Senior Regulatory Counsel - Gas & Power

TotalEnergies; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

TotalEnergies is seeking a regulatory attorney for TGPNA in Houston to guide legal and regulatory aspects of trading across gas, LNG, dry bulk, and power markets. You will collaborate with Compliance, Legal, and ISO teams to manage risk and ensure regulatory adherence in a fast-paced environment.

Required: JD, bar admission in the U.S. and 6–8+ years in energy trading law; deep knowledge of FERC/CFTC rules, NGA, FPA, and ISO/RTO markets.

Qualifications

• J.D. with bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; Texas or New York preferred.
• 6–8+ years of relevant legal experience in energy trading and marketing.
• Strong knowledge of FERC and CFTC rules and energy trading regulations.
• Experience advising on Natural Gas Act, Federal Power Act, and ISO/RTO rules.

Responsibilities

• Serve as SME on regulatory and compliance matters affecting trading and marketing.
• Provide strategic regulatory guidance to Market, Operational, Legal, and ISO teams.
• Support new product approvals by identifying regulatory considerations.
• Analyze and communicate the impact of evolving regulations on operations.
• Develop, implement policies and controls to promote regulatory compliance.
• Deliver training programs on regulatory obligations and industry practices.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and regulatory advisors.
• Monitor regulatory developments and advise on risk and opportunities.

Skills

Regulatory compliance

Legal analysis

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Undergraduate degree

Job description

Contexte et environnement

This role operates within the volatile and highly regulated U.S. energy trading markets, where success requires navigating a complex legal and regulatory landscape. The legal aspects of the energy trading business are sophisticated, technical, and multifaceted, demanding strong analytical skills and sound judgment. The position supports a fast-paced trading environment characterized by time-sensitive activities and significant risk-and-reward dynamics associated with trading operations. Candidates must be comfortable working in a highly competitive industry and managing challenging negotiations with a variety of stakeholders. TGPNA is responsible for TotalEnergies’ gas, power, LNG, and dry bulk trading and marketing activities across North America, providing a dynamic and impactful platform for professionals seeking exposure to the energy commodities sector.

Activités

The jobholder will act as a key member of the TGPNA Legal Department, delivering legal and regulatory guidance to support TGPNA’s natural gas, LNG, dry bulk, and power trading and marketing operations throughout the U.S., while helping manage commercial, regulatory, and transactional risk.

Contexte et environnement

This role operates within the volatile and highly regulated U.S. energy trading markets, where success requires navigating a complex legal and regulatory landscape. The legal aspects of the energy trading business are sophisticated, technical, and multifaceted, demanding strong analytical skills and sound judgment. The position supports a fast-paced trading environment characterized by time-sensitive activities and significant risk-and-reward dynamics associated with trading operations. Candidates must be comfortable working in a highly competitive industry and managing challenging negotiations with a variety of stakeholders. TGPNA is responsible for TotalEnergies’ gas, power, LNG, and dry bulk trading and marketing activities across North America, providing a dynamic and impactful platform for professionals seeking exposure to the energy commodities sector.

