Sr. Counsel

Qcells North America; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 170,000 - 212,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. seeks a Senior Counsel to support its direct‑to‑homeowner solar sales and financing business. You will join a team of 19 legal professionals, report to the Assistant General Counsel, and handle consumer protection, regulatory, and contract matters with outside counsel oversight.

You’ll lead strategic litigation planning, collaborate with multiple teams, and educate the business on legal risk and compliance, enabling growth in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience.
• Top law firm training preferred.
• In-house experience with broad responsibilities.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and proactive work style.
• Experience in direct-to-homeowner solar or clean energy sectors is a plus.
• Background in commercial contracts and corporate/strategic transactions.
• JD from a top law school preferred; membership in a state bar.

Responsibilities

• Support Litigation, Loan, TPO, Sales and Marketing, Fulfillment and Digital/Software teams.
• Provide strategic business-oriented legal advice with cross-functional collaboration.
• Resolve consumer disputes, negotiate settlements, and manage outside counsel.
• Plan offensive litigation for recovery of defaulted funds and oversee various matters.
• Address consumer protection, regulatory/compliance, licensing, data privacy, and contracts.
• Create legal and commercial forms and educate the business on legal matters.

Skills

Legal strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Negotiation

Leadership

Regulatory compliance

Contract drafting

Education

JD from top law school

State bar admission

Job description

Description

POSITION DESCRIPTION:
Hanwha Q CELLS America is looking for a Senior Counsel to support its direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing business. You will join a collegial team of 19 legal professionals and report to the Assistant General Counsel. You will be given responsibilities in a wide range of legal matters with a focus on the direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing business, including support on consumer protection, regulatory and compliance matters, commercial contracts, state and local licensing, and litigation. Our legal team is expected to grow rapidly over the next few years and there will be exciting opportunities for career growth.

Responsibilities

• Support Litigation, Loan, TPO, Sales and Marketing, Fulfillment and Digital and Software teams of the direct- to-homeowner sales and financing business
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to provide strategic business oriented legal advice
• Main Responsibility: Resolve consumer disputes with opposing counsel, including negotiating favorable settlements directly with opposing counsel. Manage and provide strategy to outside counsel on litigation matters.
• Strategize and formulate plan for offensive litigation for recovery of defaulted funds. Support the business, including supervising outside counsel, in various matters, including:
• consumer protection issues, regulatory and compliance
• licensing and commercial contracts
• Data privacy and cybersecurity
• Create legal and commercial forms and processes and educate the business on important legal and commercial matters

Required Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience
• Top law firm training preferred
• In-house experience, preferably with broad range of responsibilities
• A highly motivated individual who has demonstrated leadership ability to excel in a fast-paced environment, the ability to spot material issues from non-material issues, a true problem solver, the ability to proactively move assignments to completion in a timely manner with minimal supervision, and brings a can-do attitude willing to tackle thorny legal challenges.
• Experience working for a direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing business or other clean energy or global technology company is a plus
• Strong background in commercial contracts and corporate and strategic transactions
• JD from a top law school preferred
• Membership in at least one state bar

Compensation

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, the anticipated annual base salary for this position is:

• Zone 1 (Bay Area, NYC): $184,900 – $231,100
• Zone 2 (CA, NJ, NY): $169,500 – $211,900
• Zone 3 (All others): $154,100 – $192,600

The applicable salary range is based on the employee’s primary work location. Individual compensation will be determined based on qualifications, relevant experience, education, skills, internal equity, and other business-related factors.

Hanwha Q CELLS America Inc. (“HQCA”) is a Qcells company, one of the world’s largest manufacturers and providers of solar photovoltaic (PV) products and solutions. Headquartered in Irvine, California, HQCA has been rapidly expanding its business in North America through the expansion of products and solutions, including distributed energy solutions, direct-to-homeowner solar sales and financing, and EPC services. We provide an opportunity to be part of an exciting and growing world‑class global business in an interesting and expanding industry of the future.

Physical, Mental & Environmental Demands

To comply with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 the essential physical, mental and environmental requirements for this job are listed below. These are requirements normally expected to perform regular job duties. Incumbent must be able to successfully perform all of the functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Mobility
• Standing – 20% of time
• Sitting – 70% of time
• Walking – 10% of time
• Strength
  • Pulling – up to 10 Pounds
  • Pushing – up to 10 Pounds
  • Carrying – up to 10 Pounds
  • Lifting – up to 10 Pounds
• Dexterity (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
  • Typing – F
  • Handling – F
  • Reaching – F
• Agility (F = Frequently, O = Occasionally, N = Never)
  • Turning – F
  • Twisting – F
  • Bending – O
  • Crouching – O
  • Balancing – N
  • Climbing – N
  • Crawling – N
  • Kneeling – N

The salary range is required by the California Pay Transparency Act and may differ depending on the location of those candidates hired nationwide. Actual compensation is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to, skill set, education, licenses and certifications, essential job duties and requirements, and the necessary experience relative to the job’s minimum qualifications.

Additional Information

• This target salary range is for CA positions only and should not be interpreted as an offer of compensation.

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