General Counsel

Govig & Associates; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Govig – #1 full-service recruiting firm, is seeking a GENERAL COUNSEL for a commercial General Contractor in Phoenix, AZ. The role leads the internal legal function, advising the President & CEO and executive leadership on contracts, risk, and governance to enable growth.

You will build scalable processes, manage contract reviews, coordinate insurance, oversee outside counsel, and guide employment and compliance initiatives in a fast-paced construction environment.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school with an active license in good standing.
• 10+ years in legal roles with emphasis on construction contracts and risk management.
• Experience reviewing, negotiating, and advising on complex construction and owner agreements.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and influence senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead internal legal operations, build scalable processes, workflows, templates, and reporting.
• Oversee contract review, negotiation, and risk management for construction and professional services agreements.
• Manage outside counsel, budgets, and litigation strategy; coordinate claims and insurance interactions.
• Advise executive leadership on legal matters and support governance, compliance, and HR issues.
• Drive enterprise risk management and develop proactive legal systems across the organization.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Risk management

Legal operations

Executive communication

Leadership

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Active license to practice law

Job description

Ready to build more than legal strategy? Join a people-centric, innovative General Contractor seeking its next General Counsel to create scalable legal processes, advise executive leadership, oversee enterprise risk, and help shape the future of a growing organization where your voice truly matters!

Govig – #1 full-service recruiting firm, your access to the best opportunities available, is looking for a GENERAL COUNSEL for a commercial General Contractor located in Phoenix, Arizona.

ABOUT THE COMPANY. Our client is a well-established commercial construction and development firm with a long history of delivering complex projects across multiple markets. They provide expertise in general contracting, construction management, development, and facilities services while fostering a collaborative, people-first culture that values innovation, accountability, and long-term career growth.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY. The General Counsel serves as the internal legal leader and trusted legal advisor to the President & CEO, corporate leadership, and operating company leaders. This role is responsible for leading the internal legal function, with primary responsibility for legal operations, contract risk management, claims and litigation coordination, insurance interface, outside counsel management, subpoenas, statutory agent coordination, legal files, contract templates, legal intake, and legal process improvement. Responsibilities will include:

• Lead the company's legal operations, building scalable processes, workflows, templates, and reporting that create an efficient, proactive legal function.


• Oversee contract review, negotiation, and risk management for complex construction, development, and professional services agreements while providing practical business-focused legal guidance.


• Manage and improve the contract review process, leveraging technology and best practices to drive consistency, efficiency, and accountability across the organization.


• Direct claims, litigation, and dispute resolution, partnering with internal stakeholders and outside counsel to proactively mitigate risk and resolve legal matters.


• Collaborate with insurance partners to evaluate coverage, support claims strategy, manage contractual risk transfer, and align legal and insurance objectives.


• Manage outside counsel relationships, overseeing legal strategy, budgets, performance, and specialized legal matters while ensuring cost-effective representation.


• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to executive leadership, providing practical counsel that supports business decisions, operational goals, and long-term growth.


• Partner with HR and business leaders on employment matters, ethics, policy interpretation, investigations, and compliance initiatives.


• Oversee legal administration and corporate governance support, including legal records, subpoenas, entity compliance, contract documentation, and governance coordination.


• Drive enterprise risk management, helping leadership identify, evaluate, and mitigate legal and contractual risks while building a proactive legal framework that enables informed business decisions.

WHAT YOU NEED. To be successful in this role the General Counsel will have:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school with an active license to practice law in good standing.


• 10+ years of legal experience, with a strong preference for construction law, construction contracts, litigation, risk management, or insurance-related matters.


• Proven experience reviewing, negotiating, and advising on complex construction, development, professional services, subcontractor, and owner agreements.


• Strong understanding of contract risk provisions, including indemnity, insurance requirements, standard of care, liquidated damages, and risk transfer strategies.


• Experience managing outside counsel, legal budgets, claims, disputes, mediations, arbitrations, and litigation.


• Working knowledge of insurance coverage, claim tendering, additional insured requirements, and coordination with brokers and insurance carriers.


• Demonstrated ability to build, improve, and manage legal operations, contract review processes, and scalable legal systems.


• Practical, business-minded attorney with excellent judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.


• Strong communicator with the executive presence to influence senior leadership and build trusted relationships across all levels of an organization.


• Proactive, collaborative, and highly organized professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys building processes, not just practicing law.