Activités

The jobholder will act as a key member of the TGPNA Legal Department, delivering legal and regulatory guidance to support TGPNA’s natural gas, LNG, dry bulk, and power trading and marketing operations throughout the U.S., while helping manage commercial, regulatory, and transactional risk.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the subject matter expert on regulatory and compliance matters affecting TGPNA’s business activities, including compliance with CFTC regulations, the Commodity Exchange Act, Natural Gas Act, Federal Power Act, Dodd-Frank Act, ERCOT Protocols, PJM Rules, and CAISO market requirements.
• Provide strategic regulatory guidance and day-to-day support to the Market Compliance, Operational Compliance, Legal, and ISO Account Management teams on matters impacting their respective functions.
• Support TGPNA’s new product approval process by identifying regulatory and compliance considerations associated with proposed business activities and partnering with stakeholders to develop and implement appropriate compliance controls and procedures.
• Analyze, interpret, and communicate the impact of evolving regulations, legislation, and market rules on TGPNA’s trading, marketing, and commercial operations.
• Develop, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, and internal controls to promote regulatory compliance and effectively communicate compliance requirements across the organization.
• Partner with the Market Compliance team to design, develop, and deliver training programs that educate employees on applicable regulatory obligations, compliance standards, and industry best practices.
• Collaborate with TotalEnergies’ U.S. affiliates to promote a consistent and coordinated approach to regulatory compliance and risk management across the company’s domestic operations.
• Manage relationships with external counsel and regulatory advisors to protect TGPNA’s interests in rate cases, regulatory proceedings, investigations, and other regulatory matters.
• Monitor and communicate key regulatory developments, emerging compliance risks, and industry trends, providing timely updates and practical guidance to business stakeholders.
• Conduct research and provide legal and regulatory analysis on a broad range of issues as they arise, including matters related to the Jones Act, EU Methane Regulation, renewable energy certification programs, and other evolving regulatory frameworks.
• Review, analyze, and provide regulatory and compliance support for transactional agreements and commercial documentation, as appropriate.

Accountabilities:

• Provide clear, practical, and commercially focused regulatory advice to TGPNA employees to support business objectives while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and market rules.
• Promote and enhance regulatory knowledge and awareness across business teams through guidance, training, and ongoing legal support.
• Partner closely with the Compliance team to coordinate legal and regulatory activities, ensuring alignment on compliance initiatives, policies, investigations, and risk management matters.
• Handle confidential, sensitive, and proprietary business information and transactions with the highest level of discretion, professionalism, and integrity.

Profil du candidat

• Undergraduate degree and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school, or an equivalent law degree.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction; admission in Texas or New York is strongly preferred.
• 6-8+ years of relevant legal experience gained in a law firm and/or in-house legal department supporting the energy trading and marketing industry.
• Strong knowledge of the regulatory framework governing energy trading activities, including FERC and CFTC rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated familiarity with regulatory and compliance matters related to physical commodity trading, with a particular emphasis on power markets and trading activities.
• Experience advising business stakeholders on matters involving CFTC regulations, the Natural Gas Act, the Federal Power Act, and applicable ISO/RTO market rules.
• Solid understanding of complex energy trading and marketing transactions, including the associated commercial, legal, and risk management considerations.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to provide clear, concise, and practical legal advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including traders, risk management professionals, compliance personnel, and senior business leaders.

What We Offer:

At TotalEnergies we know that you're more than what's on your CV. Diversity of perspectives & experiences make us stronger.

TotalEnergies celebrates diversity and is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other category protected under applicable federal, state or local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures.

All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs.

TotalEnergies believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as a global company, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

About the company:

TotalEnergies is a multi-energy company that produces and markets energies on a global scale: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our 105,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, clean, reliable and accessible to as many people as possible. Active in more than 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.

TotalEnergies Gas and Power (TGP)

is the trading arm of TotalEnergies in the field of low carbon energies (mainly gas, LNG and power). As such it operates in fast-evolving market dynamics influenced by internal and external factors that require constant adaptation and evolution. Uncertainties specific to the trading environment (volatility of prices, supply & demand mismatches) are coupled with those coming from the broader energy sector (climate change policies, changes in the energy mix, developments of new energy sources, etc). In such context TGP helps to ensure growth and profitability to a key segment of the business in order to reach the objective of Carbon Neutrality by 2050.

Our Culture:

We are committed to meet the energy needs of a growing population while fulfilling our ambition to be a major player in the energy transition. The volatility of the energy trading markets requires excellence in risk management and a culture of innovation.

Our people flourish in an environment that promotes expertise, entrepreneurship spirit, agility and a purpose-driven culture, generating boundless opportunities to learn, grow and achieve collaborative success while ensuring safety in all our operations.

We look for passion, ambition and open-mindedness. While we evolve in a demanding and ever-changing industry, we cultivate a friendly workplace where team spirit and respect guide our daily routine, and where the diversity of our people and their skills create a nourishing experience for all of us.