Senior Legal Counsel

Woodside Energy; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 210,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

18 weeks paid parental leave

Commitment to ongoing development

Relocation assistance

Competitive remuneration package

Job summary

A leading energy company is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to provide strategic legal and commercial advice for their Beaumont New Ammonia Project in Houston, Texas. This role involves managing legal risks, negotiating contracts, and maintaining relationships with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have at least 8 years of legal experience, ideally in energy or infrastructure, and be licensed to practice law in the United States. The position offers competitive remuneration and a supportive work environment.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of legal experience, ideally in energy or infrastructure sectors.
• Experience in negotiating, drafting, and managing contracts.
• Strong legal judgment and commercial acumen.
• Licensed to practice law in the United States (Texas preferred).

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal advice for Beaumont New Ammonia Project.
• Negotiate and draft agreements for project governance.
• Manage relationships with senior stakeholders and external counsel.
• Identify emerging risks and propose pragmatic legal solutions.
• Support project structuring, commercial arrangements and negotiations with suppliers.
• Ensure agreements comply with Woodside governance, authority delegations and laws.
• Oversee external counsel to ensure timely, cost-effective delivery.

Skills

Practicing law with minimum 8 years of experience

Strong experience supporting major capital projects

Deep transactional legal experience

Excellent oral and written communication

Strong interpersonal skills

Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects

Education

Licensed to practice law in the United States

Job description

Overview

The Senior Legal Counsel will join the Houston-based legal team to provide strategic legal and commercial advice to Woodside’s Beaumont New Ammonia Project (BNA), supporting the project through development and operations. The position will partner closely with business unit leadership, and commercial, contracting, finance, and operations teams to manage legal risk and support the successful integration and operations of a large-scale energy transition project. This position reports to the Managing Counsel, Legal. This role is based in Houston, Texas and may require occasional domestic travel.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the lead legal focal point for BNA, providing strategic legal advice to business unit leadership across project governance activities, development and operations, including design and construction arrangements, shot and long-term supply and feedstock agreements for ammonia production, utilities agreements, infrastructure and services agreements and other commercial arrangements supporting BNA.
• Negotiate and draft agreements in support of the above, leading transactions for legal and working closely with commercial and procurement teams to ensure appropriate allocation of legal and commercial risk.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders across business unit, commercial, finance, and operational teams, acting as a trusted advisor and key point of contact for legal matters relating to BNA.
• Engage with business unit leadership to identify and stay ahead of emerging business and legal risks and proactively identify pragmatic solutions.
• Support project structuring, commercial arrangements and negotiations with suppliers, contractors, and strategic partners.
• Ensure all agreements are negotiated and executed in accordance with Woodside governance processes, delegations of authority, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Management of external counsel to ensure timely and cost-effective delivery of legal services.

Skills and Experience

• Practicing law with minimum 8 years of experience, ideally combining major law firm and/or in-house legal experience within the energy, infrastructure, chemicals, or industrial sectors. Industrial gas sector experience would be an advantage but is not essential.
• Strong experience supporting major capital projects, including development and construction of large-scale infrastructure or energy projects.
• Deep transactional legal experience, with strong commercial acumen and legal judgment.
• Experience negotiating, drafting and managing contracts.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to provide concise, practical advice.
• Responsibility for budget/cost center management.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player who works effectively with others at all levels and in all disciplines in a team environment who is also capable of working autonomously and managing their own workflow effectively.
• Licensed to practice law in the United States (Texas preferred but not essential).
• Residence in Houston with right to work in the United States.

Applications close at 11:59pm CST on April 2, 2026

Click APPLY to submit your application

Please note Woodside Energy will only accept direct candidate applications. We do not accept applications from Recruitment Agencies.

What We Offer

• Recognition and Reward
• Commitment to your ongoing development, including on-the-job opportunities, formal programs and coaching
• Industry-leading 18 weeks paid parental leave for primary carer, and maintenance of superannuation or retirement benefits at the current rate during any period of unpaid parental leave for up to 24 months (plus secondary carer leave entitlements)
• Values led culture with a focus on creating a psychologically and physically safe work environment
• Active employee-led working groups driving initiatives to build an inclusive culture
• Community volunteering opportunities
• Relocation assistance (if required)
• A competitive remuneration package featuring performance-based incentives

Woodside is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce culture, which is supported by our Values. Our aim is to attract, develop and retain a truly diverse and high-performing workforce.

Diversity encompasses various differences, including but not limited to differences in age, nationality, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, intersex status, gender identity or expression, relationship status, disability, neurodiversity, veteran status, cultural background, thinking styles, experience, family background, including caregiving commitments, and education. Inclusion centers on all employees creating a climate of respect, trust and belonging, where people feel enabled to be their best and authentic version of themselves.

We offer supportive pathways for all employees to grow and develop leadership skills. We encourage applications from Indigenous Peoples and those seeking a more flexible working environment, including part-time opportunities.