Senior Counsel

Pedernales Electric Cooperative; Johnson City (TN); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Job summary

Pedernales Electric Cooperative seeks a senior in-house counsel to provide comprehensive legal guidance to the General Counsel, management, and staff. The role focuses on contracts, regulatory compliance, and governance across power supply, operations, and financing matters.

The attorney will lead strategic legal planning, support facilities and real estate matters, and supervise outside counsel while ensuring ethics and compliance across the organization.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited school required.
• Licensed to practice law in Texas (active status).
• Minimum ten years of legal practice experience requested.
• Strong record of contract negotiation and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage internal legal strategy for contracts, regulations and governance.
• Manage real estate matters and facilities-related legal issues.
• Draft, review, and negotiate legal documents and policies.
• Provide risk analysis and advisory to executive leadership and Board.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Legal research

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder communication

Strategic planning

Education

Juris Doctor Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Texas Bar License

Job description

PHYSICAL OFFICE LOCATION: PEC Headquarters - 201 S Ave F, Johnson City, TX 78636

Hybrid Work Options Available

Position Summary

This position is responsible for providing legal advice to the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel, the management team and other employees, as needed.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and manage the internal legal strategy planning for power supply contracts, electricity delivery, operations, tariffs, relationships, regulations and agreements
• Manage and direct real estate matters and physical facilities arrangements
• Assist the General Counsel or Associate General Counsel with researching and responding to legal and governance issues
• Manage and direct legal matters involving facilities, financing, bond and debt obligations
• Manage and direct litigation support in assigned cases, including discovery responses, witness preparation, strategy, mediation, negotiation and resolution
• Serve as back up to the Associate General Counsel
• Research and resolve a broad range of legal issues for management and Cooperative departments
• Provide advice to the management team on legal risks, mitigation options and actions
• Attend and participate in Cooperative and Board of Directors meetings, as needed
• Monitor and maintain awareness of industry legal issues and update management
• Ensure compliance and ethics standards by assisting with administration of Ethics and Compliance Reporting and advising and consulting with the Ethics and Compliance Officer
• Draft and review legal documents, policies and negotiate contracts
• Research and respond to legal inquiries, subpoenas and other requests
• Prepare and present status of Legal Department programs to management and the Board of Directors as required
• Monitor and ensure compliance with ethics and other policies and initiatives
• Coordinate and monitor activities with outside counsel
• Ensure adherence to proper procedures, quality standards, deadlines and proper procedures, correcting errors and problems
• Provide supervision and direction to the administrative staff in the absence of the Associate General Counsel to ensure adherence to proper procedures, quality standards and deadlines
• Supervise employees and provide guidance in handling difficult or complex problems and in resolving escalated complaints or disputes
• Supervise and implement corporate and departmental policies, procedures and service standards in conjunction with management
• Teach and instruct employees in job duties and company policies
• Interpret and communicate work procedures and company policies to staff
• Develop and review operating procedures
• Establish work priorities and activities
• Establish metrics and prepare monthly reports
• Coordinate activities with other departments
• Travel to various Cooperative offices across the service territory
• Maintain the confidentiality of information
• Stay abreast of changes in technology
• Demonstrate regular and prompt attendance
• Performs other related duties as necessary or assigned

Supervisory and/or Leadership Responsibilities

Manage and direct strategic and legal management over assigned subject areas providing direction to other department personnel in assigned subject areas.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of business and management principles including strategic planning, resource allocation, leadership techniques and budgeting
• Knowledge of using computer systems, which may include setting up and using hardware and software programs, entering data or processing information
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations that affect the utility industry
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service
• Skilled in monitoring and managing performance
• Skilled in establishing and communicating performance expectations and metrics
• Skilled in time management
• Skilled in prioritizing and managing changing priorities
• Skilled in anticipating, identifying, analyzing and resolving conflict and problems
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
• Ability to listen and understand information verbally and in writing

Minimum Qualifications - (Education, Experience)

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Juris Doctor Degree
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas
• Ten years of experience practicing law
• Valid Driver’s License

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee may be required to stand; reach with hands and arms, stoop and kneel
• The employee may be required to sit or stand for long periods of time
• The employee may be required to lift, carry, push, pull or move up to 25 pounds
• The employee may be required to travel
• Exempt employees receive a fixed bi-weekly salary to compensate them for all hours worked during each pay period
• This position may be required to work more than 40 hours per week

This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty required of the position given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of management to assign, direct and control the work of employees under supervision. The listing of essential duties and responsibilities shall not be held to exclude other duties that may be assigned based on the needs of the Cooperative.

Position Open Until Filled

Pedernales Electric Cooperative is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.