project finance and M&A transactions.
• Manage junior attorneys in supporting matters relating to asset management and O&M teams, including contract negotiation and administration.
• Provide leadership and support relating to any and all legal matters and questions presented to the legal team, such as reviewing and analyzing disputes, assisting on real estate matters, licensing requirements, due diligence requests, RFP reviews and responses, procurement contracts, IT matters, etc.
• Identify, manage, and advise business unit clients and executive management on risk allocation and mitigation.
• Contribute to creating, developing, and implementing processes, procedures, best practices, systems, and controls within the legal department and more broadly, and recommend improvements thereto.
• Stay constantly abreast of current events and developments affecting the renewable energy and data center industries, with particular emphasis on possible impacts to Strata’s business, and help evaluate opportunities and issues relating thereto.
• Bring a positive, energetic, “can-do,” problem-solver attitude to the workplace.
• While close collaboration with external counsel is essential to this position, the successful candidate will be working directly alongside, and not be merely managing or “outsourcing” legal functions to external counsel. The successful candidate is expected to understand the core issues, negotiation points, contracts, and risks as well as external counsel, and is responsible for directing external counsel in a manner so as to achieve Strata’s desired outcomes and fit Strata’s circumstances.

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Current license to practice law in a U.S. state.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience (e.g., finance, M&A, general commercial/transactional work), including significant renewable energy, project development, or infrastructure experience.
• Possess effective drafting, negotiating, and client communication skills to: (a) identify complex legal issues, (b) develop and implement alternative solutions, (c) negotiate independently, and (d) cope with fast-paced and ever-changing relationships.
• Leads by example.
• Demonstrated experience managing or leading a legal department or team, including supervisory attorneys and paraprofessionals.
• Problem-solver with pragmatic approach to satisfactorily address legal issues in relation to commercial objectives.
• Possess effective time management, project management, dispute resolution, and interpersonal skills.
• Creative, adaptable, and independent thinker.
• Strong team player.
• Ability to focus, direct, and manage the efforts of external legal and other resources.
• Quality and execution focused.
• Possess strong leadership qualities to motivate colleagues and clients to drive initiatives to conclusion rapidly and efficiently.

Work Location

• Full-time in-office position at Strata’s corporate headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Work is performed primarily in an office environment.
• Must be able to sit, stand or walk for the entire duration of a workday.

Perks and Benefits

• we offer medical/dental/vision insurance plans, PTO, and 401K with a company matching portion.

About Us

Strata Clean Energy is a leading developer, EPC, and service provider for utility-scale solar and storage systems in the United States. We control and self-perform all processes from our nationwide solar and storage developments, to construction, O&M, and Asset Management.

Our employees are empowered to drive our business in a collaborative, creative, and passion-driven environment that fosters long-term professional growth. There is a lot to learn at Strata, but we’re here to help you give your best and have a good time doing it.

At Strata, you’re part of something big. We’re leading the industry in sustainable energy careers. We are driving innovation to make a difference for our customers, our employees, and our planet. Join us in powering the future.

#LI-MM1

Strata Solar is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Strata Solar is an equal employment and affirmative action employer whereby we do not engage in practices that discriminate against any person employed or seeking employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other status or characteristic protected under applicable law.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.