General Counsel, Gas Operations

Aqua America, Inc.; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 260,000 - 340,000; Full time

Job summary

Essential Utilities, Inc. seeks a seasoned General Counsel for Gas Operations to provide strategic legal guidance across regulatory, commercial, and compliance matters affecting gas distribution, transmission, storage, and related activities.

The role partners with leadership to manage litigation, oversee outside counsel, and negotiate broad contracts while ensuring compliance with PA DEP, PUC, FERC, and other agencies. Strong leadership and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance to leadership on legal, regulatory, operational, and business matters affecting gas operations.
• Serve as the lead legal advisor for gas distribution, transmission, storage, construction, engineering, environmental, and operational activities.
• Manage and support litigation matters, including coordination with outside counsel, development of legal strategy, case assessment, and resolution efforts.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of contracts and agreements.
• Advise business leaders on contract interpretation, compliance obligations, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide legal support related to real estate matters, including rights-of-way, easements, property acquisitions, and related transactions.
• Interface with governmental and regulatory agencies (PA DEP, PUC, FERC, etc.).
• Monitor and advise on regulatory developments affecting gas utility operations.
• Develop legal strategies that minimize risk while supporting business objectives.

Skills

Public utility law

Contract law

Litigation management

Regulatory compliance

Real estate matters

Strategic leadership

Analytical thinking

Written/verbal communication

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.The General Counsel, Gas Operations serves as the primary legal advisor for the Company's gas operations and reports directly to the Vice President & General Counsel. This position provides strategic legal counsel and support across a broad range of operational, regulatory, commercial, and compliance matters affecting the gas business. The successful candidate will partner closely with business leaders to support operational objectives, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and proactively identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesProvide legal counsel and strategic guidance to leadership on legal, regulatory, operational, and business matters impacting gas operations.Serve as the lead legal advisor for gas distribution, transmission, storage, construction, engineering, environmental, and operational activities.Manage and support litigation matters, including coordination with outside counsel, development of legal strategy, case assessment, and resolution efforts.Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of contracts and agreements, including construction, engineering, consulting, professional services, vendor, and other commercial agreements.Advise business leaders on contract interpretation, compliance obligations, and risk mitigation strategies.Provide legal support related to real estate matters, including rights-of-way, easements, property acquisitions, and related transactions.Interface with governmental and regulatory agencies, including the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC), Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), and other applicable authorities.Monitor and advise on federal, state, and local regulatory developments affecting gas utility operations.Research, analyze, and interpret complex legal and regulatory issues affecting the utility and energy industry.Develop legal strategies and recommendations that support business objectives while minimizing legal and regulatory risk.Prepare legal memoranda, opinions, correspondence, and other documents as required.Represent the organization in negotiations, regulatory proceedings, and other legal matters.Collaborate with Human Resources and business leadership on employment-related legal matters as needed.Maintain the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and confidentiality.Minimum QualificationsJuris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.Licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience.Minimum of five (5) years of experience supporting utilities, energy companies, infrastructure organizations, or other highly regulated industries.Preferred QualificationsExperience supporting natural gas utilities or energy delivery organizations.Experience with utility regulatory matters involving the PUC, FERC, DEP, PHMSA, or similar regulatory agencies.Experience with construction, engineering, infrastructure, and commercial contracting.Experience in real estate transactions, rights-of-way, easements, and land use matters.Experience managing outside counsel and litigation matters.Experience advising senior executives on strategic and operational legal issues.Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesStrong knowledge of state and federal public utility laws, regulations, and regulatory processes.Strong knowledge of contract law, litigation management, regulatory compliance, and real estate matters.Knowledge of legal and regulatory issues affecting natural gas operations and infrastructure.Ability to solve complex legal matters related to the utility and energy industry.Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively advise executive leadership.Ability to influence and build relationships across all levels of the organization.Ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.Demonstrated commitment to integrity, sound judgment, and ethical legal practice.Essential Utilities, Inc., is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.Essential Utilities is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationshipFamily members cannot work in the same department.